Wormwood is a familiar plant widely cultivated and a commonly used spice in Vietnamese cuisine.
The Wormwood plant is a herbaceous plant found across various continents, including Europe, Asia, North Africa, Alaska, and North America. While some places consider it an invasive weed, in Vietnam, wormwood is one of the plants commonly used in everyday life.
Wormwood is also known by various names such as the herb for colds, medicinal herb, and more.
Benefits of Wormwood
Wild wormwood typically grows in uncultivated land and long-standing rice fields. The plant has a ridged stem and often grows in patches. Its leaves are alternate, with a pinnate structure; the upper surface is dark green, while the underside is grayish-white and hairy. Wormwood has a bitter taste, a fragrant aroma, and is warming in nature. Additionally, it contains compounds that repel and kill insects. Wormwood is also known by names such as the herb for colds, medicinal herb, or mugwort.
Many benefits of wormwood are passed down through word of mouth; here are some health benefits of wormwood supported by research:
Supports Treatment of Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that primarily affects the end of the small intestine and the colon but can occur anywhere in the digestive tract.
Studies have indicated that wormwood may have the potential to support the treatment of Crohn’s disease under certain conditions—specifically related to inflammation—due to the presence of the compound artemisinin in wormwood. Artemisinin has effective anti-inflammatory properties, inhibiting cytokines, which are proteins that promote inflammatory processes in the body.
However, more extensive research is needed to clearly determine the relationship between wormwood and Crohn’s disease, as well as the necessary dosage.
Wormwood may help improve digestion by reducing spasms in the stomach and intestines.
Improves Digestion
Wormwood can enhance digestion by reducing spasms in the stomach and intestines, promoting better digestive processes. Scientists explain that wormwood aids in saliva production, increases gastric juices, and enhances appetite—all of which contribute to a smoother digestion process.
Wormwood has long been used in traditional medicine to treat conditions such as regulating menstrual cycles in women, preventing miscarriage, treating boils, improving blood circulation to the brain, and alleviating cold-related abdominal pain, nausea, and dysentery… Additionally, wormwood is cultivated for consumption and is used in daily cooking. Despite its many benefits, excessive consumption of wormwood can lead to poisoning. In severe cases, it can cause damage to brain cells, resulting in dangerous aftereffects.
Wormwood and Parasites
There are many traditional remedies involving wormwood for deworming and eliminating parasites. However, as of now, there have been no studies on humans showing that wormwood in its direct form or as an extract can effectively treat parasites in humans.
Antioxidant Properties
Wormwood is considered to possess antioxidant properties due to chamazulene, which helps reduce or delay cellular damage caused by oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is known to increase the risk of cancer, chronic inflammation, and other diseases. Some factors that can cause or lead to oxidative stress include smoking, obesity, and frequent alcohol consumption.
Beauty Uses
Wormwood is also used by many women for beauty purposes.
Nowadays, many women use wormwood for beauty, employing it for skin whitening and rejuvenation when facing sun damage and discoloration. Despite its medicinal properties, pregnant women or those suffering from acute gastrointestinal disorders should refrain from using wormwood. Individuals with internal heat and high blood pressure are also advised against using wormwood.
Scary Side Effects of Wormwood That Many People Are Unaware Of
Due to its high medicinal properties, wormwood also has many side effects. For some individuals, excessive consumption of wormwood can cause poisoning, leading to excessive central nervous system stimulation, resulting in localized muscle twitching or seizures. Repeated use may lead to stiffness, nonsensical speech, or even paralysis, with damage to brain cells… and long-term side effects may include memory loss, hallucinations, and neuritis.
To maximize the benefits and minimize the side effects of wormwood, experts recommend that the average person should consume wormwood only 1-2 times a week. For healthy individuals, it is advised not to use wormwood infusion as a regular beverage like tea.
If brewing wormwood for consumption instead of water, it should be about 3-5g dried (9-15g fresh) per serving and should be used intermittently. When recovering from illness, it is advisable to take a break and avoid continuous use for extended periods.
Who Should Avoid Wormwood
- Individuals with hepatitis.
- Pregnant women during the first trimester.
- Individuals suffering from acute gastrointestinal disorders.
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