Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is an herb valued for its characteristic aroma, herbaceous flavor and purported health benefits. It has velvety white or greenish-silver stems, yellow-green leaves and bulbous flowers that are bright or pale yellow. All parts of the plant have been used in traditional medicinal practices for hundreds of years. The herb was made famous by its use in absinthe, a French liqueur that was a favorite of many 19th-century artists, including the Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh.
Apparently, the special effects of wormwood are largely due to the plant substance thujone. Thujone has some therapeutic benefits, but can be toxic in excess amounts. This particular plant substance in wormwood appears to stimulate the human brain by blocking gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that has calming effects on the central nervous system.
Wormwood may pose the following positive benefits:
- Treatment of parasitic infections of the stomach
- Anti-oxidants.
- Anti-inflammatory properties.
Wormwood can be useful because of its bitterness (regulates the gastric time in digestion, as an emmenagogue, parasiticide, etc.). It can also be used to treat depression by bringing old wounds to the surface that need to be addressed. Making a tincture from the raw herb may be the best way to use the herb.
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