Artemisia Absinthium

Zone 3 Canada Cold Hardiness 

Grows to100 cm tall and 100 cm wide

Artemisia Absinthium is a perennial that belongs to the Asteraceae or Compositae family, more commonly known as the daisy family. This Artemisia plant releases an aromatic odor and has a spicy, bitter taste. Many species of the Artemisia family tend to have medicinal properties. Its name stems from its use as an anti-parasitic herb. Wormwood as a medicinal herb has been used for thousands of years. It has been shown to improve Crohn's disease, digestion, the immune system function, and even help to treat pain, including arthritis pain.

Wormwood Benefits

Crohn's Disease

Wormwood’s use has shown promising results in Crohn's Disease that is an inflammatory condition of the digestive system that causes symptoms of intense stomach pain, diarrhea, and tiredness.

Parasites 

Treatments drawn from compounds in wormwood have been used to treat parasites such as pinworm, roundworm, and tapeworms which can infect the intestines and cause digestive health problems.

Digestion

Wormwood can boost appetite and help produce saliva, other digestive enzymes, or proteins that help with metabolism and support healthy digestion.

Wormwood can also help with gastrointestinal symptoms such as gas, bloating, heartburn, stomach pain, constipation, and diarrhea and reduce spasms in the intestines and stomach.

Pain Management

Wormwood can improve pain and reduce swelling in the body. People who took 300 mg per day said their pain levels were better.

Arthritis and Immune Support

Inflammation is linked to many long-term diseases, acute and chronic pain, and reduced immune function. Artemisia —a compound found in wormwood—may help. It stops the body from making cytokines, a kind of protein that causes inflammation and plays a role in autoimmune diseases.

Some people use wormwood to relieve the pain and swelling caused by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disorder marked by chronic inflammation of the joints, hands, and feet. Those taking the wormwood reported significant joint pain relief, with wormwood found to be safer than some common drugs used to treat RA.

People with knee pain found that putting 3% wormwood ointment on sore joints reduced pain and improved physical function with osteoarthritis.

Possible Side Effects of Wormwood 

Wormwood is relatively safe for short-term use of two to four weeks by adults, and it has been used longer-term at lesser doses upward of 10 weeks.

Unaltered wormwood contains a chemical compound in it called thujone which can become toxic, even in small amounts, and this herb should be consumed with caution. Because of this, wormwood should have less than 5ppm thujone per dose.

Because wormwood contains ingredients that may cause toxic effects, people with certain medical conditions should not take wormwood.

Though wormwood is safe for most adults to use for a short time, it is important to discuss using it with your doctor and pharmacist. In some cases, it may not be taken along with certain drugs. Wormwood is not safe for children. 

Wormwood Dosage and Preparation 

Wormwood is usually used as a tea. Dried (not fresh) leaves can be used to make wormwood tea.

Wormwood tea recipe: 

• Let 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of dried wormwood leaves sit in one cup (250 mL) of boiling water.
• Let it sit for five to 10 minutes; the longer it steeps, the more bitter the flavor. 
• Add peppermint, honey, or lemon juice to taste (not required).

Wormwood may also be used as an extract and, in some cases, applied to the skin as an essential oil that can be used for inflammation and pain.

 Growing seeds

The best time to plant wormwood is in the spring, after the last frost has passed. You can start seeds indoors, about six weeks before the last frost date in your area. Sow the seeds on the surface of moistened potting mix or soil and cover with a thin layer of sand.

Or, start the seeds of wormwood either in late summer or late winter. The seeds favor moderate temperature for best germinate rates. Wait until the last frost of the winter has passed before planting the seeds.

Select a spot in your garden that gets full sun and break the soil. Mix in about one inch of organic materials in the top 4 inches of the soil and let it rest for a few days.

Spread the seeds on top of the soil with your hand trying to make them as even as possible. Don’t cover the seeds since they need sunlight to germinate.

Water the soil to get it moist. Use a light sprinkler so that you don’t sweep the tiny seeds away with the water.

The seeds usually germinate between 2 to 4 weeks after planting them depending on the temperature of the soil and the amount of sunlight they get.

Wait for the plants to develop the first two leaves then thin them out. Space the plants about 18 inches.

 Wormwood Care

As a hardy herb, wormwood grows easily and has a high tolerance for different types of soil, and weather conditions,

Soil

Wormwood prefers well-drained, moderately rich, and loamy soil. It doesn’t like clay soil with its high-water retention. To test the structure and tilth of the soil, clasp your hand over a fistful of the soil and see if it turns into a clump. Dense soil that compacts easily has more clay than silt or sand. To remedy that soil, mix it with perlite or vermiculite until you have the right texture. Also, make sure the soil pH is 5.5-7.5. Although the herb can grow in just about any soil pH, you should adjust the soil to make it as neutral or slightly acidic as possible.

Light

Grow it in full sun or partial shade. If you’re growing the herb in a container, keep it facing the south.

Water

It’ favors dryer soil over damp one. You don’t need to keep the soil moist. In fact, you should let the topsoil dry out before you water it again.

Pests and Diseases

Not only are wormwood herbs immune to regular pests and bugs, they actually chase them away from the garden. This is why people grow this aromatic herb near veggies to keep insects away. Wildlife also steers clear from a garden where this herb is growing.

Harvesting Wormwood

Wormwood herbs become ready to harvest only after they have been established. This usually takes about two years. Before reaching maturity, the plants are not strong enough, and harvesting the leaves and stems could put them under a lot of stress.

Note: It is up to the buyer to verify nutritional and health benefits with a qualified professional for all edible plants listed.

Seeds are fresh, untreated, open-pollinated for seed saving, and organic.

You will receive a package of 200 seeds. 

FREE SHIPPING THE SAME DAY OR THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY!

Due to the nature of our products, seed germination rates may vary depending on storage and growth conditions. Some varieties have a naturally low germination rate, at around 50%. When a variety has a lower germination rate, it is usually indicated on the packet and we endeavor to provide more seeds to compensate. The vast majority of our seeds have germination rates of over 85%. We work hard to provide you with the best service possible.