The health benefits of wormwood and the diseases it treats

Wormwood is classified as an Asteraceae plant, and Asteraceae is also famous for its spread all over the world because in addition to being included in various natural treatments, many natural oils are extracted from it. Wormwood has a sharp and pleasant smell that reflects its taste when added to food, especially salads, and the plant is soaked in boiling water and soaked in warm water to relieve pain in the body, especially in the abdomen and stomach. We will learn more about this amazing plant and its benefits through the Dalili Medical website, in addition to its unique smell and good taste.

What is wormwood

Wormwood is one of the herbs used to exterminate intestinal worms, especially roundworms and pinworms.1 This is the main reason for its use as a preservative, as it eliminates many parasites. Wormwood is the main source of raw artemisinin drugs. 1. It is one of the most powerful malaria drugs on the market. Some studies and studies have also shown the ability of wormwood to kill cancer cells. Wormwood is also used to treat loss of appetite, insomnia, anemia, loss of appetite, flatulence, stomach pain, jaundice and indigestion.

What are the benefits of drinking boiled wormwood

The benefits of drinking wormwood or wormwood boiled in warm water can improve digestion, prevent digestive disorders, help secrete digestive juices, aid digestion, and help maintain stomach and intestinal health. In addition, the compounds contribute to the prevention and relief of inflammation.

Do you lose weight if you drink wormwood?

Despite the potential benefits of promoting digestive health and stimulating appetite, there is no scientific evidence that wormwood can help you lose weight. To lose weight, in addition to balancing calories and burning rate to lose weight or reach the desired weight, it is recommended to follow a balanced diet and exercise regularly and sports activities.

The nutritional composition of wormwood?

Wormwood essential oil contains essential oil Thujone contains many plant compounds known for their calming and soothing effects that enhance the comfort of the soul.

Sesquiterpene lactone Wormwood is rich in sesquiterpene lactone, a group of plant compounds known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Flavonoids are a type of plant compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that enhance the properties of wormwood and its potential health effects.

Tannins or tannins are polyphenolic compounds that contribute to the plant's taste, and their health properties have antioxidant and antibacterial effects.

What is the appropriate dosage for taking wormwood? 

There are no specific guidelines for the dosage of wormwood, but at the same time, many government agencies place restrictions on wormwood plant products because its compounds can cause toxic effects. For example, the European Union limits food prepared from wormwood herbs to (0.5 mg/kg), and the minimum for alcoholic beverages such as absinthe to (35 mg/kg). In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration limits commercially available products that contain tzujong to 10 ppm or less. This amount is considered small, so it is safe for most people. Please note that wormwood tea and its extracts are not regulated by the FDA, and therefore do not fall under these regulations and have significantly more thujone.

If you are not sure how much you should take, it is best to consult your healthcare provider.

Health benefits of wormwood? 

Wormwood has many health benefits, and the most prominent of these benefits can be found here:

Wormwood has been used since ancient times to solve many problems faced by the digestive system, and we will mention some of them below:

It contains a special compound known as cineole (cineole), and this substance is used to treat parasites that cause disease in humans, such as worms that infect the digestive system.

It is used to treat indigestion and get rid of bloating (bloating) in the body.

It helps to enhance the production of bile and is important for the health of the liver and gallbladder.

It neutralizes excess acid in the stomach, preventing acidity and ulcer problems.

It helps relieve symptoms associated with Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

It is used as an effective treatment to get rid of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.

Stimulating menstruation One of the benefits of wormwood is that wormwood has a set of properties that help stimulate and regulate the menstrual cycle, so it is used as a treatment for irregular menstruation and also helps increase sexual desire.1

Relieves stress and depression Wormwood oil relieves sleep disorders and insomnia (loss of smell), fatigue, neuralgia, epileptic seizures, and deep depression. Therefore, it can be used; because it contains narcotic substances consisting of ketones, alpha and beta azone, which help calm the nerves and give muscle relaxation.

Getting rid of wormwood leaf infections Wormwood has many benefits in treating infections that occur as a result of bacterial or viral infections, or substances that infect bacteria. On the other hand, wormwood has proven its great effectiveness in alternative medicine as a treatment for diseases transmitted to the body by malaria and mosquitoes.

It helps in skin care because it helps in treating many skin diseases that affect us such as psoriasis (psoriasis) and acne (acne) It treats alopecia areata significantly by burning its leaves, mixing the ash with olive oil and applying it to the affected area.

Useful for hair care: Wormwood and oil infusions contain oily liquid substances, including tar, which especially helps in solving the problem of hair loss and dryness in women, but it must be used regularly on the hair follicles to give effective and strong results.

It helps in treating cancer. It has been shown that some types of wormwood may be effective in treating cancer cells. Wormwood may help kill cells that extend to normal human cells, as well as cancer cells. It may help reduce the symptoms of chemotherapy and improve quality of life, but research must continue to confirm this.

Eliminate malaria: Malaria is a serious disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Malaria invades human red blood cells. Artemisinin, which is extracted from wormwood, is used. This herbal drug is the most powerful to fight and eliminate malaria. Wormwood is known for its ability to reduce the number of parasites in the blood of a patient with malaria. Artemisinin is used as a primary treatment for uncomplicated malaria, as artemisinin kills malaria by reacting with iron in the parasites, thus producing free radicals that destroy the cell walls of the malaria parasite.

Eliminate Parasites: Wormwood is used to eliminate intestinal worms, especially pinworms or roundworms. Roundworms or threadworms are parasites that infect the intestines. Pinworms can cause severe itching in the anal area, while roundworms cause coughing, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, blood in the stool, and weight loss. Parasites can be treated naturally by using wormwood, black walnut, and cloves to eliminate parasitic infections.

Contributes to the treatment of Crohn's disease: Wormwood improves the condition of patients with Crohn's disease according to studies. The results indicate that wormwood can reduce the need for steroids in patients suffering from this disease. Wormwood improves the mood and quality of life of the patient. These results were great compared to medications used to treat Crohn's disease.

Benefits of wormwood for pregnant women It is not recommended to use wormwood during pregnancy, as it may stimulate uterine contractions, as it contains thujone, which is associated with toxic effects on the nervous system. It is generally recommended not to use or take herbal substances during pregnancy without consulting a gynecologist to avoid health risks that the pregnant woman or her fetus may be exposed to.

Benefits of wormwood for the colon: Wormwood helps promote digestive health, including preventing colon diseases and Crohn's disease because it contains chemical compounds such as sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids with anti-inflammatory activity. These compounds help stimulate the production of digestive juices and enzymes that help break down and absorb nutrients, to help improve digestion and prevent digestive disorders such as bloating, indigestion and constipation.

Benefits of wormwood for women: Wormwood is used by many women to help regulate menstrual cycles, in addition to relieving menstrual symptoms and reducing the pain associated with them. However, despite this, studies and research must be conducted to reveal the effectiveness of wormwood in regulating the menstrual cycle and relieving its pain, and then ensuring that wormwood does not cause other health damage.

Benefits of wormwood for the skin Despite the lack of scientific research and studies proving the effectiveness of wormwood for the skin, due to its antimicrobial properties, it is used by many people to soothe the skin and relieve symptoms of itching, redness and rashes resulting from insect bites, in addition to its use to disinfect minor wounds and protect them from inflammation. However, it is recommended to consult a doctor to ensure the safety of using wormwood in the event of exposure to wounds and bites, to receive appropriate treatment and reduce health complications.

Benefits of wormwood for weight loss Wormwood is used for its many benefits in stimulating appetite, improving digestion and preventing digestive disorders. It has proven effective in losing weight. To lose weight, it is recommended to follow a balanced diet and be sure to exercise regularly.

How to prepare wormwood herb

To obtain the health benefits of wormwood, wormwood herb is used as follows:

It is used as tea or infusion, by soaking a spoonful of dried or fresh wormwood herb in a cup of hot water for a quarter of an hour, then sweetening the drink with honey or sugar; Because it has a bitter taste. It can be used as incense or powder to treat insect bites.

Types of wormwood

Artemisia absinthium is a shrub that reaches a height of 1.2 meters, and its origins go back to Europe, then spread to the United States of America, and is characterized by its pungent smell resulting from its content of essential oils, and its bitter-tasting extract has been used as a spice for food, and in preparing appetizers, and it can also be added to some drinks; such as tea or coffee. Artemisia is available in many forms and products; as it is consumed in the form of powder, and some may take it as a drink, in addition to being commercially available as an aromatic oil, and it is also used in the manufacture of dyes (Tincture), and the preparation of aqueous extracts, and is available in the form of tablets and capsules, and on the other hand, its concentration may vary from one product to another; This is according to the manufacturer.

Artemisia herba-alba Asso is a short, silver-green shrub that grows in desert to semi-arid climates and is found in North Africa and the Middle East. It is worth noting that some parts of this plant contain compounds that are believed to have antiparasitic and antibacterial properties and reduce blood sugar levels. The appropriate dose to consume from this plant depends on several factors, such as: age, health level, and

It should be noted that there is no information specifying this dosage, and it is recommended to consult a pharmacist or doctor before consuming it.

Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) is an herb used in cooking and preparing some drinks, and is also used in manufacturing as a soap fragrance. Tarragon is a good source of potassium, and it contains compounds that fight some types of bacteria.

Artemisia vulgaris This plant grows in Asia, North America, and Europe, and is characterized by its fragrant smell. Its roots that rise above the soil (aerial root) produce an aromatic oil that constitutes 0.1 - 1.4% of its content, and this oil has antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. It can also be used as a food flavoring, and Artemisia vulgaris contains some compounds that are believed to cause uterine contractions, but this is not confirmed, and more studies are still needed to confirm its effect.

Artemisia annua is an aromatic herb that originated in China; it has been used since 168 BC, and is called Qinghao, and is widespread in Asia, Europe, and North America, and contains compounds that are beneficial to health, such as: artemisinin; which is believed to have antiparasitic properties that cause malaria infection. However, this herb should not be consumed alone for the purpose of combating malaria; as the concentration of this substance in the herb is low, and therefore its effect is limited to inhibiting the growth of parasites without killing them. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that more clinical and other studies are still needed to verify the effectiveness and safety of using artemisia tea and other forms of it.

What are the harms of artemisia? 

People at risk and people with certain conditions may want to avoid artemisia. Contraindications include:

Pregnancy. You shouldn’t take wormwood if you’re pregnant, as it may cause miscarriage.

Breastfeeding and early childhood. Breastfeeding women and children should avoid this herb due to a lack of safety information.

Epilepsy. Thujone stimulates the brain and is known to cause seizures. Wormwood may also reduce the effectiveness of common anticonvulsant medications, such as gabapentin and primidone.

Heart disease. Taking this herb with the heart medication warfarin may cause gastrointestinal bleeding.

Kidney disease. Wormwood is toxic to the kidneys and may increase your risk of kidney failure.

Certain allergies. If you’re allergic to members of the Asteraceae family, such as ragweed and marigold, you may also react to wormwood, which is in the same plant family.

A rare inherited blood condition called porphyria. The thujone in wormwood oil may increase your body’s production of chemicals called porphyrins. This can make porphyria worse.

People with the hereditary disorder porphyria may experience worsening of their condition if they consume wormwood, which contains thujone, as it causes them to produce too much porphyrin.