Wormwood or wormwood herb (botanically: Artemisia absinthium L.) belongs to the composite plant family. It is also popularly known as absinthe or wormwood.
Occurrence and cultivation of wormwood
The plant, which grows up to 120 centimeters high, has silver-gray hairy leaves and has a strong aromatic scent. Wormwood grows as a perennial half-shrub with a strong rootstock, preferring dry, calcareous soils. The plant, which grows up to 120 centimeters high, has characteristic silver-gray hairy leaves and has a strong aromatic scent. Wormwood blooms between July and September. Its inflorescences consist of numerous, small, spherical capitula containing yellow tubular flowers. Wormwood grows at altitudes up to 3500 meters. It is widespread in Europe, Asia, North Africa and now also in North and South America. As a medicinal plant, wormwood is grown locally.
Effect and application
Wormwood contains essential oil, the main component of which is the poisonous thujone. In wormwood herb bitter substances are found in high concentration, including mainly absinthe. Furthermore, various flavonoids have been detected. Small amounts of acyteles are also suspected. In Germany, wormwood herb is harvested and cultivated, and its quality is specified in the European Pharmacopoeia. The branch tips of flowering plants are used. On the one hand, they are sold as a cut drug for tea preparations. Dry extracts (in the form of dragées or tablets) and aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic extracts (as tinctures or drops) are also available as phytopharmaceuticals. In addition to the use of wormwood as a medicinal drug, wormwood herb is added to hard-to-digest foods as a spice in some regions. Probably best known is the use of wormwood to prepare wormwood wine and absinthe – a not harmless, high-proof alcoholic beverage. Possible side effects of wormwood overdose include drowsiness to the point of delirium, malaise, and vomiting. In severe cases, kidney damage may occur. This is due to the toxic effect of thujone contained in wormwood.
Significance for health
Already in ancient times wormwood was used as a medicinal plant. Wormwood was considered appetizing and beneficial for digestion. Hildegard von Bingen described in detail the use of wormwood in traditional medicine in the Middle Ages. Furthermore, the use of wormwood as a worm cure is documented, which is also indicated by the English name of wormwood as “wormwood”. As a committee of the European Medicines Agency, the Herbal Medicinal Product Committee (HMPC) decides on the classification of herbal drugs and their approval as herbal medicinal products. Wormwood herb has been classified as a traditional herbal medicinal product by the HMPC. Wormwood has been shown to be effective in stimulating appetite, digestive problems, and liver function. Therefore, wormwood is mainly used in the treatment of temporary loss of appetite, flatulence, gastritis and other cramp-like complaints in the gastrointestinal tract. Those suffering from gallstones or other biliary disorders should consult a doctor before treatment. People with allergies to compositae should not use preparations containing wormwood. Likewise, pregnant women and nursing mothers are advised against it. The use of wormwood is also not recommended for children and adolescents, as there are still no findings on its safety. When using commercially available phytopharmaceuticals, the dosage instructions of the manufacturer should be followed. For a tea infusion, a teaspoon of wormwood herb is poured over about 150 milliliters of boiling water, allowed to steep covered for 10 to 15 minutes and then strained. Three cups of freshly prepared tea are recommended daily. To stimulate the appetite, the tea infusion of wormwood should be drunk about half an hour before meals, in acute digestive problems after meals.