Wormwood 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Wormwood 100 g ($13.99), 50 g ($9.99), 25 g ($6.99)

Benefits:
Nutrients and Compounds  Wormwood can be used either fresh or dried. All the aerial portions (stem, leaves and flowers) of the plant have medicinal uses, and wormwood tea is commonly consumed for a range of ailments.

One study of the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium found that it contains at least 28 components representing 93.3 percent of the oil. The main components are β- pinene (23.8 percent) and β- thujone (18.6 percent). Thujone is the potentially poisonous chemical found in wormwood. Distilling the herb in alcohol increases the thujone concentration, which is what makes absinthe such a debatable liquor of choice.

Wormwood’s biologically active compounds include:

• acetylenes (trans-dehydromatricaria ester, C13 and C14 trans-spiroketalenol ethers, and others)
• ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
• azulenes (chamazulene, dihydrochamazulenes, bisabolene, camphene, cadinene, sabinene, trans-sabinylacetate, phellandrene, pinene and others)
• carotenoids
• flavonoids (quercitin 3-glucoside, quercitin 3-rhamnoglucoside, spinacetin 3-glucoside, spinacetin 3-rhamnoglucoside and others)
• lignins (diayangambin and epiyangambin)
• phenolic acids (p-hydroxyphenylacetic, p-coumaric, chlorogenic, protocatechuic, vanillic, syringic and others)
• tannins
• thujone and isothujone
• sesquiterpene lactones (absinthin, artabsin, anabsinthin, artemetin, artemisinin, arabsin, artabin, artabsinolides, artemolin, matricin, isoabsinthin and others)

Wormwood is typically taken as an extract or tea. Its oil is made from the stems and leaves of the plant, whereas an extract or tincture may use the entire plant (4). These formulations lack calories, vitamins, or minerals but contain numerous plant compounds, the best known of which is thujone (4, 5, 6, 7).

This compound occurs in two forms — alpha- and beta-thujone, which differ at the molecular level. Although these differences are small, they’re meaningful because alpha-thujone is considered more toxic. It’s also the primary active ingredient in wormwood (4). Thujone is thought to excite your brain by blocking gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that has calming effects on the central nervous system. Although this compound may have several benefits, consuming thujone in excess is toxic and has been linked to seizures and even death (4).

In addition to its use in absinthe and other spirits, wormwood has many applications in non-Western medicinal practices, including Traditional Chinese medicine. Despite absinthe’s reputation for causing hallucinations, sleeplessness, and convulsions, wormwood is not considered a hallucinogen (8). Although the drink’s high alcohol and thujone contents may play a minor role in these effects, this has not been confirmed by formal research. Thus, its historical associations with these mental and physical conditions are not well understood (8).

Pain  Wormwood has long been sought for its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties (4, 9, 10). For example, this herb may help relieve osteoarthritis, a painful condition resulting from joint inflammation.

In a 4-week study in 90 adults with knee osteoarthritis, applying a 3% wormwood skin ointment 3 times daily helped improve both pain levels and physical function. All the same, it didn’t reduce stiffness (10). It should be noted that the plant itself should never be directly applied to the skin, as its compounds are too concentrated and can result in painful burns (11). Currently, there’s not enough research to determine whether teas or extracts of wormwood also reduce pain. Wormwood may help alleviate pain due to its anti-inflammatory analgesic properties. Wormwood contains flavonoids that contribute to significant pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. A study published in 2017 found that wormwood ointment reduced pain and improved physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. This effect may be attributed to the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive (pain-blocking) properties of the plant’s bioactive compounds.

Parasitic Infections  Wormwood has been used to treat intestinal worms as far back as Ancient Egypt. This parasite-fighting property is attributed to thujone (4, 7). Yet, the evidence for this specific application is largely anecdotal. Notably, animal and test-tube studies indicate that the herb may fight tapeworms and other parasites — though this research may not apply to humans (12, 13). More comprehensive studies are necessary.

Wormwood’s name stems from its traditional use in treating parasites that cause severe gastrointestinal disease, including pinworms, roundworms, and tapeworms. It dropped out of favor due to severe side effects in people who drank the liquor absinthe.  Most studies investigating the use of wormwood in treating parasites have been in animals, with mostly positive results. A 2017 study showed that wormwood kills Hymenolepis nana (H. nana), the most common form of tapeworm affecting humans, in both test tubes and lab mice. Wormwood didn’t work as well as Biltricide (praziquantel), a medication used to treat parasite infections. However, the fact that it has an impact is important because H. nana has become increasingly resistant to Biltricide and other antiparasitic drugs.

Future research may show that wormwood extract can support antiparasitic drugs. Combining wormwood with drugs may allow healthcare providers to lower medication dosages, which may minimize antibiotic resistance. Wormwood is used to eliminate intestinal worms, including pinworms, roundworms and tapeworms. Pinworms are the most common worm infection in the U.S., as pinworm eggs spread directly from person to person. Roundworms, or nematodes, are parasites that also infect human intestines, and tapeworms are long, flat worms that infect animal and human intestines.

A 2018 animal study published in the Journal of Helminthology indicated that wormwood induced worm paralysis, death and ultrastructural alternations. A study conducted in Sweden shows that for the purpose of deworming farm animals, a combination of wormwood, mugwort, chicory and common tansy is believed to have anti-parasite properties. These are among the reasons to drink wormwood tea if you have an intestinal worm.

Antioxidant   Besides thujone, another notable wormwood compound is chamazulene. It acts as an antioxidant and is most concentrated in the plant’s pre-flowering stage (14). Antioxidants like chamazulene may combat oxidative stress in your body, which is associated with cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and other ailments (14, 15, 16, 17). Nonetheless, more research on this compound’s properties is needed. Wormwood contains various bioactive compounds, like flavonoids, chamazulene and phenolic acids that possess strong antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help protect cells from oxidative stress, a key factor in aging and chronic diseases.

A study in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture demonstrated that wormwood exhibited significant antioxidant activity, which could play a role in preventing oxidative damage in the body.

Inflammation  Artemisinin, another plant compound found in wormwood, may help fight inflammation in your body. Prolonged inflammation is associated with several chronic diseases (18). Artemisinin is thought to inhibit cytokines, which are proteins secreted by your immune system that promote inflammation (18). Studies suggest that wormwood may help relieve Crohn’s disease, which is characterized by inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract. Its symptoms may include diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal cramps, and other digestive issues.

In one study in 40 adults with this condition, those taking a 500-mg wormwood supplement 3 times daily had fewer symptoms and a reduced need for steroids after 8 weeks, compared with those in a placebo group (19, 20).

Artemisinin, another compound found in wormwood, may have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Research suggests that it can ease pain, redness, warmth, and swelling by tempering the action of cytokines, proteins that cause and aggravate inflammation.¹

Historically, wormwood has been used to treat labor, premenstrual, joint, and muscle pain.¹ However, much of the research has centered on its use in osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear arthritis) and rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune form of arthritis).

A 2016 study reported that people with osteoarthritis who took 150 milligrams (mg) of wormwood extract per day for 12 weeks had fewer joint pain symptoms than those who took a placebo. The findings were limited by the study’s small size (42 participants) and the fact that people who took a higher, 300-mg dose had no benefit.

Likewise, a 2017 study reported pain relief in people with rheumatoid arthritis when wormwood extract was used with leflunomide and methotrexate (two common rheumatoid arthritis drugs). However, the study did not suggest that wormwood on its own had any effect on rheumatoid arthritis. Wormwood’s anti-inflammatory effects have been explored in various studies. Research has found that wormwood reduced inflammation in animal models. Studies suggest that the plant’s ability to inhibit inflammatory cytokines and enzymes like COX-2 might be responsible for these effects.

Digestion  Wormwood is most often used to treat indigestion, flatulence, gastritis, and symptoms of gallbladder disease. Using wormwood may stimulate digestion by boosting stomach acids and digestive enzymes and increasing muscles contractions in the stomach. While wormwood may improve digestive problems, there’s no evidence suggesting it helps health people.

Another way wormwood may improve digestion is by increasing the production of saliva, stomach mucus, and intestinal secretions. These secretions reduce the stomach acids that contribute to peptic ulcers and acid reflux. Wormwood may also increase the secretion of bile from the gallbladder, which could improve digestion and ease constipation.¹ Research in humans is lacking, but a 2020 study suggested that wormwood extract eased indigestion (dyspepsia) in lab mice. In this study, wormwood altered the effects of hormones that influence digestion. A 2020 review suggested that wormwood may be effective against Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease. By reducing inflammation and stimulating intestinal secretions, wormwood may also reduce the need for steroid medications used to ease gut inflammation and pain. One review noted that wormwood’s bitter compounds are likely responsible for its digestive benefits, since they enhance blood flow to the gut, and an animal model showed an extract of the herb helped improve dyspepsia symptoms in rats and mice.

Bacterial And Fungal Infections  Wormwood contains camphor, an ingredient in products such as Vicks VapoRub that has potent antibacterial and antifungal activity. Wormwood may help fight Staphylococcus aureus. Staph commonly causes skin and soft tissue infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a dangerous staph infection.

Wormwood’s antifungal activity may also work against common fungi such as Candida albicans (which causes yeast infections and oral thrush). Lab studies suggest that thujone can suppress C. albicans and other disease-causing fungi.

Although these effects were seen in test tubes, a 2021 study reported that wormwood extract given for six days to lab mice had no tangible impact against six Candida species. In vitro studies have shown that wormwood has antimicrobial activity. Research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that wormwood oil exhibits a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against several bacterial strains, including E. coli and salmonella.

Not only can wormwood kill bacteria, but it’s also been shown to kill fungi. Research shows that essential oil distilled from the aerial parts of Artemisia absinthium inhibited the growth of a very broad spectrum of tested fungi (11 to be exact). The wormwood essential oil also showed antioxidant properties during testing. Another study published in Planta Medica concludes that A. absinthium oil inhibits the growth of Candida albicans. This is the most common type of yeast infection found in the mouth, intestinal tract and vagina, and it may affect skin and other mucous membranes.

Malaria  Malaria is a serious disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes and invades human red blood cells. Artemisinin is an extract isolated from the plant Artemisia annua.

Artemisinin is an herbal drug that’s the most powerful antimalarial on the market. It’s known for quickly reducing the number of parasites in the blood of patients with malaria. The World Health Organization recommends artemisinin-based combination therapies as first-line treatment for uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria.

Experiments have shown that artemisinin is effective against the malaria parasite because it reacts with the high levels of iron in the parasite to produce free radicals. The free radicals then destroy the cell walls of the malaria parasite.

Cancer  According to several studies, artemisinin can battle iron-enriched breast cancer cells similar to the way it eliminates malaria-causing parasites, making it a potential natural cancer treatment option for women with breast cancer. Cancer cells can also be rich in iron since they commonly soak it up to facilitate cell division.

Researchers in a 2012 study tested samples of breast cancer cells and normal breast cells that had first been treated to maximize their iron content. The cells were then treated with a water-soluble form of artemisinin, an extract of wormwood. Results were quite impressive. The normal cells showed little change, but within 16 hours, almost all of the cancer cells were dead with only a few normal cells killed. Bioengineer Henry Lai believes that because a breast cancer cell contains five to 15 more receptors than normal, it absorbs iron more readily and hence is more susceptible to artemisinin’s attack.

This makes wormwood a potential anti-cancer therapy and a promising plant for the treatment of cancer, according to researchers. In fact, artemisinin-type drugs have been found to induce tumor cell death and shown to hold anti-proliferative activity on cancerous cell lines.

Crohn’s Disease  In Germany, a double-blind study examined the effectiveness of an herbal blend containing wormwood at a dose of 500 milligrams three times per day versus a placebo over 10 weeks in 40 patients suffering from Crohn’s disease who were already on a steady daily dose of steroids.

This initial stable dose of steroids was maintained until week 2, and after that a defined tapering schedule was started so that by the beginning of week 10 all the patients were steroid-free. Researchers found that there was a steady improvement in Crohn’s disease symptoms in 18 patients (90 percent) who received wormwood in spite of the decrease of steroids.

After eight weeks of treatment with wormwood, there was almost complete remission of symptoms in 13 (65 percent) patients in this group as compared to none in the placebo group. This remission lasted until the end of the observation period, which was 20 weeks (12 weeks later), and the addition of steroids was not necessary. The results were truly impressive and suggest wormwood is able to decrease or eliminate the need for steroids in Crohn’s disease patients. Additionally, results indicate that wormwood has positive effects on mood and quality of life, which is not achieved by other standard Crohn’s disease medications.

More recent research has unearthed similar results, with a 2010 study finding wormwood could accelerate healing in Crohn’s patients and further research published in 2020 and 2021 confirming this herb’s use in helping Crohn’s patients.

A clinical trial found that wormwood supplementation improved symptoms and quality of life in patients with Crohn’s disease, potentially reducing the need for steroid medications.

Help With SIBO  Many people turn to natural and alternative treatments when it comes to problems with their gastrointestinal health, and for good reason. Studies show that herbal remedies like wormwood tea or capsules are as good or even better at fighting small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or SIBO symptoms.

Today’s typical treatment of SIBO is limited to oral antibiotics with varying rates of effectiveness. A 2014 study had 104 patients who tested positive for newly diagnosed SIBO take either a high dose of rifaximin or an herbal therapy daily for four weeks. The herbal products were specifically chosen because they contained antimicrobial herbs like wormwood, oregano oil, thyme and berberine extracts, which have been shown to provide broad-spectrum coverage against the types of bacteria most commonly involved in SIBO.

Of the patients who received herbal therapy, 46 percent showed no evidence of SIBO on follow-up tests compared to 34 percent of rifaximin users. Adverse effects reported among those taking rifaximin included anaphylaxis, hives, diarrhea and C. difficile colitis, while only one case of diarrhea and no other side effects were reported in the herbal therapy group. The study concluded that herbal therapies are at least as effective as rifaximin for eradication of SIBO. Additionally, the herbal therapy with wormwood appears to be just as effective as triple antibiotic therapy for individuals who don’t respond to rifaximin.

Tuberculosis  Emerging research suggests that wormwood might have potential in treating tuberculosis (TB). A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that artemisinin, a compound derived from wormwood, exhibited bactericidal activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for TB. This finding highlights wormwood’s potential as a complementary treatment for TB, especially drug-resistant strains.

Anti-Depressant, Brain-Protective  Wormwood may also possess neuroprotective and antidepressant effects. Animal studies suggest it can increase serotonin levels and support the formation of the antioxidant glutathione in the brain. Other research has indicated that wormwood extract had antidepressant-like effects in animal models, potentially by modulating neurotransmitter levels and reducing oxidative stress in the brain. These properties could make wormwood a candidate for treating mood disorders. It’s also been shown to potentially reduce disorientation, confusion and delirium, which could benefit Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s patients, but more research on humans is needed to confirm these findings.

Blood Sugar  Wormwood may help in managing blood sugar levels, which is crucial for individuals with diabetes or at risk of developing the condition. Some animal research indicates wormwood may help balance blood sugar levels, though more human studies are needed to confirm this effect. A study published in 2022 found that wormwood extract improved insulin sensitivity and reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic rats and mice. These effects suggest that wormwood could be a beneficial supplement for blood sugar management.

Botanical Name: Artemisia absinthium
English: Wormwood, Maderwood
Also, known as: Absinth, Ajenio, Old Women, Mastaru, Absinth, Mastaru, Vilayati afsantin Titaveen, Vruvalu, Nilampala, Tirunitripachcha, Serpana, Mastiyaaraa, Moshipatri, Machipatri, Afsanteen, Machipatri, Titween, Mastiyaaraa, Konakanda, Sugandhidru, Sirahsulakari
Origin: Ukraine
Harvested: Wild
Parts Used: Leaves & stems

General Information:
Wormwood is native to Eurasia and has been introduced into North America, where it occurs as a casual weed in waste places in the northern United States and southern Canada. Michigan, Wisconsin and Oregon grow this herb commercially. There are various other species of Artemisia, Common wormwood Sea wormwood and Roman wormwood, similar in appearance but different in properties.

Stem-Usually unbranched, intemodes 4 to 5 cm in length, 0.5 to 5 mm in thickness; surface pale brown, longitudinally furrowed, with attached petiole or its scar at the nodal region, pubescent, fracture short and splintery in the bark, fractured surface yellowish, odor not characteristic, taste, bitter

Leaf-Crumpled and broken; measuring about 2 cm in length and 2 mm in breadth, easily getting detached from the stem; petiolate, ovate to obovate pinnatifid cut into 2 or 3 spreading linear or lanceolate, obtuse segments, hairy on both sides, greyish green in color and bitter in taste.

Flower head-Pedunculate, borne on a hairy receptacle of 1.5 to 5 mm in dia, ligulate flower, many, yellow, heterogamour; stigma bilobed; stamens 5, anthers synecious; ray florets, a few, dilated below. involucre of bracts, oblong, hairy, narrowly achenes, flat, elliptic oblong and black in color.

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.