Southernwood
Artemisia abrotanum
Family:
Asteraceae, Aster family
Origin:
Southern Europe, Turkey
Part(s) used:
leaves, branches
Special constituents :
absinthin, absinthol, thujone
Correspondance:
12(Culpeper, Cunningham)
Uses:
Aphrodisiac, as a spice, against insects
Citroenkruid 
Ambraurt The smell of Southernwood is citruslike, but in its own, not very pleasant, way. It was used earlier by women to keep themselves awake during long sermons. The smell also drives away insects, so keep a twig near you to fan yourself when mosquitoes are plentiful. If you grown cabbage in your garden, place some Southernwood branches in between the cabbages, and the cabbage fly will put its larvae somewhere else.
Medicinally Southernwood can be used against coughs. Earlier it was said to cure baldness and impotence. It should also be effective as an emmenagogue. It is antiseptic and should be able to cure gut worms in kids - though I wouldn't try to make anybody drink tea of the herb, it really doesn't taste good! It is very bitter, and when used as a spice, only in very small amounts.
I find it a pretty plant, though, and it's very easy to grow. It becomes a small bush, and you can easily make more or rejuvinate it by taking cuttings. It's a nice plant to have in the herb garden.
See also Wormwood, a related species, for more information.
Garden notes for Southernwood