Wormwood is an herb, very bitter and is used in the manufacture of Absinthe.
It is used a lot in France as a beverage and is more intoxicating and destructive than ordinary liquors.
This is foretold by a Prophet named Jeremiah. "Therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts, because they have forsaken my law, Behold, I will feed them, even this people (Israel) with wormwood and give them water of gall to drink."
Jeremiah 9:13-15.