Wormwood(Artemisia absinthium)
Other Names:
absinthe, absinthium, absinthe wormwood, grand wormwood, wormwood
Range:
Non-Native
Family:
Asteraceae - Aster or Composite Family
Growth Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Height:
Growing up to 2-4' in height
Leaves:
The leaves are spirally arranged, greenish-grey above and white below, covered with silky silvery-white trichomes, and bearing minute oil-producing glands; the basal leaves are up to 25 cm long, bipinnate to tripinnate with long petioles, with the cauline leaves (those on the stem) smaller, 5–10 cm long, less divided, and with short petioles; the uppermost leaves can be both simple and sessile (without a petiole)
Stem/Trunk:
Straight, grooved, branched, silver-green in color.
Root:
Fibrous root system
Flower Season:
Early summer to early autumn.
Flower Appearance:
Pale yellow, tubular flowers are clustered in sphere-shaped bent-down heads. These heads are clustered into branched panicles.
Seed/Fruit:
Fruit is a small achene.
Miscellaneous characteristics:
This plant is non-native. It has escaped cultivation, and has become naturalized across the northern United States and Canada.
Habitat:
Grows on uncultivated arid ground, on rocky slopes, and at the edge of footpaths and fields
Parts Used:
Arial parts of the plant
Culinary Uses:
This plant has been used as a flavoring in the production of the drink absinthe.
The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.
Energetics
Taste: Bitter
Thermal: Warming
Humidity: Drying
Traditional Medicinal Uses:
This plant is used as a bitter to counteract poor appetite and for IgA nephropathy. Extracts of A. absinthium have been shown to decrease TNF-a (Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha). It functions in a manner like the biologics Humira®, Enbrel®, and Remicade®, etc.
Use to counter autoimmune related illnesses such as Chrohn's disease, Psoriatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Etc.
Indications
Amenorrhea, Anemia, Anorexia, Arthritis, Ascaris, Atonic Dyspepsia, Biliary disorders, Chronic Gastritis, Colic, Dysmenorrhea, Enterobius, Flatulence, Indigestion, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Malabsorption, Nausea, Plaque Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hyperkalemia
Cautions According To WebMD
Contra-Indications
Pregnancy: Wormwood is likely unsafe when taken by mouth as medicine during pregnancy. Some wormwood products contain the chemical thujone. Thujone might affect the uterus and endanger the pregnancy. There isn't enough reliable information to know if applying wormwood to the skin is safe when pregnant. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if wormwood is safe when taken by mouth or applied to the skin while breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Wormwood may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others.
A rare inherited blood condition called Porphyria: The thujone in wormwood oil might increase the body's production of chemicals called porphyrins. This could make porphyria worse.
Kidney disorders: Taking wormwood oil might cause kidney failure. If you have kidney problems, talk with your healthcare provider before taking wormwood.
Seizure disorders, including epilepsy: Wormwood contains thujone, which can cause seizures. Wormwood might increase the risk for seizures in people who have a history of seizures.
Possible Side Effects:
Thujone-free wormwood is commonly consumed in foods and beverages, such as bitters and vermouth. Thujone-free wormwood is possibly safe when used as medicine, short-term. But wormwood that contains thujone is possibly unsafe. Thujone can cause seizures, kidney failure, vomiting, and other serious side effects.
Possible Interactions:
Medications used to prevent seizures (Anticonvulsants) interacts with WORMWOOD
Wormwood may increase the risk of seizures. Taking wormwood with medications used to prevent seizures may decrease the effects of these medications and increase the risk for seizures.
Medicinal Actions:
Anthelmintic,
Antiarthritic,
Anti-Inflammatory,
Antimicrobial,
Antineoplastic,
Antiparasitic,
Antipsoriatic,
Antirheumatic,
Bitter,
Carminative,
Choleretic,
Diuretic,
Emmenagogue,
Immunomodulator,
Nervine,
Stomachic,
Tonic: Kidney,
Tonic: Uterine
Constituents:
Essential Oil: 3,6-Dihydrochamazulene, 5,6-Dihydrochamazulene
Flower: Achillicin
Leaf: Absinthin, Alpha-Thujone, Artabasin, Artemetin, Ascorbic-Acid, Beta-Carotene, Beta-Thujone, Chamazulene, Cis-Epoxyocimene, Eo, Fat, Isoquercitrin, Isorhamnetin-3-Glucoside, Patueltin-3-0-Rhamnoside, Patuletin-3-0-Glucoside, Spinacetin-3-0-Glucoside, Spinacetin-3-0-Rhamnoglucoside, Tannin, Trans-Epoxyocimene, 2,3-Diepi-Artabsinolide-C, 3,7-Dioxabicycl-(3,3,0)-Octane, 5-Hydroxy-3,6,7,3',4'-Pentamethoxyflavone, Anabsin, Anabsinin, Anabsinthin, Arabsin, Artabin, Artabsinolide, Artemolins, Artenisetin, Arthamaridin, Arthamaridinine, Arthamarin, Arthamarinin, Beta-Caryophyllene, Bisabolene, Cadinene, Camphene, Chlorogenic-Acid, Formic-Acid, Hydroxypelenolide, Inulobiose, Isoabsinthin, Isorhamnetin-3-0-Rhamnoglucoside, Ketopelenolides, Lirioresinol, Matrisin, Methyl-3-(5-Prop-1-Yne-1Yl-Thienyl-(2)-Propionate, Nicotinic-Acid, P-Coumaric-Acid, P-Hydroxyphenylacetic-Acid, Palmitic-Acid, Phellandrene, Pinene, Pipecolic-Acid, Protocatechuic-Acid, Quebrachitol, Quercitin-3-0-Beta-D-Glucoside, Quercitin-3-0-Rhamnoglucoside, Rutin, Sabinene, Salicylic-Acid, Syringic-Acid, Thujyl-Alcohol, Thujyl-Isovalerate, Thujyl-Palmitate, Trans-Saqbinyl-Acetate, Vanillic-Acid
Root: Trans-Dehydromatricaria-Ester, Trans-Spiroketalenol, Ash, Protein
Herbal Preparations For Artemisia absinthium
Cold Infusion
Part Used: Herb
Plant State: Fresh
Place 2 ounces of the fresh chopped leaves into a quart mason jar. Fill the jar with cold water. Cover the jar, place it in a sunny location, and let it sit for 8 to 10 hours. If refrigerated, the infusion will last a couple of days.
Dosage: 1-3 oz daily
Tincture
Part Used: Herb
Plant State: Fresh
Alcohol Percentage: 60%
Plant to Alcohol Ratio: 1:2
Fill a quart mason jar to the neck with chopped, fresh, plant material, then pour in 600 ml of 75% alcohol and 150 ml of water. This will result in a menstrum of 60% alcohol and 40% water, the ideal strength to create your tincture. Next pour the contents of the jar into a blender and blend until all of the plant material is thoroughly chopped into fine pieces and incorporated into the menstrum. This will increase the surface area and provide better leaching of the plant constituents. As a matter of fact, this method works so well that, if necessary, the tincture can be used in as little as 7 days. Now pour the contents of the blender back into the jar. be careful to scrape every last bit of goodness from the blender. Place a lid on the mason jar and place the jar in a dark cupboard. Once a day for the first 7 days, take the jar out of the cupboard and shake it well. Place the jar back into the cupboard, and leave it soak for another 3 weeks. After the tincture has soaked for 30 days, remove it from the cupboard and strain out the spent plant material. Your tincture will remain viable for 2-3 years.
Dosage: 20-40 drops 3 times daily
Tincture
Part Used: Herb
Plant State: Dried
Alcohol Percentage: 60%
Plant to Alcohol Ratio: 1:5
Fill a quart mason jar to the neck with dried plant material, then pour in 600 ml of 75% alcohol and 150 ml of water. This will result in a menstrum of 60% alcohol and 40% water, the ideal strength to create your tincture. Next pour the contents of the jar into a blender and blend until all of the plant material is thoroughly chopped into fine pieces and incorporated into the menstrum. This will increase the surface area and provide better leaching of the plant constituents. As a matter of fact, this method works so well that, if necessary, the tincture can be used in as little as 7 days. Now pour the contents of the blender back into the jar. be careful to scrape every last bit of goodness from the blender. Place a lid on the mason jar and place the jar in a dark cupboard. Once a day for the first 7 days, take the jar out of the cupboard and shake it well. Place the jar back into the cupboard, and leave it soak for another 3 weeks. After the tincture has soaked for 30 days, remove it from the cupboard and strain out the spent plant material. Your tincture will remain viable for 2-3 years.
Dosage: 20-40 drops 3 times daily
