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Absinthe Essential Oil
Absinthe Artemisia absinthium is also known by the names Wormwood, Green Ginger, Southernwood, Old Woman, and Absinthium. Native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, this herb is now cultivated in the United States and elsewhere. The plant grows from 2-4 feet in height. The part of this plant used medicinally is the above ground portion. Wormwood’s name is obviously derived from its medicinal property of expelling intestinal worms for which it has been well known since ancient times. The root is perennial, and from it rises branched, firm, leafy stems, sometimes almost woody at the base. The flowering stem is 2 to 2 1/2 feet high and whitish, and closely covered with fine silky hairs. The leaves, which are also whitish on both sides, are about 3 inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide, cut into deeply and repeatedly (about three times pinnatifid), the segments being narrow (linear) and blunt. The leaf-stalks are slightly winged at the margin. The small, nearly globular flower heads are arranged in an erect, leafy panicle, the leaves on the flower-stalks being reduced to three, or even one linear segment, and the little flowers themselves being pendulous and of a greenish yellow tint.
Absinthe has been used for centuries as a moth repellant, general pesticide and as a tea/spray to repel slugs and snails, a worming medicine for people and animals. Historic references to wormwood go back as far as 1600 B.C. in Egypt. Wormwood has a colorful and rather dubious history, Artemisia was the wife and sister of the Greek/Persian King Mausolous from which we get the word mausoleum. The genus artemisia was named after her and includes over 400 plants. Artemisia was a botanist and medical researcher. Pythagoras recommended wormwood soaked in wine to aid labor in childbirth. Hippocrates prescribed it for jaundice, rheumatism, anemia, and menstrual pains. The Roman scholar Pliny the Elder called it apsinthium in the first century A.D. and noted that it was customary for the champion in chariot races to drink a cup of absinthe leaves soaked in wine to remind him that even glory has its bitter side.
Absinthe has been used to eliminate intestinal worms, especially pinworms and roundworms. It is also used as an insect repellent, insecticide which can be used in gardens and on pets. Wormwood has also been helpful in treating gall bladder inflammation, hepatitis, jaundice, fever, infections, and mild depression. Wormwood may also protect the liver from harmful chemicals and stimulate menstruation or miscarriage. It has been used to treat the pains associated with childbirth, muscle aches, arthritic joints, sprains, and broken bones.
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Over the centuries absinthe drinks moved away from being just bitter medicine. Independent distilleries were producing absinthe made from the dried leaves of wormwood steeped in equal parts of malmsey wine and "burning water thrice distilled." The "Purl" of Tudor England was compounded of ale or hot beer and wormwood, and although it was mainly popular with the working classes, Samuel Pepys reported in his famous diary that he had enjoyed several glasses of wormwood ale one night "in a little house...which doubtless was a bawdy house". Absinthe soon found its way to the Little Paris of North America, New Orleans. The drink, which was spelled absynthe in an 1837 New Orleans liquor advertisement, enjoyed a vogue under such brand names as Green Opal, Herbsaint, and Milky Way. Because of the high thujone content in the alcoholic drink ‘absinthe’ the FDA banned wormwood oil as a food additive in the early part of the 20th century. Although this is still produced in Europe, with the strict limitation of max. 10 ppm. of thujone.
Absinthe is a strong bitter that affects the bitter-sensing taste buds on the tongue which stimulates the whole digestive system (salivation, stomach acid production, intestinal tract movement, etc.). This bitter taste also stimulates the production of bile by the liver. The compounds in wormwood have anti-inflammatory activity, insecticidal and have anti-tumor activity. The toxin thujone (which is in wormwood) is a brain stimulant. Wormwood also has anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, carminative, tonic (restores tone to tissues), antibacterial, antifungal, anti-amoebic, hepatoprotective (prevents and cures liver damage), febrifugal (reduces fever), and vermifugal (expels intestinal worms) activities.
For Wormwood Essential Oil see
Absinthe - Common Wormwood
Absinthe Absolute - Common Wormwood
Armoise Essential Oil - Wild Wormwood
Artemisia Essential Oil Profiles
Artemisia aborescens - Blue Artemis
Artemisia abrotanum - Southern Wormwood
Artemisia absinthium - Common Wormwood
Artemisia absinthium (Abs.) - Common Wormwood
Artemisia afra - Lanyana
Artemisia annua - Sweet Wormwood
Artemisia dracunculus - Tarragon
Artemisia herba alba - White Wormwood
Artemisia scoparia - Redstem Wormwood
Artemisia vulgaris - Armoise, Wild Wormwood,
| Adulteration: | |
| GRAS Status: | Regulated useage. |
| Properties, Indications and Uses: | |
| Toxicity: | LD50 - (oral) rat 0.96g/kg; (dermal) rabbit >g/kg.
Irritation/Sensitisation - not known
Phototoxicity - Nil reported |
| Perfumery Uses: | |
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