Southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum) from Baldeneysee

Southernwood, also called "cola herb" or "staff root", was cultivated in Benedictine abbeys such as the Abbey Werden today Baldeneysee Southernwood is an important bitter and tonic herb. Even in antiquity, it was described as a plant that "strengthens the stomach and clarifies the mind." Monks adopted this knowledge and used southernwood particularly for digestive problems, weakness, and to cleanse the body. In monastic herbals, it is referred to as "the milder sister of wormwood"—a reference to its bitter compounds, which, however, have a gentler effect than those of wormwood. It was considered an herb that brings order to the body and strengthens vital forces.

Southernwood is an undemanding, sun-loving plant that thrives particularly well in dry, nutrient-poor soils. In historical herb gardens, it was often found alongside wormwood or horehound – plants with similar growing requirements. Typical characteristics of its cultivation were, and still are, planting in dry herb beds, often next to wormwood or horehound. Southernwood is a robust, hardy perennial that requires little maintenance. Regular pruning keeps the plant compact. Southernwood was a reliable herb that provided a bountiful harvest every year.

Southernwood, an important bitter herb, played a central role in monastic medicine. Its uses were manifold. Typical applications included: southernwood tea to aid digestion, bitter tinctures to strengthen the body, infusions for cleansing the skin, and rubs for muscle tension. Folklore said that southernwood was an herb that "warms the belly and clarifies the mind"—an apt description of its effects. Not to be forgotten was its use as an insect repellent, as its scent kept pests away.

Southernwood was used sparingly in cooking because its flavor is intense, slightly resinous, and distinctive. Nevertheless, the herb was used in herbal wines, bitter liqueurs, and flavored oils. Its aroma lent drinks and oils a warm, spicy depth.

The scent of southernwood is warm, spicy, and surprisingly reminiscent of cola – hence its folk name "cola herb." In monasteries and homes, it was used for scented pillows, herbal baths, incense, and as an insect repellent. The Benedictines used its aroma for purifying and protective purposes.

In spiritual herbal medicine, southernwood was associated with protection, clarity, and purification. It was considered an herb that clears the path, strengthens the heart, and clarifies and orders the mind. Therefore, it found its place not only in medicine but also in the rituals and blessings of monks.

The Benedictines processed southernwood in a variety of ways: into teas, tinctures, bitter wines, scented sachets, and, not to be forgotten, as a dried herb for storage and incense. It was a universal monastery herb, valued both in everyday life and in medicine.

Today, southernwood is primarily found in historical herb gardens, such as the herb garden at the abbey (Werden), where it is cultivated as a living testament to monastic healing practices. Its characteristic fragrance and diverse effects make it a special plant for people interested in natural medicine, traditional gardening, and historical botany.