Artemisia absinthium
From Wikiwel
Other Names : absinthe, absinthium, absinthe wormwood, wormwood
is a species of Artemisia, native to temperate regions of Eurasia and Northern Africa and widely naturalized in Canada and the northern United States. It is grown as an ornamental plant and is used as an ingredient in the spirit absinthe as well as some other alcoholic drinks.
See also :
Special Precautions of Artemisia absinthium
- Wormwood Essential Oil is poisonous and is basically a neurotoxin. Extreme care should be taken while using wormwood for medicinal purposes and prolonged use should be avoided.
- Large doses can cause nervous afflictions, convulsions, restlessness, impulsive behaviour, and even death. * Prolonged use can result in permanent damage to the brain and the nervous system, even resulting in insanity.
- It does have narcotic effects and is highly addictive.
- Wormwood oil should not be used in aromatherapy since it contains an extremely high amount of thujone which is a convulsant and neurotoxin.
Health benefits and uses of Artemisia absinthium
The herb has been used in traditional medicine as a sedative and anti-inflammatory agent and cardiac stimulation and to treat gastrointestinal disorders, fever, irregular menstruation, loss of appetite , improve memory and for the restoration of declining mental function, etc.
- Cholagogue: Since wormwood essential oil has a cholagogue property, it promotes the discharge of bile from the liver into the stomach and stimulates other discharges as well. This helps in two ways. Firstly, bile, being alkaline or basic in nature, helps in the decomposition or breaking down of food and thereby facilitates digestion. Secondly, it helps neutralize the excess acids in the stomach, thereby giving relief from problems like acidity, ulcers caused due to prolonged acidity, and acidosis.
- Deodorant: Since this oil is high in thujone content, it has a characteristic smell of that constituent and has an aroma similar to that of Thuja. This justifies its use as a deodorant. However, care should be taken to use it in a very high degree of dilution to avoid excessive inhalation.
- Digestive: Being a cholagogue, it stimulates the production and secretion of bile and other digestive juices into the stomach. This facilitates digestion, which means that this oil can be used for digestive purposes, but only in extremely low doses.
- Emenagogue: Its property of stimulating discharges makes wormwood essential oil an emenagogue. It stimulates menstrual discharges and help to open obstructed menstruation. This is very beneficial from the point of view of health since obstructed menstruation can give rise to some critical health problems in women, including uterine tumors and cancer. The emmenagogue property of Wormwood Essential Oil helps get rid of problems like headaches, abdominal cramps and ache, nausea, fatigue, lack of appetite, and make periods more regular.
- Febrifuge: The toxic property of certain components like alpha thujone and beta thujone of Wormwood Essential Oil help fight infections, as they kill microbes and inhibit their growth. They are also fatal for viruses and bacteria, which give fevers. Wormwood essential oil thereby aids in the reduction of fever, making this oil a febrifuge.
- Insecticide: A substance that is highly poisonous to higher animals and mammals will no doubt be poisonous to some lower animals and insects (excluding those stubborn insects who have either developed resistance to some of the deadliest poisons or are naturally immune against them). So, being poisonous, the Essential Oil of Wormwood serves as an insecticide and an insect repellant. It can be used in sprays, vapourizers, and fumigants to have this effect.
- Narcotic: In general, the term “Narcotic” has a negative impression on most countries in the world. However, it can also be beneficial against certain symptoms, just like some of the deadliest poisons have their uses as medicines. The narcotic effect of this oil can be used to pacify or calm down nervous afflictions, epileptic and hysteric attacks, convulsions, stress, tension, and insomnia.
- Vermifuge: The parasitic worms, such as round worms, tape worms, and hook worms that are occasionally found in the human body cannot withstand the toxicity of Wormwood Essential Oil and are quickly killed. This helps in regaining a proper growth pattern, particularly in children, due to the proper absorption of nutrients in the body.
- Tonic: The Essential Oil of Wormwood is a tonic that tones up the organic systems and also fortifies the body. It tones up digestion and helps in the proper absorption of nutrients in the body. Then, it tones up circulation and helps in the proper and uniform distribution of nutrients throughout the body. Again, it tones up the excretory system and keeps our body free of unwanted materials and toxins.
Its toning effect on the endocrine system helps in proper growth and maturity and it also maintains the proper discharge of hormones and enzymes. By toning up the nervous system, it keeps us more active and alert. The immune system is also toned up by this oil, which provides effective protection against infections and diseases.
