There are at least 57 species of wormwood known in Europe and 187 in China, but the most common to be found in the domestic garden are mugwort, grand wormwood, tarragon and Roman wormwood. All the wormwoods share the common characteristics of bitterness and a strong scent, the latter making it useful for keeping away insects. Wormwood has been used since ancient times in herbal medicine to stimulate the appetite as well as treat jaundice and expel worms, the most commonly used species today being Artemisia absinthum. It has also been used as an ingredient in alcoholic drinks such as absinthe and vermouth, which stimulate the digestion when drunk as an aperitif, as well as mood.

This stimulation does not, nevertheless, refer to the narcotic properties of wormwood which have often been misrepresented. In France, during the nineteenth century, absinthe drinking became a national pastime after it was made both controversial and popular by the bohemian culture of artists such as Toulouse Lautrec, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Verlaine, who drank ‘the green fairy’. Hashish and opium were also used, notably by participants of the Club des Hashischins who included the writers Hugo, Nerval, Dumas and de Balzac.

In fact the effect of thujone, an active substance in wormwood, has been loosely compared to that of THC derived from marijuana; however, when wormwood is consumed immoderately thujone may cause not only excitement and stupefaction, but convulsions and even brain damage, as can other addictive substances present in the plant genus.¹

Addiction was called absinthism, and while the poet Verlaine was a straightforward down-and-out alcoholic, van Gogh suffered from mental instability which pre-dated his absinthe drinking. Van Gogh was also using paints made from dangerous heavy-metal oxides such as chromium, arsenic and lead, which would have certainly contributed to his eccentricities, if not inspiration, so it is anybody’s guess how much mind-altering power we can attribute to this herb.

Another problem was the common adulteration of absinthe with toxic substances such as methanol, antinomy trichloride, aniline green, copper sulphate and cupric acetate indigo which may themselves cause hallucinations, delirium, seizures and so on, substances not usually explored for their psychedelic potential. Eventually, however, the prominent side-effects characteristic of absinthism lead to long-term bans in Europe and America.²

On a more positive note, clinical trials have recently demonstrated that wormwood can be used to stimulate memory and reduce the oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain following injury such as stroke.³ This is because the whole herb is a tonic to the nervous system when consumed in moderation, something we call a nervine, a therapeutic category in herbal medicine that includes wormwood’s particular antidepressant effect.

It is also a ‘bitter’, a category of herbs used to stimulate the digestion. These herbs act on the bitter taste receptors at the back of the tongue which innervate the whole digestive system. This encourages appetite, secretions, intestinal motility and blood supply to the gut, and so facilitates digestion, absorption and elimination.⁴ Bitters don’t even have to be herbs, but bitter herbs such as wormwood, artichoke and gentian contain many other beneficial qualities. We can therefore use them in cases of a sluggish digestive system that is declining in function due to old age, debility, chronic stress or recent sickness, but only for short periods of time with wormwood.

Other compounds specifically found in the Artemisia genus, but also the Asteraceae family, have increasingly attracted attention by scientists. Of particular interest are the sesquiterpine lactones of which there are about 5000 known structures, some of which display antitumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiulcer, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic properties.⁵ Artemisinin is one such compound developed for ‘combined therapy’ in the treatment of malaria, but it also displays anticancer activity as well.⁶ Artemisinin was also identified as an antiviral agent with activity against the herpes viruses including EBV, as well as activity against the hepatitis B and C viruses,⁷ which the herbalist Messegue treated with wormwood.⁸

The oil also contains many active compounds other than thujone which give it a distinctly pungent aroma such as borneol, camphor, ketone and 1,8-cineaol. These and other compounds are active against a wide variety of bacteria such as Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Listeria spp., Escherichia, Shigella, Salmonella, Haemophilus, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas spp., as well as micro-organisms such as  Candida, Saccharomyces, and Aspergillus spp. ⁹

The most common use today is as an antiparasitic agent just as it was in ancient Egypt. Parasites are prevalent because our urban lifestyle often results in a suitable host condition, and they come from contact with contaminated soil, water and food, also from eating uncooked meat and handling pets. To treat parasites the dried leaf or tincture is taken on an empty stomach in a single dose mixed with prunes or honey. Wormwood can be combined with other herbs such as black walnut, cloves and garlic as Dr Hulda Clark outlines in the 18 day parasite cleanse, which is an essential part of her anticancer program.¹⁰

Wormwood is certainly beneficial in small amounts and the aperitif absinthe can be made by steeping wormwood, anise and fennel in alcohol. In France it was sipped from a glass after pouring it through a sugar cube that was held rather elegantly above the rim by a special utensil resembling a perforated spoon, a compromise intended for those averse to bitter drinks.

Wormwood is not for use by pregnant women in the form of dried herb or tincture because it can induce contractions (artemisinin), similarly by epileptic patients where it can trigger a fit.

Disclaimer:

This article is intended for the purpose of general education only, and is not a substitute for a diagnosis, treatment advice, or a prescription given in a consultation with a qualified physician.

References:

1.         Arnold WN. Vincent van Gogh and the thujone connection. JAMA 1988;260:3042–4.

2.         Padosch SA, Lachenmeier DW, Kröner LU. Absinthism: a fictitious 19th century syndrome with present impact. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2006;1:14.

3.         Bora KS, Sharma A. Neuroprotective effect of Artemisia absinthium L. on focal ischemia and reperfusion-induced cerebral injury. J Ethnopharmacol 2010;129:403–9.

4.         McMullen MK, Whitehouse JM, Towell A. Bitters: Time for a New Paradigm. Evid-Based Complement Altern Med ECAM 2015;2015:670504.

5.         Ivanescu B, Miron A, Corciova A. Sesquiterpene Lactones from Artemisia Genus: Biological Activities and Methods of Analysis. J Anal Methods Chem 2015;2015:247685.

6.         Pulice G, Pelaz S, Matías-Hernández L. Molecular Farming in Artemisia annua, a Promising Approach to Improve Anti-malarial Drug Production. Front Plant Sci 2016;7:329.

7.         Efferth T, Romero MR, Wolf DG, Stamminger T, Marin JJG, Marschall M. The antiviral activities of artemisinin and artesunate. Clin Infect Dis Off Publ Infect Dis Soc Am 2008;47:804–11.

8.         Messegue M. Health Secrets Of Plants And Herbs. Collins; 1976.

9.         Bilia AR, Santomauro F, Sacco C, Bergonzi MC, Donato R. Essential Oil of Artemisia annua L.: An Extraordinary Component with Numerous Antimicrobial Properties. Evid-Based Complement Altern Med ECAM 2014;2014:159819.

10.       Clark H. The Cure For All Cancers. 6th ed. India: Health Harmony; 2014.