Our plant in the spotlight today is: Wormwood. The Latin name of this plant is Artemisia absinthium.
Wormwood is an ingredient in the spirit absinthe! This plant is a cousin to Mugwort, which we recently learned about a couple weeks ago on the blog. Wormwood is more woody and shrub-like in appearance compared to mugwort, but it has a similar silvery color to its leaves.
The medicinal properties of wormwood are concentrated in the leaves. This plant is known as a strong anti-parasitic (properly called an anthelmintic, meaning it kills worms) hence the name. It also works as a vermifuge, meaning it makes the intestines and colon intolerable to parasites. The root of wormwood also has a use as an antibacterial medicine. Fascinating!
Have a magical day,
Jenny
PLANT INGESTION WARNING!
As with all herbs and plants you plan to ingest, never ingest them before doing your own research and/or talking with your doctor - it’s possible that medications you take or health conditions you have could have a negative effect if paired with wormwood. Better safe than sorry!
Photo credit goes to David Monniaux