Wormwood herb is offered exclusively in liquid or solid form for oral use. The dosage form is diverse and ranges from teas, drops, juices, solutions and mixtures to fluid extracts and tinctures to dry extracts in the form of coated tablets and tablets.
The average daily dose of 2-3 g of the dried drug should not be exceeded.
Wormwood: preparation as a tea
To prepare tea, finely chop about 1-1.5 g of the drug (equivalent to a maximum of one teaspoon), pour boiling water over it and pass it through a tea strainer. The tea should be drunk about 30 minutes before eating to stimulate appetite, and about 30 minutes after eating to stimulate digestive juices, especially bile flow (cholagogue).
Extracts, solid preparations and tinctures can also be taken.
Contraindications: When should wormwood not be taken?
Wormwood should not be taken during pregnancy and lactation. It is also not suitable for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders resulting from increased acid production or gallstones.
Special notes
Preparations containing wormwood herb should be taken for a maximum of 3-4 weeks at a time, otherwise aversion to wormwood may develop. Wormwood may also be useful in combination with other bitter agents.
Wormwood in absinthe
In many states, absinthe liqueurs (solutions of the essential oil in alcohol) were and still are banned because of their harmful effects, especially when consumed continuously. Chronic ingestion can lead to so-called absinthism with symptoms such as neurotoxic problems, psychological complaints, hallucinations, delirium and increased risk of suicide.
Absinthe gained sad fame in this context through the famous painter Vincent van Gogh, who probably suffered from such absinthe-induced complaints towards the end of his life.
Danger from thujone?
Controversy surrounds whether thujone alone or its combination with alcohol is causative of such damage. In Germany, the permissible limits for thujone are now regulated by food law. However, the occasional ingestion of small amounts of thujone with medicines or food probably does not pose a health risk.
How should wormwood be stored?
The drug should be stored away from light and moisture. The optimal storage is in tight-fitting containers that are not made of plastic.
