Wormwood
|
Botanical Name |
Artemisia absinthium |
|
Family |
Asteraceae (Compositae) |
|
Other Names |
Absinthe, absinthium, armoise, common wormwood, green ginger, old woman, |
|
Habitat |
Waste ground |
|
Description |
Perennial, deciduous herb. 1.5m/2-4ft.whitish erect branching stem, silver/grey alternate, pinnstely divided leaves up to 12cm the lobes obovate or lanceolate, entire or toothed, silky hairs pale yellow flowers, small July – August |
|
Native to |
Europe, North Africa, West Asia |
|
Cultivated in |
North America |
|
Part Used |
Flowery tops and leaves |
|
Cultivation |
Sow seeds in spring or autumn. Light well drained soil, sunny position |
|
Propagation |
Cuttings or root division |
|
Harvesting |
As required. Can be dried and stored |
|
Actions |
Anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, choleretic, deodorant, emmenagogue, febrifuge, insect repellent, narcotic stimulant, stomachic, tonic, vermifuge |
|
Extraction |
Steam distillation from leaves and flowering tops |
|
Constituents |
Volatile oil: alpha and beta thujone (up to 71%), thujyl alcohol, azulenes, chamazulene, 3,6-and 5,6 dihdrochamazulene, bisabolene, cardiene, camphene, sabinene, trans-sabinylacetate, pinene, phellandrene Sesquiterpene lactones: artabsin, absinthin, anabsinthin, artemetin, arabsin, artabin, artasinolides A, B, C, D, matricin, isoabsinthin, artemolin |
|
Digestive |
Jaundice, indigestion, constipation |
|
Other Notes |
Banned in France in1915 Traditionally said to have flourished along the serpent’s path in the Garden of Eden It is dedicated to the goddess Artemis and is sacred to Native Americans |
|
Caution |
Toxic and habitual, can cause brain damage Do not use |
Wormwood Sweet
|
Botanical Name |
Artemisia annua |
|
Family |
Asteraceae |
|
Other Names |
Annual wormweed, annual wormwood, quinghaou |
|
Description |
Prostate or erect annual. Stems: woody Leaves: pinnately divided, lobes filiform or lanceolate, entire or toothed margins. Flowers: small, yellowish, in panicles |
|
Native to |
Asia |
|
Parts Used |
Herb |
|
Constituents |
Sesquiterpenes: artemisinin, arteannuins A-O, artemisitine, artemisinic acid, hydroarteannuin Volatile oil: artemisia ketone, cadinene, camphene, camphor, beta caryophyllene, cuminal, beta farnesene, 1, 8-cineole Flavonoids: artemetin, bonazin, eupalitin, chrysosplenetin Coumarins: scopoletin Sterols :oleanolic acid, stigmasterol, beta sitosterol |