Changes: Wormwood

Revision as of 00:27, 31 July 2011

Wormwood is a very bitter herb, used in potion-making since ancient times^[1]. It is used in the Draught of Living Death. Harry Potter learned about this ingredient in his first Potion class, where Professor Snape "pointed it out for him".

In reality, wormwood is purported to have a wide range of uses (which may or may not hold true in the HP universe), including: antipyretic (febrifuge); anthelmintic; stomachic; tonic; hallucinogenic; and culinary. It is also believed to enhance psychic abilities in some religions (such as Wicca). The only one of these uses which correlate to wormwood's use in potion-making is as a tonic; tonic liquids consist of carbonated, quinine enriched water. If the quinine content was too high, then one could theoretically overdose, inducing severe cinchonism (a.k.a. "quinism"), one of the effects of which is somnolence.
Wormwood has a strong association with the Moon and lunar deities, like Artemis (whom the genus of wormwood plants is named after and who is said to possess powers that are also granted by wormwood).

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 '''Wormwood''' is a very bitter herb, used in potion-making since ancient times<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)]]'' - GBC version</ref>. It is used in the [[Draught of Living Death]]. [[Harry Potter]] learned about this ingredient in his first [[Potions (class)|Potion class]], where [[Severus Snape|Professor Snape]] "pointed it out for him".
+==Behind the scenes==
+*In reality, wormwood is purported to have a wide range of uses (which may or may not hold true in the HP universe), including: antipyretic (febrifuge); anthelmintic; stomachic; tonic; hallucinogenic; and culinary. It is also believed to enhance psychic abilities in some religions (such as Wicca). The only one of these uses which correlate to wormwood's use in potion-making is as a tonic; tonic liquids consist of carbonated, [[Wikipedia:Quinine|quinine]] enriched water. If the quinine content was too high, then one could theoretically overdose, inducing severe cinchonism (a.k.a. "quinism"), one of the effects of which is [[Wikipedia:Somnolence|somnolence]].
+*Wormwood has a strong association with the Moon and lunar deities, like Artemis (whom the genus of wormwood plants is named after and who is said to possess powers that are also granted by wormwood).
 ==Appearances==