PDR for Herbal Medicines

828 /WORMSEED PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Leaves, Stem and Root: Artemisia cina is an evergreen,

perennial semi-shrub, 30 to 60 cm high with many slim

sprouting stems. The gnarled rhizome produces numerous

leaf and flower branches. The stems are smooth and woody

and the leaves pinnatifid on the non-flowering branches. The

leaves on the flowering branches are small and entire-

margined.

Characteristics: The odor is aromatic and the taste bitter.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to Iran, Turkestan and the

Kirghizin Steppes around Buchara.

Production: Wormwood flowers are the inflorescent buds of

Artemisia cina (occasionally incorrectly called Wormseed),

which are cultivated and gathered in the wild.

Not to be Confused With: Refined mustard flour

Other Names: Levant, Santonica, Sea Wormwood

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Sesquiterpene lactones: especially alpha-santonin, in addi-

tion to artemisin and beta-santonin

EFFECTS

The anthelmintic and antipyretic effect of the drug can be

attributed to its alpha-santonin content. The drug acts as a

vermifuge action for ascarids, including intestinal parasitic

worms, whose muscles are paralyzed by the santonin. The

worms are then forced into the large intestine where they are

removed by means of a laxative. In rats, the rectal

temperature was lowered during fevers that had been

induced by brewer's yeast injections. This leads to the

speculation that santonin effects body temperature in a

similar manner to dopamine.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The drug is used for ascarid and oxyuris

infestations.

Homeopathic Uses: Uses in homeopathy include fevers,

tendency to convulsions and worms.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

Even with the therapeutic dose there is a danger of

poisoning. Side effects may resemble those of the alpha-

santonins: kidney irritation, gastroenteritis, stupor, visual

disorders (xanthopsia), muscle twitching and epileptiform

spasms. Administration in allopathic dosages is to be

avoided.

OVERDOSAGE
Deadly poisonings following the intake of less than 10 g of
the drug are known.

DOSAGE

Preparation: Wormwood is considered completely obsolete

as a drug, occasionally available as a powder for use when

more modern antithelmintic agents fail. Symptoms of

poisoning are possible even in therapeutic dosages.

Daily Dosage: The drug is always used in combination with

a laxative. The average single dose is 0.025 g for adults. For

children, take the child's age in years, and double this

amount in milligrams of the drug. According to the Austrian

pharmacopoeia, the single dose is 1 to 2 g. The powder is

administered in the morning and followed later by castor oil

or sodium sulfate. The remedy is repeated on the following

day.

Homeopathic Dosage: 5 to 10 drops, 1 tablet, 5 to 10

globules, 1 to 3 times a day or 1 ml injection solution twice

weekly sc (HAB34).

LITERATURE

Frohne D, Pfander HJ: Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur

Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl, Wiss.

Verlagsges. mbH Stuttgart 1997.

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis. 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
   Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
   Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
   mbH Stuttgart 1997.

Wormseed Oil

Chenopodium ambrosioides

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The plant's medicinal parts are the seeds

and the herb, including the flowers.

Flower and Fruit: The numerous small flowers are yellow-

ish-green and form small racemes or roundish spikes in the

axils of the apical leaves. The calyx is divided into 5; the

lobes are ovate and pointed. There are 5 stamens. The ovary

has small, oblong, stemmed glands at the tip. The angular

fruit is enclosed in the calyx. The small seeds are achaenes,

smooth and black.