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Wormwood


Wormwood certainly does not have the most attractive name but it may have got its moniker from its ability to kill intestinal worms and other harmful organisms.

Wormwood or common wormwood which is also known by its scientific name ‘Artemisia absinthium’ is an herb which grows wild throughout many parts of Europe and also in certain parts of North Africa and Northern Asia. It is now being grown increasingly in North America because of a rise in demand for its medicinal uses. It is closely related to mugwort or armoise but is higher in essential oils. It has many uses as a herbal remedy as we will see.

A Controversial History
Wormwood has something of a controversial history which may even linger on to this day. Its name is synonymous with an alcoholic drink called absinthe which was very popular during the 19th century.

Absinthe for which wormwood was a key ingredient is often associated with artists like Vincent Van Gogh and writers like Edgar Allan Poe and was thought to have contributed towards their untimely deaths. Because of the presence of absinthol and another chemical called thujone, absinthe was thought to cause hallucinations, severe nervous disorders, depression, and mental impairment.

As a result, absinthe was banned in numerous countries around the world. Recent studies have however shown that the damaging hallucinogenic effects of absinthe were probably exaggerated and it has made a recovery, especially in Europe.

If you are going to use wormwood, it is best to use it in its dried form because it contains very little thujone or none at all.

Composition of Wormwood
Wormwood gets its therapeutic uses from the presence of volatile oils, absinthin, anabsinthin, organic acids and resins. These compounds also give wormwood its very bitter taste.

It has several medicinal properties including anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, intestinal anthelmintic, febrifuge and stomachic properties. It also has antioxidant abilities which help reverse cellular damage that contribute to the aging process and many diseases.

Apart from being used as an ingredient in absinthe, wormwood has historically been used to treat various illnesses including digestive conditions, fevers, and dyspepsia and liver conditions. These days it is becoming more and more popular to treat conditions which include the following:

From: https://healthyfocus.org/benefits-of-wormwood/



This ingredient is normally used as an ingredient in the following Healthelicious products: