Wormwood Toxicology and Botany

Wormwood is classified as an belling herb by the Aliment and Drug Administration (FDA) because of the neurotoxic abeyant of thujone and its derivatives. The assurance of wormwood is ailing accurate admitting its continued history as a aliment additive. Convulsions, dermatitis, and renal abortion accept been documented.

Wormwood is an odorous, abiding brier built-in to Europe and aborigine in the northeastern, central, and northwestern United States. Its ambrosial leaves accept a able academician odor and absinthian taste, and its multibranched stems are covered with fine, cottony hairs. The plant has a coarse root arrangement and grows to about 1.2 m in height. Its baby flowers, which blossom July through August, are blooming to chicken and abiding in large, spike-like panicles. The acutely lobed leaves are grayish-green in color. Leaves and stems no thicker than 4 mm are acclimated medicinally.