If you take herbs for their healing properties, you will have to get used to the bitter taste of many herbs. The expression “bitter in the mouth, makes the heart healthy”, is not a mere statement. It rests on truth, the more bitter the taste, the better the medicinal effect. Bitters are also a tonic for digestion.
And when you think you’ve had the bitterest, Absinth Wormwood takes the crown. You consume very small amounts of it, especially due to the presence of camphor oil. I was strongly drawn to the mystical, misunderstood sister of the abundant Artemisia vulgaris despite, or perhaps because of, its bitter taste. But for me, this Artemisia is the true goddess of wild nature and I would love to wear her leaves as jewels.
You carefully dose; using too much or for too long would stimulate unnecessary heart activity. Three sprigs, max 15 cm long, to half a litre of water, bring to the boil and cool slowly. Of this, drink only two teaspoons in the morning and two in the evening. The herb has a deep knowledge of what your body needs. I usually use it when I feel mild flu symptoms coming on. The first time I used Absinth Wormwood, I literally felt the flu flow from my neck and shoulders through my body to my feet and away with a wave.
Of course, it should also be mentioned that its controversy is mainly due to the heavy use of absinth liqueur, which many of enlightenment thinkers consumed in the late 19th century for its mind-altering effects. However, the liqeur caused epilepsy, nerve and brain damage and was banned. It is unfortunate that this cast a shadow over the plant’s use, although it fits the shyness of the goddess Artemis.
