The efficacy and function of wormwood

Many people choose wormwood because of its high-value pharmacological effects, but you should be careful not to consume it casually, otherwise it will have some bad effects on the body. We need to understand it before consuming it. Are you ready?

【English name】 Common Wormwood

[Other names] Artemisia absinthium, beer wormwood

[Source] Medicinal material source: The leaves and flowers of Artemisia absinthium of the Asteraceae family.

[Original form] Artemisia absinthium is a perennial herb, 60-150cm tall. The taproot is single, vertical, slightly lignified, and up to 3 cm in diameter. Rhizome slightly short and vertical. The stem is single or 2-3, erect, densely covered with grayish white short soft hairs, and branched obliquely upward at the top. The lower stem leaves are two to three times pinnate-lobed, long ovate or ovate, 8-12cm long, 7-9cm wide, with petioles 6-12cm long. The middle leaves are long ovate or ovate, two times pinnate-lobed, 6-9cm long, 3-7cm wide; petioles are 2-6cm long; the upper leaves are pinnate-lobed or 5-lobed, 4-6cm long, 2-4cm wide, nearly sessile; bracts are 3-lobed or unlobed. The capitula is spherical or nearly spherical, drooping, arranged in spike-like racemes on the stem end or branches; there are 3-4 layers of bracts, the middle and outer bracts have white soft hairs, and the inner ones are membranous and almost hairless; the inflorescence is densely covered with white hairs; there is 1 layer of female flowers, 15-25 flowers, the corolla is narrowly conical, the corolla mast has 2 lobes, the style is linear, extending out of the corolla, and the apex is forked. The bisexual flowers are 4-6 layers, 30-90 flowers, the corolla is tubular, the anthers are lanceolate, the style is equal to the corolla, the apex is forked, and the stigma has eyelashes. Achenes oblong with slightly asymmetrical crown margin at apex. Flowering and fruiting period is from August to November.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing on hillsides, grasslands, forest edges and thickets at an altitude of 1100-1500m.

[Chemical composition] The above-ground part contains artenolide [1], parishin B and C [2], 1-[(E)-8-isopropyl-1,5-dimethyl-4,8-nonadiene]-4-methyl-2,3-dioxo-bicyclo[2,2,2]-5-octene

[Pharmacological action] The main component of the volatile oil contained in Artemisia argyi is β-thujone, which can produce a central nervous system stimulant effect similar to camphor. Intravenous injection of 0.03-0.06 ml of wormwood oil into cats or rabbits can cause symptoms such as loss of consciousness and shock [1].

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; cold; toxic

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and dampness; drives away ascaris; strengthens the stomach. Mainly joint swelling and pain; eczema and itching; furuncle and sore; ascariasis; loss of appetite

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 3-6g. For external use: take appropriate amount, decoct in water for washing; or make a paste for application.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": Leaves and flower twigs; bitter in taste, cold in nature, and poisonous. It has the functions of clearing away heat, drying dampness and strengthening the stomach. Used to increase appetite, stimulate appetite and aid digestion. Oral administration of ansumin can reduce the degree of inflammation in experimental gastric ulcers in rats and promote the regeneration of the gastric wall.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Above we introduced what wormwood is, its effects and functions. We know that wormwood can not only improve immunity, but also plays an indispensable role in certain diseases.