A-Z Challenge
My theme is herbs
W is for Wormwood
Wormwood is a good
old favorite that
many of us are
familiar with.
Wormwood
actually expells
worms, although
it has many
other medicinal
uses.
There are
different
varieties
of Wormwood and we have several different types
growing in the mountains. Wormwood has a deep
bitter taste, so it is usually in a recipe with other
herbs.
Worm absinthium was used to make absinthe, a
green color liquer, that is now outlawed in
most countries. It has been rumored that Vincent
Van Gogh was wacked out on absinthe when he
cut off his ear.
More Medicinal Uses. There are many uses
for Wormwood such as increasing bile, aids in
blood clotting, for fever, a sedative and insect
repellent.
Hi Manzanita .. Wormwood - makes perfect sense for its name - and I guess when people didn't fully understand they were constantly trying things .. Van Gogh's ear scenario is a little disconcerting isn't it .. cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary
DeleteI remember a wood that used to be called wormwood. My parents had a gorgeous old sofa that had a rim of wood with little tiny holes here and there and that was called wormwood. Why am I thinking of that beautiful sofa and I wonder what ever happened to it. Isn't it funny that we don't appreciate things like that when we are young.
Yes - I expect those holes were woodworm holes and the sofa eventually collapsed .. sad, but that's the way with old things sometimes ..
DeleteAnd we don't appreciate that sort of thing til too late .. I agree - cheers Hilary
Hi Manzie. Loved the story about Vincen's ear! Oh dear. Well, at least he wouldn't have felt a thing! I feel guilty that I haven't been over here for your A - Z Challenge, but I find it very difficult to keep up with all the posts at this time. Hopefully I'll be forgiven!
ReplyDeleteThisisme
ReplyDeleteI think you have the right idea. After doing this challenge for 5 years, I may take a month off for next April. It gets to be a lot, especially this time of the year. I have baby chicks in the house waiting for the weather to be warmer so they can go out in the new coop. I'm getting a new 6 ft. fence around the property to keep the deer out. I'm hand picking all the river rocks I had tossed on all the gardens 15 years ago ..... and now I' want the dirt back so i can have gardens again. What goes around, comes around or something like that. People said I couldn't do all that picking of rocks but I have one huge garden about 3/4 finished. Now add some black dirt and compost and i can plant. Yay Thanks for stopping.
My late grandmother used to extol the virtues of wormwood. I've never seen any myself though. Have a great weekend Manzanita!
ReplyDeleteKeith
DeleteHappy to see your smiling face again. Welcome bac
Hi, there. I came over from Robin's blog. Didn't know about the medicinal qualities of wormwood. I'll be having a look around. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteJL
DeleteThanks for stopping by. It's nice to have an extra day so we can browse.
If it is deeply bitter (and I believe you) I expect it would be difficult to swallow all by itself. This might be a good one to take in a pill or capsule. Do they make it like that?
ReplyDeleteRobin
DeleteYes, it comes in caps or tincture on Amzon for one place. I usually store the bulk herbs and I make a tea from them. I've used wormwood in many formulas in tea and I don't notice an unpleasant taste. I also put the tea in apple juice and allI taste is the juice
It can kill the bugs indeed but it is some of the nastiest tasting stuff I ever tried.
ReplyDeletePat
DeleteI drink it with the angelica, dandelion and burdock in apple juice. All I can taste is the apple juice and it's good.
That's a good tip, Manzanita.
DeleteI just hopped over from Robin's blog, and I'm now your newest follower. It's nice to "meet" you. I never knew any kind of plant could actually expel worms. Interesting, and I'm sure that little tidbit of information now stored in my brain will be used someday.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
Debi
DeleteIt's effective with black walnut as both are great to help rid a body of parasites. Thanks for visiting. I just returned from your blog and became a follower.
What I need is to find someone to help me identify herbs growing wildly in our area. I'm not at all confident comparing pictures/photos to real plants.
ReplyDeleteSusie.
DeleteYou are right. Too many look-alikes and one may be deadly poison. I feel safer to order them online from one of the herbal companies.
These herbs are used for many ailments. There must be a manual somewhere re: doses.
ReplyDeleteC.Lee
DeleteI have a PDR of Herbal Medicine that I refer to if I'm really in doubt. It's one of those huge, heavy books that you have to take a nap after you lift it off the shelf. It gives all kinds of useful information.
I think the more you stay away from doctors, the longer you'll live. Uh, oh, a lawyer from the AMA is at the door! :-)
ReplyDeleteRoland
DeleteHahaha Yeah, we have to be careful or we get arrested for practicing medicine without a license.
If the taste is that bad then I would really struggle! because I can't get past the name.
ReplyDeleteLisa
DeleteIf it's a tea, I put it in apple juice and don't notice it at all.
didn't know about it's connection with worms
ReplyDeleteAdam
DeleteA lot of herbs expell parasites and worms. You know how Pat is always calling me the "Worm Queen."
I considered doing herbal medicine for my theme but I was afraid I couldn't do it justice. Not like you are. I didn't know that about Van Gogh.
ReplyDeleteSusan
DeleteAmazing that you were thinking of it too. I doubt very much that I did it any justice because there is always much to say about herbs and I want to keep it short and simple. I just wanted to introduce herbs to people who aren't acquainted with them.
Oh, I have Wormwood Artemesia in a pot waiting to be planted right now. I buy it when ever I find it mainly because I just love to touch it. It has the softest foliage. Hum, wonder if I can make some wild alcohol out of it. Better not, I need my ears.
ReplyDeletePatti
DeleteI'm taking a formula of artemisia now in cap. form. It has the wormwood, elecampane ,mugwort, clove, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and olive leaf. We should hang on to our ears. Ha
My daughter informed me that there is an absinthe liquor on the shelves, but it might contain a drop of absinthe in the green stuff.
ReplyDeleteJust thinking about Van Gogh conjures up trips to art galleries, art books, and then the tragedy of his shortened life. Such talent.
Susan
ReplyDeleteI remember it on the shelves too from back in the days when I did drink a little. I also rememberr it from the years we lives in Morocco and that was way back when it was still French Morocco.
Yes, he was very young to die and what a waste of his talent. We all have choices to make.
They sell Absinthe in Prague. We went and it was highlighted on the blackboard menus in chalk (outside of the restaurants), on display shelves in windows, etc. I remember being shocked to see it because I'd heard it was outlawed in most places too. I have no interest in it, and did not indulge. I did take a picture though, of it sitting in the window just because it was unusual to me. :)
ReplyDeleteRosey
DeleteGood thing you didn't drink it because you need your ears too. It's fun to take pictures of different because you never know when you want to use pictures in your posts. Sound like it was a fun trip.
I do need my ears. I've become rather fond of them. :)
DeleteWormwood, one of the artemisia family. I skimmed through my book and had a small bet with myself as to what you would post for W. I lost.
ReplyDeleteI knew it was used to make Absinthe, but didn't know Absinthe is banned. Is it addictive?
River
DeleteWhat did you bet it would be... White Willow Bark? I use that one ... in fact I used it last week end after I tweaked my back from hauling wheelbarrows of rocks. That really works.
If absomthe makes one crazy enough to cut off your ear, it probably is addictive to some people.
No, I bet on Woodruff.
DeleteI once bathed a cat's paw in cooled willowbark tea, after it was badly slashed in a fight with another cat. The surprising thing is he let me do it. This was not a cat that readily came to people.
Absinthe can make you see all kinds of things, I hear
ReplyDeleteHoly ghost
DeleteProbably like magic mushrools.
It's certainly good to know which herbs and plants cure ailments!
ReplyDeleteSherry
DeleteYes, it really is. I'm always looking up something in my herb books.
Insect repellent? I need this one!
ReplyDeleteHere's an interesting one:
St John's Wort. It is used for depression and also for shingles. I've been learning something...
I've heard of this plant but didn't know anything about it. This is very intriguing.
ReplyDelete