Absynthium officinale.
Also see Artemisia vulgaris.
ABSYNTHIUM OFFICINALE. Tourn. J. (Artemisia absynthium, L.) Common Wormwood. In our gardens, sometimes spontaneous. Taste intensely bitter, smell strong, contains an essential oil and bitter extractive. Very valuable medical plant. Two scruples ot the extract cure intermittents. Useful in cachetic, hydropic and hypochondriac affections, in jaundice, against worms, &c. Essential oil dark green, a powerful stimulant, antispasmodic, and vermifuge. The wormwood wine is an excellent tonic; wine, ale and beer are medicated by it. Sometimes substituted for hops in brewing. Leaves excellent topical resolvent, applied to swelled breast and tumors. The ashes produce the salt of Absynthium, useful in gravel, and to dissolve the stones as formerly believed. Many other properties, very early known. It is said the continual use of this plant has cured the gout, increased the milk of nurses, removed dropsy and hepatitis.
