Wormwood

(Artemisia absinthum L., Compositae)

Also Called: Absinthe.

Description: Undershrub with woody rootstock, flowering shoots up to 1m (3ft) high, very leafy and hairy.
Lower leaves 3-pinnatisect, upper leaves less dissected; leaf segments lanceolate, densely covered with silky hairs.
Capitula globular, 3-4mm (0.1-0.15in) in diameter with greenish-grey scarious involucral bracts;
florets very small, yellow.

Parts Used: Flowering shoots; leaves.

Habitat, Cultivation and Collection: In uncultivated places, on walls and dry rocks, throughout central Europe, especially in warmer regions.
Not infrequent in Britain.
A common garden plant, grown from seed, 30 x 40 cm (12 x 16in) spacing, in light soil.
Collected when in flower (July-September) and dried in the shade.
Plants may be crop ped for 4-10 years.
Yield: 25-55 kg (55-1211b) per are (120 sq yd).

Constituents and Action: Bitter principle and volatile oil.
Both markedly stimulate gastric secretion and are used to im prove appetite.

Caution:In large doses the volatile oil is a violent poison, producing vertigo, cramps, intoxication and delirium as well as excessive blood flow to the abdominal organs.
Prolonged use results in mental disturbance and madness.

Usage: An infusion (1-2 tea-spoonfuls of chopped drug in 1 litre (1.75pt) of cold water-do not boil) for lack of appetite, sluggish digestion and abdominal colic.
For the same purposes the powdered drug may be taken (about 1g (0-04oz) thrice daily) in cachets or in jam. Sometimes used as a vermifuge, but dangerous because of the large dose needed. Should only be taken with caution in pregnancy.