Sagebrush

Wormwood is a perennial herbaceous or semi-shrub plant belonging to the Astrov family. Very few species of wormwood are annuals. In Latin, the plant sounds like Artemisia. It is assumed that the word in translation means "healthy". Some researchers believe that the interpretation of the name of the plant is associated with the name of the ancient Greek deity Artemis. The inhabitants of Turkmenistan call it evshan, emshan; Kazakhstan - zhusan.

Plant height ranges from 100 to 150 cm. Artemisia root is thick and woody.

The stalk of wormwood is straight, covered with a whitish-silver down. The leaves are large, alternate, pinnately divided. In this case, as a rule, the leaves that are located in the lower part of the plant are quite large. They become smaller as they are located towards the top.

Artemisia flowers are small, reddish, form inflorescences in the form of panicles, which can be either erect or drooping. There are types of wormwood with yellow flowers that look like small balls. Their size is approximately 5 mm in diameter.

The fruit of wormwood is an achene, smooth and small.

On the territory of Russia, there are approximately 180 species of wormwood, and in total there are 400 of them.

• Wormwood common. Grows in Russia everywhere. A very tall plant - up to 150 cm. The rhizome of this type of wormwood is branched, reddish closer to the stem.The leaves have a dark green color of the upper part, and their inner side is whitish. The flowers of wormwood are very small, pink. Flowering period - June - August. Seeds ripen by September. (photo 1)
• Wormwood medicinal characterized by a tart-bitter aroma, in which there are inclusions of lemon and camphor. This type of wormwood is also called God's tree, in German - Eberreis, Gartenheil, Strangernkraut. Translated from English, it sounds like “southern forest” - Southernwood, “old man” - Old man. The French call wormwood healing - Aurone, Citronelle. Once upon a time, it could be seen in the gardens of peasants or at monasteries. Today it has been forgotten. Southern and South-Eastern Europe, Western and Western Asia - this is the current range of wormwood. Medicinal wormwood is a frost-resistant shrub that reaches 1.5 m in height. If we conditionally divide the plant into three parts, then we will see that it begins to branch in the upper third. The leaves are filigree-pinnate, have a gray-green color, and the flowers are yellow. (photo 2)
• Wormwood. In German it sounds like Absinth, Bitterkraut, Gottvergess, in English - Wormwood, Absinth, in French - Absinthe, Annoise amere. The height of this shrub is 120 cm. It is no coincidence that the plant is called "wormwood". Its taste speaks for itself: it is rightfully considered the most bitter plant in Russia. Wormwood is resistant to drought and frost. Wormwood leaves resemble parsley leaves in their appearance, but their color is silvery gray. Flowers are yellow tubules, which are collected in balls (about 4 mm in diameter), located in one-sided tassels. The flowering period is July-September. (photo 3)
• Tarragon or, as it is also called, tarragon. Despite the fact that tarragon is a kind of wormwood, there is no bitterness in its leaves, so it is widely used in cooking for preservation or as an additive to meat dishes. The aroma of tarragon is a synthesis of vanilla and hay smells. The plant is quite low in comparison with other types of wormwood - only 30 cm. Tarragon flowers are small white stars. In other languages ​​it sounds like this: German - Duftlabkraut, Maiblume, Maikraut; English - Sweet woodruff, French - Asperule odorante, Reine-des-bois. (photo 4)

There are types of wormwood that are very poisonous: Tauride, paniculate.

The habitat of wormwood is the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, the northern and southern parts of the African continent, North America. In Russia, wormwood can be found almost everywhere. The most common places are the steppe and desert part of Kazakhstan, Transcaucasia, Central Asia and the Caucasus, Ukraine, Belarus. Wormwood can occupy a vast area of ​​dry, rocky and infertile territory, forming real thickets. This applies to low growing species.

Wormwood uses both leaves and flowers. Flowers are harvested before the flowering period, while they are in the bud state. Wormwood is also used in dried form. The most important thing in the process of harvesting raw materials is the collection period. If the plant is cut too late, then during the drying process it will darken, and the inflorescences collected in baskets will simply crumble.

• Wormwood has a unique, slightly bitter smell. He is very strong.It can be characterized by the words "intoxicating and intoxicating."
• Wormwood is a bitter plant. If you pick a sprig of wormwood and crush it a little in your hands, your hands will become bitter.
• The plant propagates by seeds. One plant produces about 100 thousand seeds per summer.

Raw wormwood calories - 32 kcal

Raw wormwood contains:

• Proteins - 0.33 g
• Fats - 0.52 g
• Carbohydrates - 3.6 g
• Dietary fiber - 3.8 g
• Water - 89 g
• Ash - 2.5 g

You can find out more information about wormwood from an excerpt from the program "Good mood"

Wormwood grass contains:

• Tannins.
• Mucous and resinous substances.
• Carotene.
• Vitamins C, A, group B.
• Saponins.
• Alkaloids.
• Coumarins.
• Essential oil (cineol, borneol, α-thuyene).
• Macro and microelements: Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mg, Se.

Roots include:

• Tannins and mucous substances
• resins.
• Sahara.
• Essential oil (0.5 - 2%)

• Wormwood has a positive effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
• It has antiseptic, antipyretic, analgesic properties.
• Strengthens the body.
• Stimulates appetite.
• Calms the nervous system.
• Fights helminths.
• Normalizes sleep and menstrual cycle.
• Has antitussive properties.

• You can not use wormwood for a long time. Because of this, hallucinogenic states, epileptic seizures and convulsions can occur. The break between courses of treatment should be about 2 months, and the course itself - 2 weeks.
• Too large doses can adversely affect the state of the body, cause nausea and vomiting.

• Pregnancy and lactation.
• Anemia.
• Gastric ulcer, gastritis with low acidity.
• Individual intolerance.
• Various bleeding.
• Period of menstruation in women.

Since wormwood has many medicinal properties, various remedies are made on its basis to help cure diseases:

• wormwood oil;
• decoction of wormwood;
• wormwood tincture.

• Medicinal wormwood is used to flavor pork and veal dishes. It will not hurt the goose and duck. Since the plant has a very strong odor, it should be used with care. It will add piquancy to sauces, drinks, liqueurs.
• The main use of wormwood is the distillery industry (the most important component of absinthe and vermouth). In very small quantities it is added to meat dishes. Pairs perfectly with roast goose.

As a rule, the above-ground component of wormwood is used for treatment. Tinctures, decoctions, extracts are prepared from it. Internally, you can use wormwood powder (3 times a day for half a gram before meals) and juice (a tablespoon mixed with honey). Only the juice that was squeezed out of the plant before it bloomed is useful.

• The antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties of wormwood are used to treat rheumatic conditions.
• Wormwood perfectly heals burn skin lesions, treats eczema. By mixing 100 g of sunflower oil and 10 g of wormwood extract, we get an ointment that is used to lubricate the affected areas of the skin.
• Wormwood relieves bloating in the stomach.
• Together with other drugs, wormwood helps in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, various edema, and high blood pressure.
• Compresses based on wormwood will anesthetize the bruise. They will relieve inflammation of the joints and colic.
• Traditional medicine in India and China uses a decoction and infusion of seeds, rhizomes and herbs as a hypnotic and sedative.
• Wormwood improves the digestion process and eliminates parasites (Trichomonas, chlamydia, Giardia cat, worms, opisthorchiasis).
• Wormwood is used to treat hemorrhoids and herpes.
• Wormwood baths treat gout.

Wormwood is an excellent tool for weight loss. To do this, use ground dry raw materials. The metabolic process in our body improves and this prevents obesity.

• Wormwood sprigs perfectly protect woolen things from moths.
• Rural residents remove fleas from domestic animals with wormwood, placing it, for example, in a dog kennel.

• Washing your head with wormwood decoction is useful for oily hair.
• Baths, in which wormwood is added, slow down the aging process of the body.

It will not be difficult to grow wormwood in your backyard, due to the unpretentiousness of this type of plant. Plus, wormwood is frost resistant. Therefore, be sure that your plant will easily survive the most severe winter. Soil fertility is also not of particular importance for sagebrush.

Wormwood propagates by seeds. Perennials can simply be planted out like an ordinary overgrown culture.

But tarragon needs special care. Otherwise, you will get a plant that will not have the unique aroma for which it is valued. The plant should not be watered abundantly, only on dry days it needs to be slightly increased. Beware of stagnant water.

Tarragon is transplanted in spring or autumn. The bush is divided, and after being transplanted, it is well watered. If you decide to plant tarragon with seeds, then they should be planted in early spring and covered with foil. Do not forget about watering and ventilation. Seedlings will appear in 1.5 weeks.

• In ancient times, the Slavs used wormwood to cleanse their inner world and the world of reality from the influence of evil spirits and entities. On the feast of Ivan Kupala, girls wove wreaths from wormwood and guessed about the future.
• Wormwood was used to make the strongest talismans and amulets that could protect the owner from the worst enemies.
• Wormwood elixirs were a love spell and at the same time could cause damage.
• Wormwood was used by fishermen as a means of protection against all water evil spirits: mermaids, water ones.
• A branch of wormwood, placed above the doorway, protected the inhabitants of the dwelling from negativity.
• Queen Cleopatra used wormwood oil as an additive to her toilet waters.
• In ancient times, wormwood was used to dye fabrics.
• Wormwood fumigated hospital rooms during times of fevers and epidemics.