Wormwood

Description

Wormwood (Artemisia absintium L.) - a perennial gray-green plant with a characteristic aromatic smell and a strongly bitter taste. The leaves are bipinnatipartite. Flower baskets are small, spherical-ovate, collected in a panicle. The baskets consist of pale yellow tubular flowers. Height 60 – 125 cm.

Distribution. It is found in almost all areas.

It grows abundantly as a weed in fields, waste lands, near garbage places, along roads. Sometimes it forms entire thickets. Wormwood is almost completely not eaten by domestic animals and has a harmful effect on the surrounding plants with its secretions.

The time of flowering. July-August.

The time of collection. July-August.

The part used. Leaves and flowering tops of plants with flowers.

Chemical composition

Wormwood contains the bitter glycosides absintin and anabsintin, resin, salts of various acids, starch, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), phytoncides and essential oil (2%). The composition of essential oil contains terpene alcohol toyol, a ketone thujone, and various terpenes. The therapeutic effect of wormwood depends on the bitter glucoside absintin and essential oil. The plant is toxic.

Application

Wormwood as a medicinal plant was known in ancient times, it was given great importance as a medicinal product. It is widely used in folk medicine. The plant excites the food cravings, increases digestion, stimulating the activity of the stomach and intestines, increases the acidity of gastric juice and increases the secretion of bile, destroys heartburn, drives gases when they accumulate, resolves swelling, reduces inflammation, heals wounds. Wormwood also has antiseptic, anthelmintic, anticonvulsant, antimalarial and mild hypnotic effects.

Water infusion and alcohol tincture of the herb is used to excite food craving, enhance the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, as a means to regulate the secretion of gastric juice, for dyspepsia, liver and gall bladder diseases, and is used for insomnia and as an anthelmintic.

In folk medicine, an infusion of herbs is drunk for malaria, stomach ulcers, hypertension, rheumatism and for the removal of round worms. In German folk medicine, wormwood infusion is used as an important gastric remedy for gastritis, stomach pains and spasms, liver diseases and anemia. Externally, water infusion of wormwood is used for mouthwash to destroy the bad smell and for washing, lotions and compresses for bruises, swellings, purulent wounds and ulcers. Water infusion of wormwood mixed with water infusion of garlic is used for enemas with pinworms. With insomnia, the grass is put under the pillow and wrapped around the head with a towel moistened with wormwood infusion.

Wormwood herb is a part of appetitive, gastric and cholagogue collections. The internal use of wormwood , as a poisonous plant, requires caution. You should beware of long-term use of wormwood. It can cause convulsions, hallucinations,and even mental disorders. The use of wormwood is contraindicated during pregnancy.

Method of application

1. Alcohol tincture take 20 drops 3 times a day for 1/2 hour before meals.

2. 1 teaspoon of wormwood brew in 2 glasses of boiling water (but do not boil). Take 1/4 glass 3 times a day 1/2 hour before meals.