Wormwood is useful in the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO), malaria and nervous disorders. It is helpful in alleviating the symptoms linked to Crohn’s disease and stimulating menstruation. It also acts as natural insect repellent.

What is wormwood?

Wormwood is an ornamental shrub belonging to the Asteraceae family and has greenish – grey stems, silvery – white leaves and tubular yellow flowers. Wormwood was native to the temperate regions of Europe and Asia, but  now it is grown all-round the globe.

Back in the days, wormwood was used as a flavoring agent in tea, wines and also other things.

7 Must Know Benefits of Wormwood in Your Diet

Wormwood has several medicinal compounds that confers the shrub its anti – microbial, anti – inflammatory and anti – oxidant properties.

For treatment of SIBO

SIBO is an acronym for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. This is a condition in which there is an increase in the bacterial number in the small intestine. This would further lead to constipation, abdominal cramps, excess gas and many other.
A person suffering from SIBO is at a risk for developing a liver disease, thus SIBO has to be treated immediately. Usually, the treatment of SIBO is via the use of antibiotics such as vancomycin, rifampicin, metronidazole and neomycin. However, the use of antibiotics can cause certain side effects such as eliminating the good bacteria and later SIBO would reoccur.
It has been suggested from recent studies that therapies regarding wormwood can eradicate SIBO quite similar to antibiotics. The added benefit is that wormwood therapy allows healthy gut repopulation with probiotic bacteria.

For nervous system disorders

Wormwood has a mild narcotic effect which professionals can use it to their benefit to help relieve epileptic episodes, convulsions and episodes of hysteria. Moreover, wormwood helps to relieve the symptoms of stress and anxiety and also pain.

For the treatment of Malaria

Malaria is a disease caused by the protozoan, plasmodium and transferred via a mosquito bite. If the disease is left untreated it can prove to be fatal.
An extract that is derived from the wormwood, Artemisnin has been in use for centuries in Chinese medicine as one of the most effective treatments for malaria.
Moreover, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends medicines containing artemisnin for the rapid treatment of malaria.

Is an effective insect repellent

As mentioned above, the bite of a mosquito can transfer the protozoan causing malaria. It’s not just malaria that is transferred via insects, there are several other deadly diseases too. Some of these diseases are – dengue, sleeping sickness, etc.
The use of an insect repellant is highly recommended to prevent this but by using the insect repellants available in the drugstores and markets, you are exposed to various allergy causing chemicals. In such a case, use of wormwood as an insect repellant is safe.
Wormwood is effective in ridding your house off the flea infestations too.

Helpful in alleviating the symptoms linked to Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is an anti – inflammatory disease which affects the gastrointestinal system of a person leading to several symptoms such as malnutrition, severe diarrhoea, fatigue, weight loss and even excruciating abdominal pain.
The cure for Crohn’s disease remains unknown, however the use of wormwood can prove to be helpful in alleviating the symptoms and easing the pain too.
According to a study conducted in Germany, it was found that wormwood can abolish the need for steroids in patients suffering from Crohn’s disease.

Is helpful in stimulating menstruation

Wormwood is an emmenagogue. An emmenagogue is a substance that helps to stimulate menstrual discharge. Due to this, wormwood is beneficial for preventing uterine tumours and regulates the menstrual cycle too.
Wormwood also has certain contraceptive properties too but it has not been made suitable for that purpose.

Is helpful as an anti – parasitic

Parasitic worms such as pinworms, roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms are the common intestinal parasites infecting individuals. These are more common in children and are easily passed from one person to another too. They can cause diarrhoea, blood in the stool and also abdominal pain. The use of Wormwood can help kill the adult and larval infections of these worms, thus preventing its transmission.

What are the recipes that can be made with wormwood?

Recipe for wormwood tea:

• Add about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of crushed, dried wormwood per cup of water in a teapot.
• Heat the water in a kettle.
• After the water starts boiling, pour this into the teapot and let your tea steep for 10 – 15 minutes.
• Strain your tea into a cup.
• You can also add some sugar or honey to sweeten it. You can also squeeze in some lemon juice to mask its bitter taste slightly.

What are the nutritional facts associated with wormwood (per 100g)?

Conclusion

Wormwood is a shrub that was once native to Asia and Europe and now it is grown rampantly around the globe. Wormwood has several benefits owing to its anti – microbial, anti – fungal and anti – inflammatory properties. Some of the benefits are – for treatment of malaria, SIBO, as an insect repellent, for nervous system disorders, for alleviating the symptoms caused by Crohn’s disease, for stimulating menstruation and also as an anti – parasitic.

You can make herbal teas with the aerial parts of wormwood to solve many of your digestive and appetite problems.

References

https://www.therighttea.com/wormwood-tea.html

https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/11-proven-benefits-wormwood/