Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a perennial shrub native to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa. It's now cultivated in North America as well. The plant has deeply lobed, grayish-green leaves and small yellow flowers that bloom in July and August. It is an aromatic plant with a potent sage odor and bitter taste. Herbalists and manufacturers use wormwood leaves and smaller stems to make medicines.
Wormwood is a bitter herb known for its use in the alcoholic drinks vermouth and absinthe. While it isn’t hallucinogenic, its most notable plant compound, thujone, can be toxic and even fatal in large amounts. However, wormwood may offer numerous benefits when taken in moderation.
Traditional Uses and Confirmed Biological Activities
Historically, people have used wormwood to treat a wide range of ailments. Traditionally, A. absinthium has always been of pharmaceutical and botanical importance and used to manage several disorders including hepatocyte enlargement, hepatitis, gastritis, jaundice, wound healing, splenomegaly, dyspepsia, indigestion, flatulence, gastric pain, anemia, and anorexia. According to a 2020 article, wormwood’s confirmed biological activities include:
- Stimulating digestion and appetite
- Being antiparasitic
- Inhibiting the growth of protozoan infection
- Having antibacterial properties
- Being antifungal
- Being anti-ulcer
- Preventing damage to the liver
- Being anti-inflammatory
- Having antioxidants
- Stimulating the immune system
- Having the ability to damage cancer cells
- Being a pain reliever
- Protecting nerve cells against damage
- Being an antidepressant
- Reducing mental confusion
- Stabilizing cell membranes
Chemical Composition and Active Ingredients
Wormwood has numerous compounds responsible for its biological activities, including:
- Essential oils
- Bitter sesquiterpene lactones absinthin isomers
- Bitter compounds, such as artemisinin
- Phenolic acids
- Flavonoids
- Coumarins
A. absinthium contains many phytochemical compounds namely, lactones, terpenoids (e.g., trans-thujone, γ-terpinene, 1,4-terpeniol, myrcene, bornyl acetate, cadinene camphene, trans-sabinyl acetate, guaiazulene, chamazulene, camphor, and linalool), essential oils, organic acids, resins, tannins, and phenols. It also contains flavonoids (e.g., quercitin), flavonoid glycosides such as isorhamnetin-3-O-rhamnose glucoside, isoquercitrin, quercitin-3-O-D-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoglucoside, and isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, and phenolic acids (coumaric, syringic, salicylic, chlorogenic, and vanillic acids) which contribute to free radical scavenging mechanism. Previous studies documented that A. absinthium essential oils are rich in myrcene, trans-thujone, cis-epoxyocimene, cis-chrysanthenyl acetate, and trans-sabinyl acetate are the most common compounds found in.
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The most well-known active ingredient in wormwood is thujone. Wormwood contains two types of thujone called alpha thujone and beta thujone. The alpha form is more toxic than the beta form. Thujone is thought to excite your brain by blocking gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that has calming effects on the central nervous system. Although this compound may have several benefits, consuming thujone in excess is toxic and has been linked to seizures and even death.
Potential Uses and Benefits of Wormwood
Wormwood has been associated with many benefits, such as alleviating pain and inflammation and fighting oxidative stress and parasitic infections. However, more scientific research is necessary.
Absinthe Drink
Wormwood is the active component in the alcoholic drink absinthe. government banned absinthe in 1912 because it believed it was hallucinogenic. Since 2007, retailers can sell the beverage, provided its thujone level is below 10 parts per million, which they label as thujone-free.
Treating Parasites and Digestive Disorders
People in Asia and Europe traditionally used wormwood to treat gastrointestinal disorders and expel worms and parasites. Today, herbalists use wormwood to improve digestion and hypoacidity or lack of appetite. A 2020 review explained that the bitter compounds in wormwood can stimulate gastric juices and bile and improve blood flow in the digestive system. It also suggests that the herb can force out parasitic organisms and act against several pathogens.
Wormwood has been traditionally used for treatment of parasites. Several other herbs are traditionally used for treatment of parasites, including male fern (Dryopteris filix mas) root, tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) leaf, , sweet Annie, black walnut (Juglans nigra) fruit, and cloves (Syzygium aromaticum). As a traditional medicine, wormwood was used by herbalists as a bitter to improve digestion. Modern herbal medicine rarely uses wormwood alone. It is typically combined with herbs such as peppermint or caraway to treat heartburn and even irritable bowel syndrome.
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Treating Inflammatory Conditions and Immune Disorders
A 2017 study indicated that topical treatment with wormwood is comparable to piroxicam gel for knee osteoarthritis. Study participants had no pain after 2 weeks of treatment with wormwood ointment. An older animal study found that wormwood has significant pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects due to its flavonoids. Wormwood may also be beneficial for treating inflammation associated with Crohn’s disease. Furthermore, wormwood may inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cells.
Scientists have also examined wormwood’s effects on the immune system and cells, suggesting it may be effective for treating immune disorders, intracellular viruses, and bacterial infections. A. absinthium extracts was reported to reduce tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and provide synergistic action on healing in patients with Crohn’s disease.
Offering Antidepressant and Brain-Protective Effects
A 2020 review indicated that wormwood supports the body’s antioxidant glutathione formation and protects the brain. It notes that animal studies suggest wormwood has an antidepressant effect and may increase serotonin. Another review suggested that wormwood may benefit those with neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, and have neuroprotective, anti-depressant, and procognitive actions. However, researchers need to conduct more human research to confirm these effects.
Balancing Blood Sugar
Limited research suggests that wormwood may be beneficial for balancing blood sugar and insulin. However, further human research is needed to understand this claim fully.
Antioxidant Properties
Besides thujone, another notable wormwood compound is chamazulene. It acts as an antioxidant and is most concentrated in the essential oils of the plant’s pre-flowering stage. Antioxidants like chamazulene may combat oxidative stress in your body, which is associated with cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and other ailments.
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The free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity of A. absinthium has been reported by Ali et al.. They documented that this activity is attributed to the presence of several phenolic compounds (gallic acid, coumaric acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, chlorogenic salicylic acid) and flavonoids including quercetin and rutin. Recently, Bora et al. revealed that A. absinthium possesses potent antioxidant properties and its methanolic extract has clearly demonstrated neuroprotection evidenced by the reduction of lipid peroxidation level associated with decreasing thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level and the recovery of endogenous antioxidant (e.g., superoxide dismutase (SOD) glutathione (GSH)), indicating that A. absinthium may be used as a preventive agent against diseases related to oxidative stress.
Anticancer Activities
Shafi et al. have studied the antiproliferative effect of methanolic A. absinthium extract on estrogen-unresponsive MDA-MB-231 human breast and an estrogen-responsive MCF-7 cancer cell lines. They showed that A. absinthium stimulated 50% abrogation on the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. They reported that the anticancer mechanisms of A. absinthium extract was attributed to the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway, which simultaneously activates the mitochondrial pathway of caspase activation, and regulates Bad and Bcl-2 family proteins, resulting in MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells apoptotic death.
Neuroprotective and Antidepressant Activities
Bora et al. revealed that A. absinthium demonstrated neuroprotective effects on cerebral damage stimulated by reperfusion and may aid in the formation of endogenous antioxidant including glutathione peroxidase and SOD. Additionally, the plant promotes cognitive ability through its nicotinic and muscarinic action .
Mahmoudi et al. investigated the anti-depressant activity of A. absinthium using forced swimming and tail suspension tests. They revealed that A. absinthium extract had the same anti-depressant efficacy as imipramine in reducing the immobility period. This antidepressant action may be attributed to mechanistic action including inhibition of MAO, abrogation of depression, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibition as well as the possible combination of phytochemical compounds present in extract.
Immunomodulatory and Wound Healing Activities
Shahnazi et al. documented the immuno-modulatory effect of ethanolic A. absinthium extract on the function and maturation of dendritic cells (DCs). They revealed that this extract adjusts the immune stimuli toward a Th1 pattern at concentrations less than 100 µg/mL through activating CD40 expression on DCs, production of cytokine, as well as inhibiting the dendritic T cell-stimulating effect.
Hoseinian et al. indicated the wound healing activity of A. absinthium by triggering the curative development of the wound of Achilles tendon in rabbit. This may be related to the free radical scavenging of β-thujone and β-pinene isolated from A. absinthium.
Hepatoprotective Activities
Mohammadian et al. stated that A. absinthium hydroalcoholic extract administration promotes hepatic function and inhibits the concentration of oxidative stress indices. Consistently, the extract of A. absinthium promotes and maintains the structural morphology of the hepatocellular membrane resulting in reduced activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in serum.
Dosage and Administration
Due to a lack of research, no specific dosage guidelines for wormwood exist. At the same time, various governmental institutions have placed restrictions on wormwood products, as its compounds can produce toxic effects.
Thujone-free wormwood is commonly found in foods and alcoholic drinks such as bitters, vermouth, and absinthe. As medicine, there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of wormwood might be. Keep in mind that wormwood products that contain a chemical called thujone may be poisonous. Consult a healthcare professional before using.
Wormwood is typically taken as an extract or tea. Its oil is made from the stems and leaves of the plant, whereas an extract or tincture may use the entire plant. Wormwood stems, leaves, and flowers are usually dried for brewing into a tea. Plus, the herb can sometimes be found in supplement form and herbal blends. For application on the skin, it’s extracted into an essential oil and diluted into lotions or ointments.
A wormwood tea can be made by adding 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (2.5 to 5 grams) of the herb to 1 cup (250 ml) of boiling water, then steeping for ten to fifteen minutes. Many doctors recommend drinking three cups (750 ml) each day.
Keep in mind that wormwood tea and extracts aren’t regulated by the FDA. Thus, they don’t fall under these regulations and harbor significantly more thujone. If you’re unsure how much to take, it’s best to speak to your medical provider.
Precautions and Side Effects
Using thujone-containing wormwood products can be unsafe. Thujone can cause seizures, kidney failure, vomiting, and other serious side effects.
Vulnerable populations and people with certain conditions may want to avoid wormwood. These conditions include:
- Pregnancy: Wormwood is likely unsafe when taken by mouth as medicine during pregnancy. Some wormwood products contain the chemical thujone. Thujone might affect the uterus and endanger the pregnancy.
- Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if wormwood is safe when taken by mouth or applied to the skin while breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
- Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Wormwood may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others.
- A rare inherited blood condition called porphyria: The thujone in wormwood oil might increase the body's production of chemicals called porphyrins. This could make porphyria worse.
- Kidney disorders: Taking wormwood oil might cause kidney failure. If you have kidney problems, talk with your healthcare provider before taking wormwood.
- Seizure disorders, including epilepsy: Wormwood contains thujone, which can cause seizures. Wormwood might increase the risk for seizures in people who have a history of seizures.
- Heart disease: Taking this herb with the heart disease medication warfarin may cause intestinal bleeding.
Longer-term use (over four weeks) or intake of amounts higher than those recommended can cause nausea, vomiting, insomnia, restlessness, vertigo, tremors, and seizures. Thujone-containing oil or alcoholic beverages (absinthe) made with the oil is strictly inadvisable-the oil is addictive and may cause brain damage, seizures, and even death.
People should not take wormwood during pregnancy. Studies indicate that thujone in wormwood may cross the blood-brain barrier and affect the nervous system. In animal experiments, thujone causes convulsions and affects fertility. According to a 2021 review, wormwood may cause allergic reactions, including rhinitis and dermatitis, through contact with the skin, digestion in tea, or pollen.
People who have epilepsy or are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking certain medications should avoid wormwood.
Interactions
Wormwood may increase the risk of seizures. Taking wormwood with medications used to prevent seizures may decrease the effects of these medications and increase the risk for seizures. It is possible that unknown interactions exist. If you take medication, always discuss the potential risks and benefits of adding a new supplement with your doctor or pharmacist.