The generic name refers to Artemis, goddess of maternity, because wormwood was used in regulating women’s menstrual disorders. And the ancient Greeks claimed that it counteracted the poisons of hemlock, mushrooms and even sea dragons. The Romans called it  absinthium after absinthial, their word for “bitter”. Though used to eliminate intestinal parasites, the name really comes from the Anglo-Saxon wermode, which means “waremood,” or “mind preserver.” It gained wide popularity in the latter half of the nineteenth century as a drink, especially in France, where it was the favorite of many artists and intellectuals. This surge in interest was a result of French soldiers fighting in Algeria in the 1840s drinking absinthe as a preventative against malaria and other diseases.

Wormwood is an extremely useful medicine for those with weak and underactive digestions. It increases stomach acid and bile production and therefore improves digestion and the absorption of nutrients, making it helpful for many conditions including anemia. It also eases gas and bloating, and if the tincture is taken regularly, it slowly strengthens the digestion and helps the body return to full vitality after a prolonged illness.

Properties:

aromatic bitter; stimulates secretion of bile (choleretic); antiinflammatory; eliminates worms (verminfuge); eases stomach pain; mild antidepressant; anthelmintic, deodorant; narcotic; stimulant (digestive); tonic; febrifuge; emmenagogue.

Applications:

Infusion—take a weak infusion (5-10 g herb to 500 ml water) for sluggish digestion, poor appetite, and gastritis. Prescribed for jaundice and hepatitis and to expel intestinal worms.

Tincture—Use as the infusion, but do not exceed 3 ml daily
Compress—Soak a pad in the infusion to sooth bruises and bites
Wash—Use the infusion externally for infestations such as scabies.