Wormwood is a medicinal plant of the species Artemisia absintherich in lactones, terpenoids, essential oils, flavonoids and phenolic compounds, with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, vermifuge, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties, and is therefore indicated to assist in the treatment of fever, intestinal worms, hepatitis, gastritis or arthritis.
The normally used parts of this plant, which is also known as wormwood, gall herb, alenjo, or worm herb, are the leaves and the upper parts of the flowers, for the preparation of tea, compresses, tincture or extract. fluid.
Wormwood can be purchased at herbalists, health food stores or compounding pharmacies, and should be used under the guidance of a doctor or other health professional who has experience with the use of medicinal plants.
What is it for
Wormwood is popularly recommended for:
- Chronic fever;
- Infections caused by fungi, bacteria and intestinal parasites;
- Gastritis, heartburn and poor digestion;
- Diarrhea;
- Excess intestinal gas;
- Absence of menstruation and menstrual cramps;
- Improve the functioning of the immune system;
- Detoxify the liver;
- Gallstones;
- Lack of appetite or anorexia;
- Arthritis and gout;
- Contusion;
- Depression.
Wormwood has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, vermifuge, antimicrobial, tonic, uterine and gallbladder stimulating, liver protective, antidepressant and immune system stimulating properties.
Although it has many benefits, wormwood should not replace medical treatment with medicines or be used without guidance from a doctor or herbalist.
How to use
Wormwood can be used in different ways depending on the shape it is in and the purpose of its use:
1. Chá de losna
Wormwood tea can be used to help treat gallbladder problems, poor digestion, loss of appetite, or intestinal problems.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of dried wormwood leaves;
- 1 cup of water.
Preparation mode
Boil the water, turn off the heat and add the dried wormwood leaves. Cover and let rest for about 10 minutes. Then strain, wait for it to cool and drink 1 cup of tea, up to 2 times a day, for a maximum of 4 weeks of treatment.
To stimulate your appetite, it is recommended to drink 1 cup of tea before meals. For gastrointestinal or gallbladder problems, you can drink 1 cup of tea after meals.
Wormwood tea can also be used to make compresses to apply to the skin, in cases of gout, arthritis, rheumatism or bruises, for example. To do this, you must wet a gauze pad with the tea and place it on the area of skin you want to treat.
2. Losna tincture
Wormwood tincture can be prepared at home or purchased from health food stores and can be used to stimulate digestion and combat the desire to eat sweets, especially chocolate.
Ingredients
- 10 g of dry or fresh wormwood leaves;
- 100 mL of grain alcohol.
Preparation mode
Add the wormwood leaves and alcohol to a clean, dry, dark glass container with a lid. Cover the glass and shake. Let it rest for 15 days, being important to shake the bottle daily. After this period, strain and take 15 to 20 drops of the tincture, diluted in half a glass of water, 2 to 3 times a day.
3. Fluid extract
Wormwood fluid extract can be used to help treat intestinal worms, which can be purchased at compounding pharmacies or health food stores.
To use the fluid extract, you must take 2 mL (40 drops) diluted in water on an empty stomach. Take every 15 days, for a few months or as usual.
Possible side effects
Wormwood can cause side effects when consumed in quantities greater than those recommended or used for a period longer than 4 weeks, which may include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, kidney failure, bleeding or increased blood pressure.
Furthermore, due to the presence of thujone, thuiol and felandrin in its composition, the use of wormwood in large quantities can cause spasms or muscle degradation, tremor, problems with the central nervous system, paralysis or convulsions, which can put life at risk. .
Wormwood when placed on the skin can also cause skin burns.
Who shouldn’t use
Wormwood should not be used by children, or by people who have allergies to this plant, or porphyria, kidney disease, epilepsy, or symptoms of liver problems.
Furthermore, wormwood should not be used during pregnancy as it can cause miscarriage, or during breastfeeding.
Wormwood should also not be used by people who are being treated with anticoagulants, such as warfarin, for example, as it may increase the risk of bleeding, or medications for epilepsy, such as gabapentin or primidone.
As it contains alcohol, the use of tincture or fluid extract of wormwood is not recommended for people undergoing treatment for alcoholism who use the medicine disulfiram.
