Asteraceae
Wormwood
Artemisia absinthium
⚠ Use with Caution
Avoid in Pregnancy
Native to: Eurasia, North Africa, North America
Also known as: Common Wormwood, Absinth, Green Ginger, Grand Wormwood
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
LeafFlower
Therapeutic Uses
Intestinal parasites (roundworm, pinworm — traditional antiparasitic), dyspepsia (extremely bitter — powerful digestive), liver and gallbladder support, anorexia, Lyme disease adjunct. Absinth liqueur base.
Herbal Actions
Bitter tonic (strongest known), anthelmintic, cholagogue, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial
Active Constituents
Volatile oil (thujone, azulene, β-thujone — toxic in excess), sesquiterpene lactones (absinthin, anabsinthin), flavonoids, tannins
Preparation Methods
🏺 Tincture☕ Herbal Tea💊 Capsule
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | 0.25 tsp dried herb per 250ml, steep 5 min — extremely bitter, 3x daily before meals |
| Tincture | 1–2 ml (1:5, 45% ethanol), 3x daily — LOW DOSE |
| Notes | Extremely bitter — small doses effective. For parasites: combine with black walnut and clove (traditional 3-herb protocol). Maximum 4-week courses. Thujone neurotoxic in excess — respect dosage. Historically used in absinth — thujone blamed for absinthe madness. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
⚠ Use with Caution
Pregnancy
Avoid in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
None known
Contraindications: Avoid in pregnancy (abortifacient). Avoid in seizure disorders (thujone pro-convulsant). Do not use long-term. Avoid in liver disease.
Side Effects: Thujone: convulsions, psychosis, neuropathy at high doses. GI irritation. Headache. Short-term use at low doses: safe.