Study Of Artemisia Absinthium
Artemisia Absinthiumis the botanical and Latin name for the plant Common Wormwood. The name “Artemisia” was kept from the name of the Greek Goddess Artemis. Artemis was famous goddess of forests and hills, of the hunt and also a defender of children. Later Artemis and the moon was corelated. People believed that the Latin “Absinthium” occurred from the Ancient Greek for “unenjoyable” due to wormwood’s bitter taste.
The Common Wormwood plant generally grows in rocky areas and on arid ground in Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean. It has also been found growing in parts of North America after spreading from people’s gardens. The different names for common wormwood are armoise, green ginger and grande wormwood.
The silver gray leaves and tiny yellow flowers are attraction of wormwood plants. The production of Wormwood oil is done from the tiny glands on the leaves. The Artemisia group of plants also includes tarragon, sagebrush, sweet wormwood, Levant wormwood, silver king artemisia, Roman wormwood and southernwood. The Artemisia plants are members of the Aster family of plants.
Wormwood has been used as a herbal medicine since ancient times and its medical uses include:-
– Easing labor pains in women.
– The poisoning from toadstools and hemlock can be counteracted.
– A very good antiseptic.
– The problems related to digestion is solved by it. Wormwood may be used in solving the problems of stomach acid.
– It is also being used as a cardiac stimulant in pharmaceuticals.
– One can use it in reducing fevers.
– It can help in discharging intestinal worms.
– It was mainly taken as a tonic.
There is research claiming that wormwood may be effective in treating Alzheimer’s disease and Crohn’s disease.
Effects of Artemisia Absinthium
Wormwood is a key ingredient in the liquor Absinthe, the Green Fairy, which was banned in many countries in the early 1900s. Absinthe is named after this herb which also gives the drink its characteristic bitter taste,
Absinthe was banned because of its alleged psychedelic effects. It was thought to cause hallucinations and to drive people insane. Absinthe was also linked to the Bohemian culture of Parisian Montmartre with its loose morals, courtesans and artists and writers.
The chemical thujone and the THC are said to be similar. As Absinthe is a strong spirit so a person will be comatose before experiencing the effects of thujone in it!
Drinking Absinthe is just as safe as drinking any strong spirit but it should be consumed in moderation because it is about twice as strong as whisky and vodka.
An Absinthe without Artemisia Absinthium is not the real Absinthe. Besides the real Green Fairy “fake” Absinthes are also available which are produced from other herbs and flavorings. If you want the real thing you must check that they contain thujone or Common Wormwood or use essences,such as those from AbsintheKit.com, to make your own Absinthe containing Artemisia Absinthium.