Wormwood

 

Artemisia annua.

 

Vitaklenz: 105mg

Vitaklenz for Kidz: 14mg

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The use of wormwood in beverages dates back perhaps as far back as the Saracens. Various methods of consumption have been used through history, including mixing the essential oil with beer or adding wormwood seeds to the distillation of whisky. 1 Most famous however is the mixing of the wormwood drug absinthol with anise to produce the intoxicating beverage known as absinthe. Overuse of this drink had devastating effects in Europe in the 18th century, with overindulgence bringing about paralysis. 1 Wormwood is employed today in the making of vermouth, accounting for this drink’s characteristic bitter flavor. 1

 

Historically wormwood has been used as a parasitic worm killer, an aphrodisiac, tonic and to induce perspiration. 2 Other traditional applications include regulating menstruation and reducing fever. 3 Duke’s handbook of Medicinal Herbs lists antibacterial and antifungal properties for wormwood. 4 In times past wormwood was thought to counteract poison. It was also strewn about chambers to repel moths, fleas and other insects. When rumors of plague breaking out in London hit the streets in 1760, merchants reported running out of wormwood due to the huge public demand. 1 Orally wormwood is taken for loss of appetite, indigestion and gastrointestinal problems. 5 6 It is often used in conjunction with other herbs to deal with gallbladder disorders and flatulence. 2

 

The constituents of wormwood include absinthin, anabsinthin (both bitter compounds), and a volatile oil that is 70% thujone. 2 Habitual large doses of wormwood can cause restlessness, insomnia, nightmares, vomiting, abdominal pains, dizziness, tremors, convulsions and urinary tract dysfunction. Thujone’s toxicity can cause various effects as the amount of wormwood consumed increases, including seizures, delirium and hallucinations in extreme cases. Some researchers believe that thujone’s mind altering effects are similar to THC in marijuana. 2 There are some beneficial uses of this wormwood constituent however, as thujone shows promise as an antioxidant. It also appears to have moderate antimicrobial and antifungal properties. 7

 

Without doubt the most famous therapeutic use of wormwood is the expulsion of parasitic worms. Many reference works continue to list wormwood as an effective vermifuge, and some also list it for its antibacterial and antifungal actions. 3 4 8 9 10 Artemisinins also have a broad-spectrum of trematocidal activity in laboratory animals. 11

 

Artemisia annua was rediscovered during the Vietnam War by Chinese researchers looking for a solution to malaria. Records were uncovered outlining this herb’s use as an antimalarial dating back to 341A.D. 12 A. annua’s has anti-malarial properties have since been confirmed clinically, with animal tests confirming that alcohol extracts of the dried leaves have considerable anti-malarial potential, 13 showing far greater anti-malarial potential than extracts from over 30 other species in lab tests. 14 While discredited by WHO in comparison to Artemisinin Combination Therapies, studies have shown that orally ingested, powdered dried leaves of whole herb A. annua kill malaria parasites more effectively than a comparable dose of the pure drug. 15

 

A. annua has been shown to kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) regardless of the carbon source used for its growth (Mtb metabolizes a variety of difference sources of carbon that it likely encounters during infection). 16

 

Derivatives of A. annua show activity against cancer cells, schistosomiasis, 17 and certain viruses (including human cytomegalovirus, and hepatitis B and C viruses), and artemisinin has a broad therapeutic power against many other infectious agents, including the protozoan parasites Leishmanania trypanosoma and T. gondii. 18 Antileishmanial activity of more than 70 artemisinin derivatives against L. donovani promastigotes has been observed. 19 20 Further, artemisinin compounds are effective against T. cruzi and T brucei rhodesiense, offering “unique opportunities to exploit artemisinins as therapeutic agents for these life-threatening pathogens.” 21

 

Wormwood is generally regarded as safe when used appropriately and for short durations. Wormwood should not be taken in large amounts or long-term. This herb has been declared unsafe for use during pregnancy due to its uterine and menstrual stimulating effects. Due to the lack of sufficient reliable information, wormwood should not be used while breastfeeding.

 

A study of all TGA-listed complimentary medicines containing Wormwood species in Australia in 2021 identified only 1 product out of 46 as containing levels of artemisinin over the recommended safety levels for pregnant mothers during their first trimester, and this was clearly labelled as a high-dose artemisia supplement. 22

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