Wormwood, Artemisia absinthium, is a perennial herb native to Europe, Asia and parts of North Africa. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, which also includes plants like daisies and sunflowers. Wormwood has a long history of use in traditional medicine, culinary practices and herbalism.

Appearance of Wormwood

Wormwood is a herbaceous plant that typically grows to a height of about 2 to 4 feet (60 to 120 centimeters). It has gray-green, deeply lobed leaves. Their leaves have an almost feathery appearance and both the stem and upper surface of the leaves are covered with small, whitish hairs that are covered with fine hairs, giving them a silvery appearance.

The plant produces small, yellowish-green flowers in dense clusters.

Wormwood Habitat

Artemisia species can be found in much of the northern and western parts of Europe, where they grow wild in waste spaces. It is thought that several of these species were once commonly cultivated for their medicinal and insect repelling properties. Several may also be found throughout the North American continent as naturalized species, and in the steppes of Northern Asia.

Many varieties of wormwood favor shady areas and can often be found as scrub vegetation in the understory level of more developed tracts vegetation. There are also several species which favor more arid and open conditions than those typically found in woodland habitats.

Active Ingredients in Wormwood

Wormwood contains a variety of bioactive compounds, including sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids and volatile oils. Often, the entire herb (root, stem, leaves and flowers) are used in various preparations.

Leaves: The leaves of wormwood contain essential oils, including thujone, which is a compound associated with the herb’s medicinal properties. Wormwood leaves have been used in traditional medicine for their potential anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.

Flowers: The small yellow flowers of wormwood also contain essential oils and are sometimes used in herbal preparations.

Wormwood possesses a volatile oil, which, when the plant essence is distilled, exhibits approximately 0.5%-1% of the resultant liquid. It is often blue or green in color and gives off a strong, bitter smell. The oil itself is a cocktail of thujone (absinthe or tenaceton), thujanol alcohol (both free and combined with acetic iso valerianic, succinic, and malic acids), cadinene, phellandrene, and pinene.

Wormwood also contains quantities of tannin, resin, nitrate of potash, other salts, the bitter glucoside absinthe and absinthic acid.

Absinthe Beverage from Wormwood

In addition to its medicinal use, wormwood has a long history of use in culinary practices, particularly in the production of alcoholic beverages. Wormwood is the key ingredient in the famous European intoxicating distilled spirit beverage, Absinthe.

Absinthe is a highly alcoholic and aromatic spirit that originated in Switzerland in the late 18th century. Wormwood contributes a bitter and herbaceous flavor to absinthe, along with other botanicals such as; anise, fennel and various other herbs.

The Latin name for Wormwood is Artemisia absinthium, named after the goddess Artemis. The members of this genus belong to the family Compositae, along with daisies, tarragon and a whole host of other plants. All species of Artemisia possess the characteristic bitterness which is effective against predation by animals that would like to feed on the wild varieties of Wormwood.

As well as being used to produce an intoxicant, Wormwood has other effects on the body which we will explore below:

Medicinal Uses of Wormwood

Wormwood has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for its purported medicinal properties. It has been used to; stimulate appetite, improve digestion and relieve digestive complaints such as; indigestion, bloating and flatulence. It has also been used as a traditional remedy for parasitic infections, particularly intestinal worms.

To the present day, Wormwood rightfully holds its own in modern pharmacopeias.

Below we will explore some of these medical uses in more detail:

Wormwood as an Insecticide
Sources from the Ancient World and the Middle Ages indicate that many varieties were useful for insecticides, to be strewn among floor rushes or dried and packed among furs and textiles to prevent moth and flea infestations. It may also be applied topically to reduce inflammation of insect bites and promote healing.

Wormwood in Love Potions
Wormwood was also often used in love potions (philters) of the Middle Ages.

Wormwood for Digestive Issues
Wormwood is known for its bitter properties, which can stimulate digestion and appetite. The bitter components and acids render wormwood an excellent remedy for digestive issues. This is primarily because a bitter flavor on the tongue actually causes the gallbladder to produce and release bile.

Contrary to popular belief, it is often too little acid production that leads to most indigestion, not an excess of it. Wormwood is also noted to be useful in treating jaundice, a sign of liver dysfunction and to increase sexual desire.

Wormwood for Parasitic Infections
As its name suggests, Wormwood has the ability to combat certain parasites. It is noted as being useful for; alleviating fever, expelling parasitic worms like roundworm from the digestive tract, and for its tonic effects. The essential oils are also useful for dispelling intestinal worms. Caution should be taken with wormwood however, as taking too much can cause diarrhoea because it stimulates swift emptying of the intestines as a part of its tonic effects.

Wormwood for Malaria Treatment
Historically, wormwood was used in the treatment of malaria. The compound artemisinin, derived from another species of Artemisia (Artemisia annua), is now a key component of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) used to treat malaria

How To Take Wormwood

Herbal Preparations: Wormwood is available in various forms for medicinal and culinary use, including dried leaves and flowers, liquid extracts, tinctures and capsules.

Wormwood Tea

Properly collected and dried leaves and flowers of wormwood can be used to make tea. They need to be collected on a warm, sunny day after blooming has begun in July, and dried in partial sun not cooler than 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Make the tea in the following proportions: one ounce of dried leaves steeped for 10-12 minutes in one pint of boiling water.

Always take care when taking herbs and Read Our Disclaimer.

Wormwood Herb Notes / Side Effects

Absinthe, a part of the volatile oil, has also been found to cause nerve depression, mental impairment, and infertility if used habitually. Excessive exposure to the component thujone is known to cause seizures, muscle breakdown, tremors, restlessness, kidney failure, insomnia, nightmares, stomach cramps, thirst, urine retention, numbness of extremities, paralysis and death.

Wormwood contains compounds known as thujone, which can be toxic in high doses. Thujone is a neurotoxin that can cause convulsions, hallucinations and other neurological effects. Historically, excessive consumption of absinthe, which contains high levels of thujone, was associated with cases of poisoning and adverse health effects. Modern regulations typically limit the thujone content in alcoholic beverages containing wormwood.

Due to concerns about thujone toxicity, absinthe production is regulated in many countries, and the thujone content is limited. As with all therapeutic substances, carefully monitored treatment is the best way to prevent accidental overdose.

In summary, whilst wormwood has a long history of use in traditional medicine and culinary practices, its use should be approached with caution due to its potential toxicity. It’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional or qualified herbalist before using wormwood for medicinal purposes, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking medications.