The first thing many people think of when they hear woodworm or Artemisia Absinthium is the Green Fairy liquor called Absinthe with its legendary hallucinatory effects. During its heyday in mid.-19th century France, folks went a little crazy from the high content of alcohol found in the beverage. Although wormwood does contain thujone, a compound that can cause seizures and even death, at extremely high doses, the concentration in absinthe won't cause you to see little green fairies dancing around your drink. Absinthe developed an illicit reputation due to its association with the counter culture of Paris in the late 19th century. In the 20th century, absinthe was banned by many European countries and in 1912, absinthe was banned in the United States, a decision that was rescinded in 2007.
Even though the name, wormwood doesn't sound very appealing, this plant originally native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North Africa was widely naturalized in Canada and North America in the 1840s. Native Americans adapted this plant into their repertoire and used it medicinally to treat several ailments.
Wormwood can be grown and is found in Connecticut. Today it is usually grown as an ornamental plant in gardens. In the wild, it can be found on rocky slopes and on the edge of footpaths, and in fields and meadows. The plant is a herbaceous perennial with fibrous roots, straight stems, and beautiful grooved branched leaves that are silvery-green above and white below. The leaves are spirally arranged and have minute oil-producing glands. The leaves are highly aromatic with a pungent herby smell. The tubular-shaped flowers are pale yellow, grow in clusters, and droop amid the leafy branches of this plant. They bloom from early summer through early autumn. The fruit is a small achene that contains a seed. It spreads by self-seeding.
Medicinal Uses
The name wormwood stems from its historical use as an antiparasitic and many Native American communities used it as a vermifuge. The Yokia of Mendocino County for example made tea from boiled leaves and drank it to soothe bronchitis. The Chippewa boiled the leaves of the plant and used them as a hot compress to treat a sprain or strained muscles. The Mohegan made an infusion of leaves and drank it to destroy and expel worms in the intestine. The Okanagan-Colville made an infusion of the twigs of the plant and drank it to treat head colds. They also applied a hot poultice of the leaves to the chest to relieve coughing. An infusion of the split roots was taken for a variety of stomach ailments. Many communities also used fresh branches of this plant under sleeping mats or mattresses as a repellent for bedbugs and lice.
Did You Know...
There are more than 200 plants in the genus Artemisia or woodworm. Most have different flavors and aromas depending on where they are grown.
Other names of this plant are St. John's girdle, Green ginger, Holy seed, Old Man and Mingwort.
In the Alps, the native species of woodworm called genepi is brewed and the resulting yellow-green liquor is said to showcase the true flavor of wormwood which is bitter and herbaceous.
Vermouth can also contain some woodworm and it is believed that it was inspired by wormwood.
Because wormwood is a bittering agent, it was sometimes used as a hop substitute for beer in the middle ages when it was mentioned by Shakespeare in his play, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and in Romeo and Juliet.
Wormwood can be grown in Connecticut and the best way to find this plant is to use its Latin name, Artemisia absinthium.
Artemisia comes from Ancient Greek and refers to Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt.
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