W
Antispasmodic (1; APA; PNC); Aperitif (2; BIS; FAD; KOM); Bitter (2; APA; KOM; SHT);
Cardiotonic (f; PNC); Carminative (1; PNC); Cholagogue (1; PH2); Choleretic (1; PNC); CNS
Depressant (1; APA); Deobstruent (f; CRC); Depurative (f; CRC); Diaphoretic (1; APA; CRC);
Digestive (1; APA; SKY; WO2); Discutient (f; CRC); Emmenagogue (1; APA; PNC); Filaricide
(1; CRC); Fungicide (1; WO2); Gastrogogue (KOM; SKJ); Hepatoprotective (1; APA); Insecticide
(1; APA); Insectifuge (1; CRC); Lactagogue (f; CRC); Narcotic (1; WO2); Plasmodistat (1; PH2);
Poison (f; WO2); Pulicide (1; CRC); Secretagogue (1; PH2); Sedative (f; APA); Sialagogue (2;
SHT); Stimulant (f; WO2); Stomachic (f; APA); Tonic (f; APA; PNC); Vermifuge (1; CRC; PNC);
Vulnerary (1; PH2).
Indications (Wormwood) — Amenorrhea (f; APA; FAD); Anemia (f; PHR); Anorexia (2; APA;
BIS; FAD; KOM; SKY); Arthrosis (f; CRC); Atonia (f; PHR); Bacteria (1; APA; WO2); Biliary
Dyskinesia (2; APA; KOM); Bruise (f; CRC); Bug Bite (f; PHR); Callus (f; JLH); Cancer (f; CRC);
Cancer, breast (f; JLH); Cancer, face (f; JLH); Cancer, foot (f; JLH); Cancer, groin (f; JLH); Cancer,
larynx (f; JLH); Cancer, liver (f; JLH); Cancer, limb (f; JLH); Cancer, sinus (f; JLH); Cancer,
spleen (f; JLH); Cancer, stomach (f; JLH); Cancer, testes (f; JLH); Cancer, tongue (f; JLH); Cancer,
uterus (f; JLH); Chest Cold (f; DEM); Childbirth (f; DEM); Cholecystosis (2; FAD; PHR; SKY);
Cold (f; PNC); Colic (1; APA); Corn (f; JLH); Cramp (1; APA; PNC); Dermatosis (f; PHR);
Diarrhea (f; CRC); Dropsy (f; CRC); Dysmenorrhea (f; APA; FAD; PH2); Dyspepsia (2; CRC;
KOM; SKY); Edema (f; JLH); Enterosis (f; JLH); Fever (1; APA; CRC; FAD; PHR; PH2); Flu (f;
DEM); Fracture (f; DEM); Fungus (1; WO2); Gas (1; APA; PNC); Gastrosis (f; BIS; DEM); Gout
(f; CRC); Gravel (f; CRC); Head Cold (f; DEM); Hepatosis (2; APA; FAD; PHR; PNC); IBS
(SKY); Induration (f; CRC; JLH); Infection (1; WO2); Inflammation (1; PNC); Insomnia (f; APA);
Itch (f; CRC); Jaundice (f; CRC); Leukemia (f; JLH); Malaria (1; APA; PHR); Mycosis (1; WO2);
Myosis (f; DEM); Nervousness (f; APA); Neuralgia (f; CRC); Orchosis (f; CRC); Pain (1; CRC;
PNC; WO2); Parasite (1; APA); Pinworm (1; APA); Rheumatism (f; PNC; WO2); Roundworm (1;
APA); Scleroma (f; JLH); Splenosis (f; CRC; JLH); Sprain (f; CRC); Stomachache (f; PHR);
Tuberculosis (f; DEM); Ulcer (f; PH2); VD (f; DEM); Worm (1; APA; CRC; FAD; PNC); Wound
(f; PHR).
Dosages (Wormwood) — Up to 1.5 g dry herb in tea (1 tsp = 1.5 g) 2–3 ×/day (AHP); 1–2 g dry
herb (PNC); 1 tsp herb/cup water 1–3 ×/day, before or after meals (APA; SKY); 2–3 g herb/day
(KOM); 3–5 g herb (PHR); 1–2 ml liquid herb extract (APA; PNC); 4–16 ml herb tincture (APA;
PNC); 10–20 drops herb tincture in water 3 ×/day, before meals (SKY).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Wormwood) — Class 2b, 2d (AHP). Emme-
nagogue and uterotonic. Not for prolonged use. Do not exceed recommended dose (AHP). Do not
use more than 4 consecutive weeks (SKY). None known (KOM). Contraindications of GI ulcer.
Beware of the toxicity of high doses (AEH). Side effects due to thujone overdose include brain
damage, convulsions, even death; insomnia, intestinal cramps, nausea, renal damage (rare), rest-
lessness, seizures, stomach cramps, tremors, urine retention, vertigo, and vomiting (BIS; SKY).
CAN cautions that thujone in the various volatile oils can cause severe gastrosis and convulsions.
Documented fatalities have been mainly associated with ingestion of some such oils (but fatalities
are reported with infusions and powders). Such oils should not be used internally or externally.
Because of abortifacient and uterine activity caused by the thujone in such oils, their use in
pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided (CAN).
Extracts (Wormwood) — Aqueous extracts contain little thujone (BIS). All phytochemicals have
their good and bad sides, safe and toxic doses; thujone is pretty negative. Some edible sages contain
more thujone than some artemisias. Absinthin and anabsinthin stimulate digestion (SKY). EO may
kill worms but also damage the nerves (SKY).