Horti Tops® Artemisia Absinthium (Wormwood)

Artemisia Absinthium (Wormwood) (Artemisia absinthium)

A Legendary and Powerful Herb

Wormwood is one of the most legendary herbs in history. It was sacred to the Egyptian goddess Isis. It gave absinthe its name and fame (and notoriety). The word “vermouth” comes from the German “Wermut” meaning wormwood. This is a plant of power, mystery, and extreme bitterness.

Caution: Wormwood contains thujone, a compound that can be toxic in large amounts. This is not a culinary herb to use freely. It requires respect and restraint.

Culinary Uses (With Care)

Wormwood is intensely bitter – the bitterness is almost overwhelming. In cooking, it is used in tiny amounts:

Digestive bitters: A few leaves steeped in vodka create a powerful digestive bitter. A few drops after heavy meals stimulate digestion remarkably.

Vermouth: Wormwood is an essential ingredient in vermouth, alongside other botanicals. It provides the characteristic bitter backbone.

Absinthe: The famous (and once banned) green spirit gets its name and some of its effects from wormwood. Modern absinthe is legal again, with regulated thujone levels.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

Wormwood is one of the most powerful digestive bitters known to herbalism. It strongly stimulates bile flow, appetite, and digestive secretions. Traditional uses include:

Treatment of intestinal parasites (hence “wormwood”). Digestive complaints and poor appetite. Liver and gallbladder support. However, due to thujone content, it should not be used during pregnancy, by nursing mothers, or by those with seizure disorders.

In the Garden

Wormwood is a beautiful silvery-gray perennial that can reach 90cm tall. It makes an attractive ornamental and its strong scent repels many garden pests. Plant it near vegetables to deter aphids, moths, and flea beetles.

The silvery foliage is caused by tiny hairs that reflect light and protect the plant from intense sun. This Mediterranean native thrives in poor, dry soil and full sun.

Growing Artemisia Absinthium (Wormwood)