Plant Profile: Wormwood

Wormwood

(Artemisia absinthum)

Family: COMPOSITAE/ASTERACEAE

Energetics: Cold. But Matthew Wood says warming. Maybe helpful to look into what way it could be cooling or warming. 

Taste: Bitter. Aromatic. 

Tissue States: Matthew wood states that it is used in cases of dampness as well as in cases of dryness. So again, it might be a case of in what way is it cooling and drying, what tissues does it have these effects on? 

Systems Affected: Liver. Gallbladder.  

Parts Used: Leaves & flowering tops. 

Key Components: Volatile oils (absinthol, thujyl, isovaleric acid, pinene, cineol, borneol, phenol, cumin, aldehydes). Bitter sesqueterpenes. Flavonoid glycosides. 

Preparations & dosage: Infusion: Generally only take 1 tsp to 1 Tbsp at a time. Matthew Woods infusion recommendation is steeping 1/2 tsp in 1/4 of a liter for just 5 minutes and taking 1/3 of a cup before a meal. Only taking 1-2 cups of this per WEEK. Probably blended with other herbs. Powder: To encapsulate. Dosage 2 '00' capsules. Tincture: Matthew Wood suggests just 1 drop of tincture per day or even per week. 

Actions: 
Foundational: Bitter.
Primary: Carminative. 
Secondary: Antihelmintic (expels parasites). Anti-inflammatory. 

Uses: 
 Liver complaints. 

Gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions that are hot. Loss of appetite. 

Worms and parasites in humans and animals. Pinworms. Scabies. Skin rashes. 

Said to be helpful where sever physical trauma has caused feelings of hopelessness. 

Soak for kids with diaper rash. Also for people with jock itch or athletes foot. 

Poultice or formentation for -bursitis, strains, sprains, torn ligaments, broken bones, arthritis, rheumatism, fractures, bruises...

Has been clinically shown to cure drug resistant tertian malaria as well as subtertian malaria. Has also been used as a preventative. This was shared in Michael Tierra's book and when I find the study I will post it below. 

Combines well with: 

Identifying: 

Growing:

Harvesting:

Contraindications: Thujone is a mild hallucinagenic, but due to wormwoods extremely bitter taste it would be virtually impossible to ingest enough to actually accomplish this effect.

It is well worth the time to read Matthew Woods information on the toxicity of wormwood in volume 1 of his Earthwise Herbal on pg 115. The gist is that small doses taken internally for short periods of time are extremely beneficial. Extractions in water are not great at extracting thujone, which is the toxic component of wormwood. 

Sources: 

The Complete Herbs Sourcebook: David Hoffman. Pg 335-336

The Earthwise Herbal: Volume 1: Matthew Wood. Pg 110-115

Studies: