Plant that wards off evil wins new generation of supporters

People's to-do lists for the Dragon Boat Festival, traditionally celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, often include hanging a plant called argy wormwood on the door, which is believed to eliminate evil spirits or misfortunes.

Its fragrance can also keep annoying insects such as mosquitoes at bay. In ancient times, people believed the plant had rich yang energy, which would ward off evil.

In truth, argy wormwood, tastes bitter, but smells intensely pleasant, and its use as a medical treatment dates back to the Compendium of Materia Medica, widely deemed the bible of traditional Chinese medicine.