Botanical Index No. 1140

Wormwood

artemisia absinthium

Medicinal Actions

Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antiinflammatory, Antipyretic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Cardiotonic, Carminative, Cholagogue, Choleretic, CNS Depressant, Depurative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Emmenagogue, Filaricide, Fungicide, Gastrogogue, Hepatoprotective, Insecticide, Lactagogue, Narcotic, Pulicide, Secretagogue, Sedative, Sialagogue, Stimulant, Stomachic, Tonic, Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

Abortifacient Aperitif Bitter Deobstruent Discutient Insectifuge Plasmodistat Poison Vermifuge Vulnerary Amenorrhea Anemia Anorexia Arthrosis Atonia Bacteria Biliary Dyskinesia Bruise Bug Bite Callus Cancer breast face foot groin larynx liver limb sinus spleen stomach testes tongue uterus Chest Cold Childbirth Cholecystosis Cold Corn Cramp Dermatosis Diarrhea Dropsy Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Edema Enterosis Fever Flu Fracture Fungus Gas Gastrosis Gout Gravel Head Cold Hepatosis IBS Induration Infection Inflammation Insomnia Itch Jaundice Leukemia Malaria Mycosis Myosis Nervousness Neuralgia Orchosis Pain Parasite Pinworm Rheumatism Roundworm Scleroma Splenosis Sprain Stomachache Tuberculosis Ulcer VD Worm Wound

General Dosage

Up to 1.5 g dry herb in tea 2–3 ×/day; 1–2 g dry herb; 1 tsp herb/cup water 1–3 ×/day, before or after meals; 2–3 g herb/day; 3–5 g herb; 1–2 ml liquid herb extract; 4–16 ml herb tincture; 10–20 drops herb tincture in water 3 ×/day, before meals.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2b, 2d. Emmenagogue and uterotonic. Not for prolonged use. Do not exceed recommended dose. Do not use more than 4 consecutive weeks. None known. Contraindications of GI ulcer. Beware of the toxicity of high doses. Side effects due to thujone overdose include brain damage, convulsions, even death; insomnia, intestinal cramps, nausea, renal damage, restlessness, seizures, stomach cramps, tremors, urine retention, vertigo, and vomiting. CAN cautions that thujone in the various volatile oils can cause severe gastrosis and convulsions. Documented fatalities have been mainly associated with ingestion of some such oils. Such oils should not be used internally or externally. Because of abortifacient and uterine activity caused by the thujone in such oils, their use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided.

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