Artemisia Absinthiumis the botanical and Latin name for the plant Common Wormwood. The name of Greek Goddess Artemis was used for naming “Artemisia”. Artemis was not only the goddess of forests, hills and hunt but also a saviour of children. Artemis was later linked to the moon. People believed that the Latin “Absinthium” occurred from the Ancient Greek for “unenjoyable” due to wormwood’s bitter taste.

The Common Wormwood plant generally grows in rocky areas and on arid ground in Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean. After spreading from people’s gardens it developed in parts of North America. Common wormwood or Artemisia Absinthium is also popular as green ginger, grande wormwood and armoise.

The silver gray leaves and tiny yellow flowers gives worwood plants a preety look. In tiny glands on the leaves Wormwood oil is produced. The other plants of Artemisia group are tarragon, sagebrush, sweet wormwood, Levant wormwood, silver king artemisia, Roman wormwood and southernwood. There is a relation between Artemisia plants and the Aster family of plants.

Wormwood has been used as a herbal medicine for different medical purpose
- The labor pains can be lowered down by it.
- One can check the poisoning from toadstools and hemlock.
- A very good antiseptic.
- To ease digestive problems and to stimulate digestion. Wormwood may be helpful in treating people who lack stomach acid.
- As a cardiac stimulant in pharmaceuticals.
- It helps in reducing fevers.
- It can help in discharging intestinal worms.
- As a tonic.

Diseases like Alzheimer and Crohn can be treated with wormwood.

Effects of Artemisia Absinthium

Wormwood is a key ingredient in the liquor Absinthe, the Green Fairy, which was banned in many countries in the early 1900s. Absinthe is named after this herb which also gives the drink its characteristic bitter taste,

Absinthe was banned because of its alleged psychedelic effects. People thought that the problems of hallucinations and madness occurred by it. Absinthe was also associated to the Bohemian culture of Parisian Montmartre with its loose morals, courtesans, artists and writers.

There is no difference between the chemical thujone in wormwood and the THC in the drug cannabis. Studies showed that Absinthe contained very small amounts of thujone and one will have to drink enough Absinthe to get the harmful effects of it!

One should drink Absinthe in moderation because it is about twice as strong as whisky and vodka.

A real Absinthe is that which contains Artemisia Absinthium. Other herbs and flavorings are used in the manufacturing of “fake” Absinthes which are not the real Absinthe. If you want the real thing you must check that they contain thujone or Common Wormwood or use essences,such as those from AbsintheKit.AbsintheKit.com can help a person in preparing his own Absinthe containing Artemisia Absinthium.