COMMON NAME: Wormwood, Green Ginger, Armoise, Absinthium, Common Wormwood, European Wormwood

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Artemisia Absinthium

FAMILY NAME: Asteraceae (Composite,Daisy)

INDIGENOUS COUNTRY: Europe

COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: USA

HISTORY INFORMATION: Wormwood was the main ingredient in an alcoholic drink known as absinthe which is now known to be a toxic narcotic. Used for epilepsy and to promote menstruation. Also used as a bitter tonic for the digestion and to help anorexia. Some controversy over oil because of its use in the liquor absinthe which was once thought caused very damaging effects. Some believe this was more from the alcohol than the wormwood. Small amounts are now considered safe and permitted in food and fragrances.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Not recommended in Aromatherapy considered dangerous. Can cause nightmares, convulsions, vomiting and brain damage. Can be confused with wormseed (A. cina) and Annual wormwood or Sweet Annie (A. annua). I have also seen mugwort (A. vulgaris) labeled as wormwood. There is also confusion over the color of wormwood. True wormwood is never blue but green. A. aborescems and a variant of wormwood called Powis Castle (A. absinthium and A. arborescens) distill blue.

DESCRIPTION OF PLANT: A perennial herb growing to 5ft high with silver green leaves producing small yellow flowers.

PARTS PROCESSED: Leaves and flowers.

PROCESSING METHODS: Steam distilled.

COLOR RANGE: Dark green.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Class: Ketone. Greater than 40% thujone (can be as high as 70%), sabinyl acetate

PHYSICAL ACTIONS AND USES: Anthelmintic, choleretic, deodorant, emmenagogue, febrifuge, insect repellent, narcotic, stimulant(digestion), tonic, vermifuge. Used for stimulating the digestion, liver and gall bladder, warts, constipation, intestinal parasites, inducing menstruation and abortion.

MENTAL USES: I can feel my pain. I can move through my pain easily and effortlessly.

EMOTIONAL USES: Powerless, fearful, afraid to be yourself, negatively willful, unsure of who you are TO responsible for life, feeling in control, confident in self.

SPIRITUAL USES: Can indicate that you are afraid to live because you hold so much pain. You may have gone to great lengths to deaden you pain. It is now time to feel your pain and know that you can handle it. You may also be called upon to heal some of the pain that the Earth is holding. Mother Earth has been holding our trauma that we could not handle for thousands of years. It is now time that we helped her by releasing this pain through our bodies and energy field. This is a great honor to be call upon this way. You must rest and take care of yourself as the process can be very tiring.

APPLICATIONS: Bath, massage.

WARNINGS\CONTRAINDICATIONS: Nontoxic at low dosages, toxic at large dosages can interfere with brain and nervous system, Abortifacient.