Family

• Asteraceae

Constituents

• Essential oil
• Tuiona (toxic substance that can be found in alcohol but not in infusions)
• Bitter substances
• Sesquiterpene lactones
• Silylium
• Flavonoids
• Tannins

Parts used

• Flowering leaves or summits (aerial parts of flowers)

Properties

• Stomachic (against stomach pains)
• Bitter
• Anthelmintic (against helminths or worms)
• Aromatic (provides flavor)
• Appetite stimulant

Indications

• Gastric acidity
• Anorexia
• Lack of appetite
• Flatulence
• Bloating
• Anemia
• Itching

Side effects

Depending on the thujone content (a toxic constituent of wormwood), certain preparations (e.g. pure wormwood essential oil) or wormwood-based alcohols can be toxic.

Consult a specialist to make sure that the drug or preparation you will use has a controlled thujone content.

Contraindications

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Interactions

Due to the tannin content, interactions are possible with iron, zinc or lead salts, and with alkaloids.

Forms of use

• Wormwood infusion
• Wormwood tincture
• Wormwood powder (as a vermifuge effect)
• Mother tincture