Artemisia absinthium

Artemisia absinthium [Image]. [2014]. Retrieved from: http://www.finegardening.com/plantguide/artemisia-absinthium-absinth-wormwood.aspx

Common name: 
Wormwood 
(Hoffman, 1983, p.237).  

Latin binomial:
Artemisia absinthium 
(Hoffman, 1983, p.237). 
 

Family:
Compositae
(Hoffman, 1983, p.237).  
 

Parts used:
Leaves and flowering tips
(Hoffman, 1983, p.237).  
 

Active constituents:

• Wormwood is rich in essential oils including
• Absinthol
• Thujyl
• Isovaleric acid
• Bitter sesquiterpenes
• Flavonoid glycosides

(Hoffman, 1983, p.237). 

  

Actions:

• Bitter tonic
• Carminative
• Anthelmintic
• Anti-inflammatory

(Hoffman, 1983, p.237). 

 

Indications:

• Primarily used as a bitter and therefore has the effect of stimulating and invigorating the whole digestive process.
• It may also be used to help the body to deal with fever and infection, and due to its general tonic action the whole body will benefit from its actions.

 (Hoffman, 1983, p.237). 

 

Contraindications: 
None known as long as it is taken within its recommended dose (Bone, 2003, p. 468). 
However it is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation (Bone, 2003, p. 469).
  

Dosage:

• Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto 1-2 teaspoons of the dried herb and leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes, this should be drunk three times a day.
• Tincture: take 1-4 ml of the tincture three times a day.
• Pill: the powdered herb may be used for the extraction of worms in the form of a pill, which will help to avoid its.

 (Hoffman, 1983, p.237).

References:

Hoffman, D. (1983) The holistic herbal. Element books: Dorset.