Wormwood is one of the most well-known herbs in Hildegard’s teachings. Abbess Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) called it “the master over all states of exhaustion in people”—a phrase that shows just how important this herb was to her. Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is rich in bitter compounds, essential oils, flavonoids, and coumarins. These ingredients make it one of the most versatile herbs in the monastery tradition, and it still fascinates people today.
In this article, you’ll find out everything you need to know about wormwood: its role in Hildegard’s teachings, how to make your own wormwood tea, what makes the plant so special, what “red wormwood” is all about, and how to prepare the classic wormwood elixir according to Hildegard of Bingen.
Wormwood in Research
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) has always been an important plant in herbal tradition. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recognizes wormwood herb (Absinthii herba) as a traditional herbal medicine. (Source: EMA, EU Herbal Monograph)
If you’re interested in the ingredients of wormwood, you’ll find a clear summary at Apotheken Umschau.
Wormwood in Hildegard’s Teachings
Wormwood contains mainly bitter compounds—especially absinthin, which is responsible for its intensely bitter taste. In modern diets, bitter compounds have largely disappeared: selective breeding has removed them from vegetables and salads to make flavors milder.
In Hildegard’s writings, wormwood holds a special place. She described it in various contexts and gave it particular attention. Some aspects from Hildegard’s tradition:
Bitter compounds: Wormwood is especially rich in bitter substances. Hildegard wrote: “It warms the stomach, cleanses the intestines, and promotes good digestion.” This is one of the most famous passages from her writings.
Spring cleanse: In Hildegard’s tradition, the wormwood drink is described as a spring cleanse—a conscious ritual throughout the year that’s been a tradition for centuries.
Versatile herb: Wormwood is one of the plants Hildegard mentioned most often in her writings. It has a permanent place in her teachings.
Note: Wormwood should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or if you have a known sensitivity to aster family plants. Excessive use can put strain on the body.
Contraindications: stomach or duodenal ulcers, gallstones, kidney stones, liver diseases. Be aware of interactions with other medications. If you’re unsure, please consult a doctor.
Make Your Own Wormwood Tea Hildegard-Style
Wormwood tea is the easiest way to include wormwood in your daily routine—especially for anyone who doesn’t want to drink alcohol or wants to include wormwood in a Hildegard-style fasting cleanse.
Ingredients for Wormwood Tea
1 teaspoon dried wormwood herb (about 1–2 g) per 150–200 ml hot water (not boiling, about 85–90 °C).
Preparation
Put the dried wormwood herb in a teapot or tea strainer. Pour hot water over it and let it steep for 5–10 minutes. Then strain. The longer you let it steep, the stronger and more bitter the tea will taste.
How to Use and Dosage
No more than 2 cups per day are recommended, ideally 15–30 minutes before meals. In herbal tradition, wormwood tea is drunk plain and without sugar, so you can really taste the bitterness.
The cleanse shouldn’t last longer than 3–4 weeks at a time. After that, it’s best to take a break before repeating.
The Wormwood Plant – Botany, Growing & Uses
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) belongs to the aster family and is a perennial, herbaceous plant. It grows between 40 cm and a meter tall (sometimes up to 1.5 m), has silvery-gray, felt-like hairy leaves, and gives off a strong aromatic scent. The round yellow flowers appear between July and September.
In the wild, wormwood thrives on dry or sandy-clay soil, along paths, on fallow land, and near streams. It’s a very hardy plant that grows even in poor soil and can be found at altitudes up to 3,500 meters. Originally, wormwood comes from the warm regions of Eurasia, but it’s also found in India, Morocco, and Algeria.
Growing Wormwood in Your Own Garden
In your own garden, wormwood is an easy-care addition. It prefers sunny to partly shaded spots with well-drained, rather poor soil. The plant doesn’t tolerate waterlogging. In spring, it can be easily propagated by seed or by dividing older plants.
Harvesting and Storage
The leaves and shoot tips can be harvested from April to August. For the Hildegard cleanse, spring wormwood is traditionally preferred. To dry, tie the herb in bundles and hang it in an airy place. Dried wormwood herb can be stored in airtight jars, in a dark and dry spot, for up to a year.
Overview of Uses
Wormwood can be used in many ways: as tea, as freshly pressed juice for the classic elixir, as an oil extract (wormwood oil), as an ingredient in creams and ointments, as a spice in small amounts, and as a bitter in spirits production (absinthe, vermouth). You’ll also find a botanically detailed overview of the plant in the WALA Medicines Plant Encyclopedia
Red Wormwood: The Difference
The term "Red Wormwood" is searched for a lot – but most people actually mean Vermouth Rosso, the aromatic, red vermouth wine from the cocktail world (famous as Martini Rosso or Noilly Prat Rouge, for example).
Vermouth Rosso – red wormwood as a drink
Red wormwood in the culinary sense is a sweet white wine flavored with wormwood herb and other botanicals, with caramelized sugar or other ingredients giving it the reddish color. It's a key ingredient in classic cocktails like Negroni, Americano, or Manhattan. The alcohol content is usually between 15 and 18 percent.
Wormwood in herbalism – no color distinction
In Hildegard's teachings, the color of wormwood doesn't matter – botanically, there's only one main species, Artemisia absinthium, with silvery-green leaves. The special compounds come solely from the plant itself: bitter substances, essential oils, flavonoids. If you're looking for a red wormwood as a herbal product, you won't find a separate plant – but you might find wormwood products with red wine or red fruit juices, though these aren't part of Hildegard's original tradition.
The classic wormwood herb
The special compounds in wormwood aren't tied to its color, but to its bitter substances and essential oils – these are found in the highest concentration in the fresh, gray-silvery plant. In her writings, Hildegard specifically described the freshly pressed juice from spring wormwood for her classic tonic.
Wormwood Elixir according to Hildegard von Bingen – the May Cure
The wormwood elixir, also called wormwood tonic, May cure tonic, or wormwood wine, is the most famous and traditional recipe from Hildegard's teachings. Hildegard von Bingen described it in her Physica with these words:
"Wormwood elixir gets rid of kidney weakness and melancholy in you, clears your eyes and strengthens your heart, and keeps your lungs from getting sick. It warms the stomach and intestines, cleanses the bowels, and helps with good digestion."
(Original quote from Hildegard's Physica – historical tradition)
The classic Hildegard recipe for wormwood elixir
| Ingredient | Amount (for 1 liter) | Amount (for a cure, approx. 3 liters) |
|---|---|---|
| White wine (dry) | 1 liter | 3 liters |
| Blossom honey | 150 g | 450 g |
| Fresh wormwood juice (spring wormwood) | 40 ml | 120 ml |
Preparation
First, chop the fresh wormwood leaves and press them through a cloth until you get the needed amount of juice. Briefly bring the wine and honey to a boil. Turn off the heat, add the fresh wormwood juice to the still-hot honey wine, immediately strain through a fine sieve, and pour hot into sterile bottles. Store in a cool, dark place.
How to take it and plan your cure
According to Hildegard's tradition, the elixir is used from May to October – every other day in the morning on an empty stomach before breakfast. The traditional amount is a liqueur glass (about 10–20 ml). As a cure for 6 weeks. You should take breaks of at least 2–3 months in between.
The break of one day between doses is important: wormwood is a strong herb, and daily use over a long period should be avoided. If you're doing the cure for the first time, pay special attention to how your body reacts.
Why wine and honey?
Hildegard von Bingen chose wine as the base for good reason: wine dissolves the fat-soluble compounds in wormwood – especially the essential oils – and makes them more available. Honey balances out the strong bitter taste. The combination of these three ingredients is considered especially harmonious in Hildegard's teachings.
Ready-made products instead of making it yourself
If you don't want to make the elixir yourself, you can go for ready-bottled organic wormwood tonics. A high-quality organic wormwood tonic ideally contains at least 3.5% organic spring wormwood juice, organic white wine, and organic honey – with no chemical additives. In the shop you'll find our ORGANIC Wormwood Tonic according to Hildegard von Bingen, made following the traditional recipe. For a spring cure, we also recommend checking out our Hildegard Cure Packages.
Conclusion: Wormwood – a classic from Hildegard's teachings
Wormwood is much more than just a bitter herb. This botanical brings together a fascinating mix of compounds and holds a unique place in Hildegard's teachings. No wonder Hildegard von Bingen gave it such special importance.
Whether as a tea, a classic elixir with wine and honey, or used externally as an oil – wormwood fits into many aspects of life. The spring cure from May to October is a tradition that's been passed down for centuries and still inspires many people today.
If you want to learn more about wormwood and Hildegard's herbal teachings or are looking for the right product for your personal cure, check out our herbal drinks selection. We're happy to help – with recipes based on Hildegard's teachings since 1984. Also discover our full range.
