PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS WORMWOOD/829

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is an annual that grows to

about 1 m in height with a branched, reddish stem. The stem

is covered in alternate-linear to lanceolate leaves.

Characteristics: The whole plant gives off a pleasant

fragrance. The oil is dangerously explosive.

Habitat: Wormseed originated in Mexico and South America

but has spread to the eastern U.S.

Production: Wormseed Oil is the seed oil of Chenopodium

ambrosioides.

Other Names- Mexican Tea, American Wormseed, Jesuit's

Tea

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Ascaridiole (chief constituent - up to 80%): including,

according to variety and breed, p-cymene, L-pinocarvone,

alpha-pinenes and/or alpha-terpenes, limonene. The combi-

nation creates a volatile, explosive oil.

EFFECTS

Wormseed Oil acts as an anthelmintic that causes flight and

defensive reactions in worms. This is due to the main

constituent of the terpene fraction, which is ascaridole, a

monoterpene. This constituent is highly toxic.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Although considered obsolete as a drug,

Wormseed Oil is used against roundworms and hookworms,

if other, more modern anthelmintic drugs fail. The leaves and

seeds have long been used in South American medicine as a

vermifuge, stimulant, anti-asthmatic and abortifacient for

cramps, paralysis and asthmatic complaints.

Chinese Medicine: The Chinese have used Wormseed Oil for

rheumatism of the joints, metrorrhagia, eczema and bites.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

Even the administration of therapeutic dosages can lead to

disorders of the central nervous system, including spasms,

signs of paralysis, Pachymeningitis haemorrhagica. Damage

to the Nervus cochlearis is frequent, leading to buzzing in the

ears and hearing impairment (sometimes lasting for years).

In addition, the oil is dangerously explosive.

OVERDOSAGE
Cases of death have been observed following intake of 10
mg of the oil by adults, and much less for children. For that
reason, an administration in allopathic dosages is to be
avoided.

DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Wormseed Oil is obsolete as a
drug. In clinically described cases, which are exceptional, it

can be used in combination with a fast-acting and powerful

purgative.

Daily Dosage: Typical adult daily dosage is 20 drops taken

in the morning on an empty stomach. Two hours later, a

purgative is taken. Pediatric dosage is two single doses of

drops taken one hour apart. Each dose has one drop per year

of the child's age.

LITERATURE

Bombardelli E et al., (1976) Fitoterapia 47:3.

Chan, EH et al., (Eds), Advances in Chinese Medicinal

Materials Research, World Scientific Pub. Co. Singapore 1985.

Gupta OS, Behari M, (1972) J Ind Chem Soc 49:317.

Leung AY, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used

in Food Drugs and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New

York 1980.

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.

Wormwood

Artemisia absinthium

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the aerial shoots

and leaves of the plant.

Flower and Fruit: The numerous flower heads are short-

stemmed and hang in a many-flowered panicle. The capitula

are small, globular, inclined and nearly as long as their 3 to 4

mm width. The bracts are gray, silky-pubescent witii a

rounded tip. The outer bracts are linear-oblong and pubes-

cent, while the inner ones are ovate, obtuse, broad and have a

transparent, membranous margin. The receptacle is rough-

haired. The flowers are yellow and fertile. The disc florets

are androgynous; the ray florets are female with an extending

style stem. The fruit is about 1.5 mm long.

Leaves, Stem and Root: This semi-shrub grows from 60 to

120 cm in height with a woody, hardy rosette and a high-

branch bearing stem. The stem is usually erect and leafy. The

alternate, long-petioled leaves are silky pubescent on both

sides. The lower leaves are abrupt pinnate and the upper ones

simple. The leaf tips are lanceolate to linear-lanceolate,

obtuse to acuminate and 2 to 3 mm wide.

Characteristics: The plant has an aromatic odor and a very

bitter taste.