Southernwood
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| Artemisia abrotanum L. |
Southernwood, Old Man, Boy's Love, Oldman Wormwood, Lover's Plant, Appleringie, Garderobe, Our Lord's Wood, Maids Ruin, Garden Sagebrush, European Sage, Lad's Love, Southern Wormwood, or Lemon Plant, is a flowering plant, Artemisia abrotanum. Found in Europe and Great Britain, Artemisia was named for the Goddess Artemis. Southernwood, known as the herb of love, is ruled by Mercury. Historically it was used as strewing herb.
The plant is related to Wormwood and other members of the genus Artemisia. It has a strong camphor-like odour and is an ingredient in the popular liqueur known as Absente. Southernwood was historically used as an air freshener or strewing herb.
It forms a small bushy shrub, which is widely cultivated by gardeners. The grey-green leaves are small, narrow and feathery. The small flowers are yellow. It can be propagated by cuttings or by division of the roots.
Southernwood encourages menstruation, is antiseptic and kills intestinal worms. It was used to treat liver, spleen and stomach problems. It is seldom used medicinally today, except in Germany, where poultices are placed on wounds, splinters and skin conditions and it is employed occasionally to treat frostbite. Its constituents have been shown to stimulate the gallbladder and bile, which improves digestion and liver functions. The leaves are mixed with other herbs in aromatic baths and is said to counter sleepiness. A yellow dye can be extracted from the plant. Its dried leaves are used to keep moths away from wardrobes. Burned as an incense southernwood guards against trouble of all kinds, and the smoke drives away snakes. The plant is related to the wormwood and the volatile oil in the leaves is responsible for the strong, sharp, scent which repels moths and other insects. It was customary to lay sprays of the herb amongst clothes, or hang them in closets, and this is the origin of southernwood's French name, garde-robe (clothes-preserver). Judges carried posies of southernwood and rue to protect themselves from prisoner's contagious diseases, and some church-goers relied on the herb's sharp scent to keep them awake during long sermons. It was the custom for women to carry large bunches of this plant and balm to church, to prevent drowsiness. Southernwood was the most potent antidote for magic potions. It was reputed to ward off evil spirits and infection. It kept snakes away and protected people from thieves. It was used as an antiseptic and as a hair tonic for curing baldness. The Romans believed it protected men from impotence. An infusion of the leaves claims to work as a natural insect repellent when applied to the skin or if used as a hair rinse is said to combat dandruff. It is also said that young men in some areas used to rub the leaves or a decoction of them into their faces to promote the growth of a beard. In Spain and Italy, men who wanted that virile look, or who wanted to look older than their actual years, sported beards. To stimulate beard growth, they daily rubbed fresh southernwood leaves (which were lemon scented) on their faces. In rural areas, where southernwood was known as lad's love and maid's ruin, the herb acquired a reputation for increasing young men's virility. It was popularly employed in love potions and adolescent boys even rubbed an ointment on their cheeks to speed up the growth of facial hair. It is associated with sexual appeal and has been used by males to increase their virility. Southernwood was put under mattresses in Ancient Greece and Rome for its aphrodisiacal properties to rouse lust in its occupants. Its common nickname, Lad's Love, refers to the habit of including a spray of the plant in country bouquets presented by lovers to their lasses in order to seduce them. It represents fidelity. Southernwood is used in love spells, either carried or placed in the bedroom.
The pungent, scented leaves and flowers are used in herbal teas. Young shoots were used to flavor pastries and puddings. In Italy, it is used as a culinary herb. Branches produce a deep yellow dye for use with wool. Its used as an insect and moth repellent (the reason why the French call the plant Garderobe).
