Wormwood

Related Terms

3,6-Dihydrochamazulene, 3-rhamnoglucoside, 5,6-dihydrochamazulene, absinthe, absinthic acid, absinthin, absinthinin, absinthium, absinthol, acetylenes, ai ye, alpha-thujone, Ambrosia elatior, Ambrosia tenuifolia, anabsinthin, angry wormwood, annual wormwood, arabsin, argy wormwood, artabsin, artabsinolides, artelinic acid, artemether, artemetin, Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia afra, Artemisia annua, Artemisia argyi, Artemisia camphorate, Artemisia japonica, Artemesia maritime, Artemisia mendozana, Artemesia pontica, Artemisia princeps, Artemisia roxburghiana, Artemisia tangutica, Artemisia verlotorum, artemisinin, artemolin, artemotil, artenimol, artesunate, Asteraceae (family), azulenes, beta-pinene, beta-thujone, bisabolene, C13 trans-spiroketal enol ether, C14 trans-spiroketal enol ether, cadinene, camphene, camphor, chamazulene, Chinese wormwood, cineole, diayangambin, dihydroartemisinin (DHA), epiyangambin, fenchone, flavonoids, green fairy, Japanese wormwood, isoabsinthin, isovalerianic acid, lignans, liqueur absinthe, malic acid, matricin, monoterpene ketones, mugwort leaf, nitrate of potash, Parthenium hysterophorus, p-coumaric, phellandrene, phenolic acids, p-hydroxyphenylacetic, pinene, pinocamphone, protocatechuic, pulegone, qinghao (Chinese), qinghaosu (Chinese), quercetin 3-glucoside, quercetin 3-rhamnoglucoside, resin, Roxburgh wormwood, sabinene, sabinylacetate, sesquiterpene lactone peroxide, sesquiterpene lactones, sodium artesunate, spinacetin 3-glucoside, spinacetin 3-rhamnoglucoside, starch, succinic acid, sweet wormwood, syringic, Tangut wormwood, tannin, tenacetone, thujone, thujyl alcohol, trans-dehydromatricaria ester, trans-sabinylacetate, vanillic acid, vintage absinthes, volatile oils, Wermutkraut (German).
Combination product examples: SedaCrohn? (wormwood, rose, cardamom seeds, and mastic resin), Riamet? (artemether and lumefantrine), and Coartem? (artemether and lumefantrine).
Note: This monograph focuses on common wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) and does not specifically include clinical trials investigating the effects of isolated constituents or derivatives of wormwood, such as absinthinin, artemisinin, or artemether.

Background

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is an active ingredient of absinthe, a liqueur, and, in the 18th and early 19th Centuries, it acquired a reputation for triggering psychotic events, called absinthism. Absinthe was banned throughout Western Europe. Modern analyses suggest that the hallucinogenic properties of absinthe are a myth and that the early studies confused the effects of drinking an excessive amount of absinthe from drinking absinthe. Absinthe has consequently returned to the market.
Wormwood and several of its derivatives, including absinthinin, artemether, artesunate, and artemisinin, have been studied for their effects on various conditions. Artemisinin has been studied for treating malaria, including highly drug-resistant strains. Currently, preferred treatments for malaria are combination therapies that include artemisinin derivatives (artemisinin-combination therapies, or ACTs). Use of artemisinin alone is strongly discouraged by the World Health Organization (WHO), due to the potential for malarial parasites to develop resistance to the drug.
At this time, there is insufficient available evidence on the use of Artemisia absinthium for any condition. More high-quality research is needed before firm conclusions can be made.

Evidence Table

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *
These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *


In clinical research, wormwood has been found to improve treatment and mood in patients with Crohn's disease. More high-quality studies are needed in this area.

 C


In clinical research, wormwood has been found to improve treatment and mood in patients with Crohn's disease. More high-quality studies are needed in this area.

 C


Artemisinin has been identified as an active ingredient of wormwood and is undergoing further analysis, especially for its properties in treating malaria, including highly drug-resistant strains. Currently, preferred treatments for malaria include combination therapies that include artemisinin derivatives (artemisinin-combination therapies, or ACTs).

 C


Artemisinin has been identified as an active ingredient of wormwood and is undergoing further analysis, especially for its properties in treating malaria, including highly drug-resistant strains. Currently, preferred treatments for malaria include combination therapies that include artemisinin derivatives (artemisinin-combination therapies, or ACTs).

 C
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)

Tradition / Theory

The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.

Dosing

Adults (18 years and older)
Wormwood has been taken by mouth as juice of wormwood leaves, as an herbal blend, as tea made of dried wormwood, as a tincture, or in pill form. Juice of wormwood leaves has been applied to skin wounds.
For Crohn's disease, 750 milligrams of an herbal blend of wormwood has been taken two times daily for 10 weeks.
For malaria, tea traditionally prepared from nine grams of Artemisia annua leaves per one liter of water has been taken by mouth.

Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

Interactions

Interactions with Drugs
Wormwood may interfere with the way the body processes certain drugs using the liver's cytochrome P450 enzyme system. As a result, the levels of these drugs may change in the blood and may cause increased or decreased effects or potentially serious adverse reactions. Patients taking any medication should check the package insert and speak with a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist, about possible interactions.
Wormwood may interact with agents that affect the immune system, agents that affect the blood, agents that damage the kidney, agents that prevent formation of new blood vessels, alcohol, agents that affect heart rhythm, anticancer agents, anti-inflammatory agents, antimalarial agents, antimicrobials, butyric acid, cannabinoids, drugs that affect GABA, gastrointestinal agents, hormonal agents, neurologic agents, serotonin receptor antagonists, or skeletal muscle relaxants.

Attribution

This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

Bibliography

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