Six Facts You Never Knew About Wormwood

Many types of wormwood exist, there are over 200 plants in the genus Artemisia [a.k.a. “wormwood”]. The best-known species for wormwood is Artemisia absinthium, or grande wormwood. It is safe to say that there is at least one species of wormwood growing in every climate in the world.

Here are six little-known facts about how Wormwood is used today, its purpose centuries ago and what makes it so unique in the plant kingdom.

1. Vermouth was inspired by wormwood over 2000 years ago.
2. Drinks besides absinthe utilize wormwood.
3. Wormwood was used in beer production.
4. You can grow wormwood at home.
5. You can eat your wormwood.
6. Wormwood got its reputation from a smear campaign.

Africa’s well-known Artemisia Afra [a.k.a. “African wormwood”], is a medicinal plant that has been used for treating a variety of ailments such as coughs, fevers, colds, chills, malaria, diabetes, bladder and kidney disorders.