Artemisia absinthium (Wormwood)

Question 1

How do you recognise Wormwood?

Answer 1

• Tripinnate silvery green leaves & small yellow green flowers.
• Native to Europe, Asia & N. Africa.
• Named after the goddess Artemis.
• Used for flavouring in vermouth and absinthe.
• A warming bitter.
• Named so as keeps away moths, also anti-protozoal

Question 2

What are Wormwood ‘s main constituents?

Answer 2

Constituents:
* Sesquiterpene lactones: absinthin, artemisinin, arbasin, santoinin
* Essential oil: thujone (toxic to CNS), absitol, azulenes (antiinflammatory).
* Flavone glycosides.
* Hydroxycoumarins.
* Lignans.
* Most of the plant’s activities attributed to the bitter sesquiterpenes.

Question 3

What family is Wormwood?

Answer 3

Asteraceae

Question 4

What is Wormwood good for?

Answer 4

Summary: Aromatic, warming bitter. A tonic, Bendle only uses it in small amounts, good for people with low appetite, with infections - builds you up. An immune system stimulant which also does all the usual bitter stuff.

Actions:
* Aromatic bitter.
* Antimicrobial, antiprotozoal & anthelmintic.
* Immune stimulant.
* General tonic.
* Anti-inflammatory.
* Carminative.
* Choleretic.
* Emmenagogue.
* Anti-neoplastic - .
* Hepatoprotective
* Narcotic.
* CNS stimulant.

Applications:
* General tonic especially after infection.
* Anorexia.
* Malabsorption.
* Headaches.
* Amenorrhea.
* Historically seen as an antidote to poisons
* May help the pancreas?

Question 5

What is Wormwood ‘s Latin name?

Answer 5

Artemisia absinthium

Question 6

What parts of Wormwood do you use?

Answer 6

Parts used: leaves/aerial parts.

Question 7

What safety issues might Wormwood have?

Answer 7

Safety: avoid in pregnancy, people with epilepsy (linked to thujone) & peptic
ulcers. May worsen PMS/PMT. Not to be taken in large amounts basically!! Sometimes sold as a ‘legal high’.

Question 8

What useful research does Wormwood have?

Answer 8

External links:
* Antiviral and Immunomodulation Effects of Artemisia – a review of Artemisia species generally from 2021.
* Artemisia absinthium L.—Importance in the History of Medicine, the Latest Advances in Phytochemistry and Therapeutical, Cosmetological and Culinary Uses from 2022

Question 9

What remedies might you use Wormwood in?

Answer 9

Dosage: up to 10ml/week 1:3 tincture.
Bendle uses only small amounts. Avoid with usual strong bitter issues eg ulcers, peptic ulcers. Nudges people in the right direction.