The time of year of the Dragon Boat Festival, the fifth lunar moon, has more significance than just the story of Chu Yuan.

Many Chinese consider this time of year an especially dangerous time when extra efforts must be made to protect their family from illness.

Families will hang various herbs, called Ay Tsao, on their door for protection.

The drinking of realgar wine is thought to remove poisons from the body. Hsiang Bao are also worn. These sachets contain various fragrant medicinal herbs thought to protect the wearer from illness。

Wormwood has a long history of use in European and Asiatic herbal medicine. It is known to stimulate appetite and help digestion. Wormwood is an essential ingredient in various liqueurs, of which Absinthe is the chief. The basis of Absinthe being absinthol, extracted from Wormwood. Wormwood, as employed in making this liqueur, bears also the name 'Wermuth' - preserver of the mind. The absinthe-drink became very popular in the 19th century. Painters like Picasso and Van Gogh were inspired by its virtues. But absinthe appeared to be addictive: 'The Queen of Poisons', and 'absinthism' became an official illness in France.