The scientific name of wormwood is Artemisia absinthium. It is a herb prized for its distinctive aroma, herbaceous flavor, and health benefits. It is native to Europe, but it grows readily across various climates, including parts of Africa, Asia, South America, and the United States. The wormwood has velvety white or greenish–silver stems, yellow-green leaves, and bulbous flowers which are bright or pale yellow. All parts of the wormwood have been used in traditional medicine practices for hundreds of years. Typically, wormwood is taken as an extract or tea.
The wormwood oil is made from the stems and leaves of the plant, whereas an extract or tincture may use the entire plant. There are no enough studies that can tell you the right dosage of wormwood which you should consume. But, you should be careful with the usage of wormwood, because there are some compounds, which can produce toxic effects. You should not take the wormwood if you are pregnant, because it can cause miscarriage. Also, women who are breastfeeding and children should avoid this herb due to a lack of safety information.
The wormwood has a component known as thujone, which stimulates the brain and has been known to cause seizures. Also, wormwood can decrease the effectiveness of common anti-seizure medications, such as primidone and gabapentin. You can use the wormwood in a form of tea, either using dried or fresh wormwood. Here are some health benefits of wormwood:
Health Benefits of Wormwood
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Fights against inflammation
The wormwood has a component called artemisinin, which can help to fight against inflammation in your body. Prolonged inflammation is associated with several chronic diseases. It is thought that artemisinin can inhibit cytokines, which are proteins secreted by the immune system and they can promote inflammation.
Also, some studies are said that wormwood can help to relieve Crohn’s disease, which is characterized by inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract. In one study were participating 40 adults with this condition. They were taking 500 mg of wormwood supplement three times per day and they had fewer symptoms and a reduced need for steroids after eight weeks, compared with people in the placebo group.
Boosts antioxidant properties
The wormwood has a compound called chamazulene. It is acting as an antioxidant and it is most concentrated in the essential oils of the plant’s pre-flowering stage. This antioxidant can help to combat the oxidative stress in your body, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, cancer, and other ailments.
Fights against parasitic infections
The wormwood has been used to treat intestinal worms for ages. It has parasite fighting properties, which are attributed to the presence of thujone. But, this property of wormwood should be scientifically proven. Also, in some studies are shown that wormwood can help in the fight against tapeworms and other parasites, but there need to be done a lot more studies for humans.
Help alleviate pain
This herb has been long period suggested as a pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory agent. It can help you to get relief from osteoarthritis, which is a painful condition that results from joint inflammation.
Stimulates digestion
In traditional medicine, wormwood is used to help digestion. In one small study, done in 2014 was found that this property of wormwood can be believed.
Beats malaria
We know that malaria is a serious disease, which is caused by a parasite that is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes and it invades human red blood cells. The wormwood has a component called Artemisinin. It is also a herbal drug, which is the most powerful antimalarial agent on the market.
Treats SIBO
There are some studies in which are shown that wormwood can be useful for fighting against small intestinal overgrowth or SIBO symptoms. Nowadays, this condition is usually treated with the usage of oral antibiotics, but wormwood can be used too.