Read more about Wormwood or see our
List of Medicinal Plants.
Wormwood is a rustic herb with light-yellow perfumed flowers. Only the leaves and the stalks are used for medicinal purposes.
The herb contains volatile oil (thujone, tanacetone, azulene and cadinene) absinthine, bitterish glucose, absinthol, tannin, chlorophyll, malic acid, vitamin B6 and C.
Wormwood is used internally to treat liver insufficiency, kidney oedema, anemia and absence of the menstrual cycle, anxiety, gout and it is generally good for all the diseases that involve the retention of water in tissues.
The bitter compounds and the volatile oil components have an excitant action over gastric secretion, they are anti-inflammatory and anthelmintic. Wormwood increases diuresis and can be used as a laxative.
Wormwood is a good cicatrizing. The infusion can be used to treat ulcerations and the oil can be applied on wounds. Externally it is also used to treat hemorrhoids and vaginitis.
The flowered heads are used to make “absinthe” and some liqueurs and vermouths.
Wormwood is occasionally used as a spice. Its bitterish taste is perfect for mixing it with fat fish or pork, goose and mutton. The most important use is for preparing stuffed goose which is a traditional meal for Christmas, in Germany.
The tincture is recommended for gastritis, anorexia, asthenia, fever, flu, pneumonia, intoxications and infections with Giardia. It can be prepared from 25g of mashed herb macerated in 120ml of 75o alcohol for 8 days. One spoon of tincture dissolved in 100ml of water must be administrated 3 or 4 times a day.
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