Wormwood 2:1 extract: Artemisia absinthium in a 5 ml bottle
Bitterness is the first thing anyone notices. Wormwood owes it to compounds such as absinthin and anabsinthin, which place the herb among the most bitter plants in Europe, and absinthe draws its character from exactly that. Botanically this is Artemisia absinthium, a grey green member of the daisy family that has appeared in herbals since Roman times. The English name recalls an old use against intestinal worms. Its essential oil also carries thujone, the compound argued over for a century wherever absinthe came up.
Here the herb comes in concentrated liquid form. The 2:1 label describes that concentration: twice as much plant material went in as there is liquid coming out, which makes it twice the strength of a common 1:1 tincture. One millilitre therefore stands for more leaf than in the 1:1 version, and you need correspondingly less of it. The bottle holds 5 ml and carries the Globalherbs name, the same range that supplies the dream herb 2:1 and the passionflower 2.5:1 in this small format. Convenience is the main argument for a tincture: nothing to weigh, nothing to steep, and every dose the same as the last.
Use and storage
Shake the bottle before use and follow the instructions on the label. A few drops in a glass of water or juice handle far better than taking it neat, because the bitterness is sharp and lingers. Start modestly if the herb is new to you. Wormwood preparations naturally contain thujone, so treat them sparingly and deliberately. Keep the bottle cool, dry and dark, out of reach of young children. Anyone on medication, pregnant or breastfeeding is better off checking with a doctor first. Do not combine herbal extracts with alcohol and do not drive after taking them.
Herbal tinctures at Avalon Magic Plants
The same plant is also stocked as a 1:1 extract in a 10 ml bottle, useful if you prefer working with a less concentrated form. Beyond that sits a long row of single herb tinctures, among them valerian, chamomile, peppermint, nettle and dandelion. Bottles ship in discreet packaging.
