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Other common
name(s): absinthium, absinth wormwood
Scientific/medical
name(s): Artemisia
absinthium
Description
Wormwood is a shrubby perennial plant whose upper shoots,
flowers, and leaves are used in herbal remedies and as a bitter
flavoring for alcoholic drinks. It is native to Europe, northern
Africa, and western Asia, and now also grows in North America.
Overview
Available scientific evidence does not support claims that
wormwood is effective in treating cancer, the side effects of cancer
treatment, or any other conditions. The plant contains a volatile oil
with a high level of thujone (see Thuja).
There are reports that taking large doses of wormwood internally can
cause serious problems with the liver and kidneys. It can also cause
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache, dizziness, seizures, numbness
of the legs and arms, delirium, and paralysis.
Wormwood, or Artemisia
absinthium, should not be confused with sweet wormwood, or
Artemisia annua.
Although wormwood is related to sweet wormwood, they are used in
different ways. Extracts of sweet wormwood have been used in
traditional herbal medicine, and an active ingredient, artemisinin, is
now used in conventional medical treatment of malaria.
How is it promoted for use?
Wormwood is promoted as a sedative and anti-inflammatory.
There are also claims that it can treat loss of appetite, stomach
disorders, and liver and gallbladder complaints. In folk medicine it is
used for a wide range of stomach disorders, fever, and irregular
menstruation. It is also used to fight intestinal worms. Externally, it
is applied to poorly healing wounds, ulcers, skin blotches, and insect
bites. It is used in Moxibustion treatments for cancer (see Moxibustion).
Available scientific evidence does not support these claims.
What does it involve?
Wormwood is taken in small doses for a short period of time,
usually a maximum of 4 weeks. It is available as a capsule and as a
liquid that can be added to water to make a tincture. The whole herb is
sometimes brewed as a tea. Wormwood oil, washes, or poultices can also
be used on the skin. Although pure wormwood is not available,
"thujone-free" wormwood extract has been approved by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) for use in foods and as a flavoring in
alcoholic drinks such as vermouth.
What is the history behind it?
Artemisia
absinthium was used by Hippocrates, and the earliest
references to wormwood in Western civilization can be found in the
Bible. Extract of wormwood was also used in ancient Egypt. The herb is
mentioned often in first-century Greek and Roman writings and
reportedly was placed in the sandals of Roman soldiers to help soothe
their sore feet. It was taken as a treatment for tapeworms as far back
as the Middle Ages.
In 1797, Henri Pernod developed absinthe, an alcoholic drink
containing distilled spirits of wormwood, fennel, anise and sometimes
other herbs. Absinthe became very popular in Europe and the United
States in the nineteenth century. It was eventually banned in several
countries in the early twentieth century due to its purported ill
effects and addictive qualities. More recent analysis has suggested
that, when properly prepared and distilled, the thujone content in
these drinks was very low. It appears more likely that the
addictiveness and other ill effects of absinthe were due to its alcohol
content, which is around 60% to 85%. Varying additives or impurities
from different distillers may have also produced some of these effects.
Even though absinthe is illegal in some countries, various types can be
found in some European countries. However, their thujone content is
strictly limited. Wormwood is also an ingredient in vermouth and other
drinks.
What is the evidence?
Available scientific studies do not support the use of
wormwood for the treatment of cancer or the side effects of
conventional cancer treatment. There is not enough evidence available
to support its use for other conditions. Wormwood oil has been tested
in laboratory studies and appears to inhibit the growth of some fungi.
However, human tests have not been completed.
Some derivatives of Artemisia
annua, or sweet wormwood, a relative of wormwood, have
been shown to be effective in the treatment of malaria. In fact, the
World Health Organization approved artemisinin for use against malaria
in Africa in 2004. These extracts also show some promise in laboratory
studies as cancer treatment drugs. Further studies are required to find
out whether the anti-cancer results apply to people. It is important to
remember that extracted compounds are not the same as the whole herb,
and study results are not likely to show the same effects.
Are there any possible problems or
complications?
This product is sold as a
dietary supplement in the United States. Unlike companies that produce
drugs (which must provide the FDA with results of detailed testing
showing their product is safe and effective before the drug is approved
for sale), the companies that make supplements do not have to show
evidence of safety or health benefits to the FDA before selling their
products. Supplement products without any reliable scientific evidence
of health benefits may still be sold as long as the companies selling
them do not claim the supplements can prevent, treat, or cure any
specific disease. Some such products may not contain the amount of the
herb or substance that is written on the label, and some may include
other substances (contaminants). Though the FDA has written new rules
to improve the quality of manufacturing processes for dietary
supplements and the accurate listing of supplement ingredients, these
rules do not take full effect until 2010. And, the new rules do not
address the safety of supplement ingredients or their effects on health
when proper manufacturing techniques are used.
Most such
supplements have not been tested to find out if they interact with
medicines, foods, or other herbs and supplements. Even though some
reports of interactions and harmful effects may be published, full
studies of interactions and effects are not often available. Because of
these limitations, any information on ill effects and interactions
below should be considered incomplete.
Wormwood should be avoided, especially by women who are
pregnant or breast-feeding, by people who have had seizures, and by
those with ulcers or stomach irritation. Thujone, a component of
wormwood, is known to cause muscle spasms, seizures, and hallucinations
if taken internally. In high doses it is known to damage the liver and
the kidneys.
Because of its thujone content, large doses of wormwood taken
internally can lead to vomiting, stomach and intestinal cramps,
headaches, dizziness, nervous system problems, and seizures. Wormwood
can also lead to liver failure. The
New England Journal of Medicine reported that a man who
ordered essential oil of wormwood over the Internet, thinking he had
purchased absinthe, suffered liver failure shortly after drinking the
oil. Wormwood may also make seizures more likely and may interfere with
the anti-convulsant effects of medicines such as phenobarbital.
The plant is a relative of ragweed and daisies. Those with
allergies to these types of plants may also be allergic to wormwood.
Contact with wormwood can cause rashes. Relying on this type of
treatment alone and avoiding or delaying conventional medical care for
cancer may have serious health consequences.
Additional Resources
More information from your American Cancer
Society
The following information on complementary and alternative
therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials may be found on
our Web site (www.cancer.org)
or ordered from our toll-free number (1-800-ACS-2345).
References
Arnold WN. Vincent van Gogh and the thujone connection. JAMA.
1998;260:3042-3044.
Baggot, MJ. Absinthe: frequently asked questions and some
attempted answers. The Vaults of Erowid Web site.
http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/absinthe/absinthe_faq.shtml. Accessed
June 10, 2008.
Blumenthal M, ed.
The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to
Herbal Medicines. Austin, TX: American Botanical Council;
1998.
Bown D. New
Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses. New York, NY:
DK Publishing Inc; 2001.
Efferth T. Molecular pharmacology and pharmacogenomics of
artemisinin and its derivatives in cancer cells. Curr Drug Targets.
2006;7:407-421.
Alpha-thujone (546-80-5). National Toxicology Program Web
site.
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=03DB8C36-E7A1-9889-3BDF8436F2A8C51F.
Updated May 2, 2006. Accessed June 9, 2008.
Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's
Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines.
Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004.
Gruenwald J.
PDR for Herbal Medicines. 3rd ed. Montvale, NJ: Thomson
PDR; 2004.
Hsu E. Reflections on the 'discovery' of the antimalarial
qinghao. Br J Clin
Pharmacol. 2006;61:666-670.
Kordali S, Cakir A, Mavi A, Kilic H, Yildirim A. Screening of
chemical composition and antifungal and antioxidant activities of the
essential oils from three Turkish artemisia species. J Agric Food Chem.
2005;53:1408-1416.
Lachenmeier DW, Emmert J, Kuballa T, Sartor G. Thujone--cause
of absinthism? Forensic
Sci Int. 2006;158:1-8.
Miller LG. Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations
focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med.
1998;158:2200-2211.
Mutabingwa TK, Anthony D, Heller A, Hallett R, Ahmed J,
Drakeley C, Greenwood BM, Whitty CJ. Amodiaquine alone,
amodiaquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, amodiaquine+artesunate, and
artemether-lumefantrine for outpatient treatment of malaria in
Tanzanian children: a four-arm randomised effectiveness trial. Lancet.
2005;365:1474-1480.
Nam W, Tak J, Ryu JK, Jung M, Yook JI, Kim HJ, Cha IH. Effects
of artemisinin and its derivatives on growth inhibition and apoptosis
of oral cancer cells. Head
Neck. 2007;29:335-340.
Rediscovering wormwood: qinghaosu for malaria. Lancet
1992;339:649-651.
Singh NP, Lai HC. Artemisinin induces apoptosis in human
cancer cells. Anticancer
Res. 2004;24:2277-2280.
van Agtmael MA, Eggelte TA, van Boxtel CJ. Artemisinin drugs
in the treatment of malaria: from medicinal herb to registered
medication. Trends
Pharmacol Sci. 1999;20:199-205.
Weisbord SD, Soule JB, Kimmel PL. Poison on line--acute renal
failure caused by oil of wormwood purchased through the internet. N Engl J Med.
1997;337(12):825-827.
Erratum in:
N Engl J Med.
1997;337(20):1483.
Wormwood. PDRhealth Web site.
http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/herbaldrugs/102980.shtml.
Accessed June 9, 2008.
Note: This information may not cover
all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or
interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be
relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is
familiar with your medical situation.
Last Medical Review: 11/01/2008
Last Revised: 11/01/2008
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