Wormwood: History, Uses & Traditional Applications

A mysterious herb that has been used for centuries to cure digestive ills, wormwood also has a seedy past as a potentially psychedelic ingredient in recreational liqueur.

History

• Use of wormwood dates back as early as 1552 B.C., when evidence of wormwood's anti-parasitic use by Egyptian herbalists was found on papyrus.

Administration

• Doses of wormwood are typically taken as a powdered herb, as a tea or in a tincture. A tincture is a preparation made by soaking the herb in drinkable alcohol like vodka.

Benefits

• According to Holistic Online, wormwood can be used to treat digestive disorders and intestinal parasites.

Fun Fact

• Wormwood is the herb responsible for the thujone content of the often-banned alcoholic drink absinthe. Absinthe is rumored to have driven Van Gogh to cut off his ear.

Warning

• Do not use wormwood without the supervision of a fully qualified practitioner. According to Holistic Online, overdose of wormwood can lead to dizziness, hallucinations and death.