Wormwood Benefits, Usage, Medicinal Properties, Nutrition, Dosage, Preparations, safety, science backed and traditional view

Common Wormwood - Artemisia absinthium (L.) also known as Absinthium, Old Woman, Madderwort, Mingwort, Cudweed, Western Mugwort, White Sage,Green Ginger, Piolun

 

Wormwood is a member of the genus Artemisia, it is perennial plant growing up to 1m, has yellow pale flowers that are clustered in leafy and branched panicles. The leaves are spirally arranged and are greenish-gray above and white below. The flowers have a musty aroma. The Common Wormwood grows on roadsides and waste places, and is found over the greater part of Europe and Siberia, having been formerly much cultivated for its qualities. In Britain, it appears to be truly indigenous near the sea and locally in many other parts of England and Scotland, from Forfar southwards. In Ireland it is a doubtful native. It has become naturalized in the United States.

 

Part used: herb

Constituents:

Sesquiterpene lactones, up to 0.7%. Sesquiterpene lactones give the bitter taste to wormwood.
Essential oil, 0.1-1.0% consisting mainly of oxygenated monoterpenes together with monoterpene hydrocarbons and sesquiterpenoids. Cis-epoxyocimene (up to 76%) or B-thujone (up to 60%) or in exceptional cases cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (up to 60%), trans-sabinyl acetate (up to 84%) or even a-thujone (up to 67%). However, a-thujone content is usually below 3%. Chemotypes completely devoid of A- and B thujones, have been reported in France and Spain.

Phenolic acids, about 0.9%, of which 0.77% is caffeic acid, and  p-hydroxyphenylacetic, vanillic, ferulic, sinapic acids

Flavonols, Artemetin(0.4%) and small amounts of quercetin, isorhamnetin, patuletin and spinacetin.

Also contains Tannins 6-7%, phytosterol and homoditerpene peroxides.

 

Flavors/Temps: Very Bitter, Astringent, Cold, Dry, Pungent, Aromatic.

Decongesting, Stimulating, Restoring

 

Tropism: Stomach, Liver, Uterus, Intestines

 

Meridians: Liver, Stomach, Spleen

 

Constitutions: Choleric

 

Key actions in western medicine: Digestive, Antiseptic, Anthelmintic, Choleretic, Aromatic bitter, Stomachic, Febrifuge, Antiparasitic, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Anti-inflammatory, Antibacterial, Hepatoprotective, Antifungal, Tonic.

Indication: Digestion, loss of appetite, gall bladder disorders, insect bites, fever, stimulates sweating, intestinal spasms, skin disorders, intestinal parasites, chronic and acute gastritis, delayed painful menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, liver tonic, nervine tonic

Key actions TCM: Clears Toxins: benefits the skin, snakebite, roundworm, bruises, tumors, cancers, leprosy, rheumatic pain. Clears Heat/Transforms Damp: fever, vomiting, headache, seasickness bloating. Strengthens the Stomach and Spleen: stimulates appetite, flatulence, cramping, fatigue, anemia. Promotes Urination: oedema, urinary difficulties.

 

Preparations:

Infusion, tincture, powder, infused oil also wine as aperitif (e.g. Vermouth).

As bitter digestive Wormwood should be taken in small doses before or after meal, whichever effect is desired, do not use sweetener as it will diminish effect or completely fade it, it can be mixed with mint or diluted to taste. Externally can be used in washes, compresses and infused in oil.

 

Dosage usually 3 times a day or as recommended by health professional:

Infusion 1-2 g 

Liquid extract 1-2 ml 1:2, 25% ethanol

Tincture 1-2 ml 1:5, 45% ethanol

Tincture 5-10 ml 1:10, 70% ethanol

Powder 4-10 g

 

Caution: The compound thujone can cause convulsions and kidney failure if overdosed. Only use within therapeutic dose, do not exceed the doses. Do not use for period time longer than 4 weeks in a row. 

 

Contradictions: Pregnancy, breastfeeding due to uterine stimulation effect and containing teratogenic thujone which is sometimes main content of essential oil; gastric and duodenal ulcers.

According to TCM it is also contradicted in “Cerebral congestion” and “Stomach heat”.

 

Interactions with drugs: none known

 

Side effects: At recommended dose levels none known, overdosing can tigger vomiting, spasm, dazed feelings and severe diarrhoea.

 

History folklore:

Common wormwood (A. absinthium) is famous as an ingredient in the hallucinogenic liqueur absinthe. The word “Vermouth” is derived from the German Word “wermut” which means wormwood. The intensely bitter, tonic and stimulant qualities have caused Wormwood not only to be an ingredient in medicinal preparations, but also to be used 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 - from its medicinal virtues as a nervine and mental restorative. If not taken habitually, it soothes spinal irritability and gives tone to persons of a highly nervous temperament. Suitable allowances of the diluted liqueur will promote salutary perspiration and may be given as a vermifuge. Inferior absinthe is generally adulterated with copper, which produces the characteristic green colour.

The Ancient Egyptians and Greeks used a different recipe for making absinthe that was recommended by early physicians as a digestive and liver cleanse. Winners of sporting events in Rome drank a wine containing wormwood to remind them that victory was bitter as well as sweet. The genus name, “Artemisia” is derived from the Greek name for Diana, “Artemis.”

In Biblical days it was considered a symbol of pending calamity and sorrow.

“Bitter as wormwood” is an old saying that derives from the plant’s very bitter taste.

An old love charm recommends drying marigold flowers, a sprig of marjoram, thyme and a little wormwood before a fire and then rubbing them into a powder and simmered over a slow fire on St. Luke’s Day. Add a small amount of honey and vinegar. Anoint yourself with the blend before you go to bed and repeat “St Luke, St. Luke, be kind to me, in dreams let me my true-love see” three times and you will then dream of the person who will become your true love.

According to the Ancients, Wormwood counteracted the effects of poisoning by hemlock, toadstools and the biting of the seadragon. The plant was of some importance among the Mexicans, who celebrated their great festival of the Goddess of Salt by a ceremonial dance of women, who wore on their heads garlands of Wormwood.

Dr. John Hill (1772) recommends Common Wormwood in many forms. He says: 'The Leaves have been commonly used, but the flowery tops are the right part. These, made into a light infusion, strengthen digestion, correct acidities, and supply the place of gall, where, as in many constitutions, that is deficient. One ounce of the Flowers and Buds should be put into an earthen vessel, and a pint and a half of boiling water poured on them, and thus to stand all night. In the morning the clear liquor with two spoonfuls of wine should be taken at three draughts, an hour and a half distance from one another. Whoever will do this regularly for a week, will have no sickness after meals, will feel none of that fulness so frequent from indigestion, and wind will be no more troublesome; if afterwards, he will take but a fourth part of this each day, the benefit will be lasting.'

He further tells us that if an ounce of these flowers be put into a pint of brandy and let to stand six weeks, the resultant tincture will in a great measure prevent the increase of gravel - and give great relief in gout. 'The celebrated Baron Haller has found vast benefit by this; and myself have very happily followed his example.'

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