artemisia absinthium

action	analgesic, anthelmintic, antifertility, antiseptic, antispasmodic, apertif, bitter, carminative, cholagogue, deobstruent, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, narcotic, poison, psychedelic, stimulant, stomachic, vermifuge
common name	absinthe, oldman, wormwood
contains	poison
family	asteraceae
indigenous use	chippewa, mohegan
native habitat	waste places
range	all over the world, argentina, chile, coulee dam nat. rec. area, egypt, haiti, indiana dunes national lakeshore, knife river indian villages, mexico, north cascades national park, paraguay, pictured rocks national lakeshore, pipestone national monument, saint croix national scenic river, siberia, spain, turkey, uk
use	liqueur
used to treat	anxiety, cancer (liver), childbirth, depression, depurative, fever, flatulence, gastric pain, gout, gravel, heartburn, indigestion, jaundice, leukemia, liver insufficiency, melancholy, nerves, neuralgia, orthopedic ailments, pain, poor appetite, rheumatism, sclerosis, skin irritation, tremors, wen, worms, wounds
comments	The dried and powdered herb is used as a vermifuge. The oil is poisonous and should only be used externally. It should not be taken for more than a few weeks. In ancient Mexico, women enacted a ritual dance to honor of the Goddess of Salt, where they wore garlands of wormwood in their hair. It depresses the central medullary part of the brain, which is the area concerned with pain and anxiety. The tea is used to help alleviate the pain of childbirth. Used occasionally, it will soothe the nerves and balance the mind. Excessive long-term use of wormwood liqueur (absinthe) may be habit-forming and cause brain damage.