Wormwood

Species name: Absinthium.

Also known as: Green ginger, absinthe, madderwort.

Wormwood is mainly known for its bitter taste, this is why it is normally mixed with caraway or peppermint to make it more tolerable. It gets this bitter taste from two compounds that make up the plant called anabsinthin and absithin. Wormwood normally grows about three feet tall.

What is Wormwood: Wormwood grows naturally and does best in mild to moderate climates found in areas such as Asia, Europe and North Africa. This herb has two chemical compounds called thujone and isothujone. These chemicals are what give wormwood its medicinal value. Wormwood is a shrub that produces oil that can be extracted to be used in remedies.

What does this plant look like? It has a rather pleasant appearance with flowers that are yellow and they bloom in the summertime. The plant is completely covered with a hair-like substance which adds to its appearance. The leaves are a gray to greenish color and people like to use these herbs to decorate around their homes or around commercial property. It also produces a nice fragrance which is another reason they are used to decorate landscapes.

Home Remedies using Wormwood:

Benefits of Wormwood:

As for the uses of Wormwood, some of the most common benefits are medically. In traditional medicine it is believed that wormwood is beneficial when used to help improve digestive functions. It is also good for problems of the gallbladder and liver. To use as a tea you add half a teaspoon to one cup of boiling water and you can usually take up to three cups a day. When used a Tincture you put anywhere from ten to twenty drops into some water and you take it at least fifteen minutes before you eat a meal. It has even been used to get rid of worm infestations.

Uses of Wormwood:

• Stimulates gallbladder function
• Indigestion
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Heartburn
• As a tea
• Tincture

Side Effects of Wormwood:

It is believed that one of the side effects from wormwood is nerve damage; this is because it contains THC which is also found in marijuana. It is advised that you do not take this herb for one than a month at a time and only under the advice of a doctor.