Dried wormwood. These are the dried leaves of the wormwood plant (Artemisia absinthium). Wormwood can be used as an antiseptic, to relieve gastric pains and as an antipyretic. It is also used as an anthelmintic to expel parasitic worms. It is from this use that the plant derives its name. Wormwood is also an ingredient in the alcoholic drink absinthe.