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Wormwood
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| What is wormwood? In Ancient times, wormwood was believed to have powerful healing properties. It was considered an antidote to counteract poisons, an insect repellent and was used in antiseptic formulas. The modern dictionary describes it as a Mediterranean perennial herb or shrubby plant (Artemisia absinthium) of the family Asteraceae (Aster family). We know it as the bitter herb used to make Absinthe. The compound thujone, found in wormwood, was believed to give Absinthe it's toxicity and was responsible in part for its psychedelic effect, often described as a heightened state of mind. Modern studies using historical recipes and distillation techniques suggest that thujone levels in properly distilled absinthe was low. | ||||||||||||||||
| There are two species of wormwood that produces thujone, they are Artemisia absinthium "Common Wormwood", and Artemesia pontica "Roman Wormwood".
Artemisia absinthium is an essential ingredient in absinthe. It is sometimes referred to as "Grand Wormwood", "Grande Absinthe" or simply "wormwood". Artemesia pontica is sometimes used for it's mild wormwood flavor and aromatic properties. |
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Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913
An early drawing used for species identification by the USDA. |
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Wormwood "Artemisia absinthium" in the wild.
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