In different countries around the globe, people still rely on herbs and medicinal plants to ensure good health and nutrition. Wormwood is a great example of an edible medicinal plant that does wonders for the health. This perennial shrub is known for its fragrant but bitter foliage and its tolerance to poor soil conditions.

In the U.S., different varieties of wormwood are used as ornamental plants for landscaping. But what many don’t know is that there’s more to wormwood than just its beautiful and aromatic foliage.

Wormwood in the kitchen

Called “qinghao” in traditional Chinese medicine, wormwood has been used for millennia for its ability to shrink hemorrhoids, fight inflammation and treat malaria, a potentially fatal, mosquito-borne disease.

Although wormwood is a little too bitter to use for cooking, that hasn’t stopped many people from using it in pastries and rice cakes. In fact, it’s not uncommon for wormwood to be used in as an ingredient in mochi, one of Japan’s famous delicacies made from glutinous rice.

Wormwood is also used to create absinthe, a traditional, grape-based alcoholic drink that features distilled grains, anise, fennel and other herbs. Careful, though! This spirit has a high alcohol content, and according to some reports, it can cause hallucinations.

If you’re unsure about its bitter taste, here’s something to consider: Research suggests that the chemicals that make wormwood taste bitter are actually great for cleansing the stomach of parasites, microbes and other harmful substances.

Because of wormwood’s natural cleansing abilities, its leaves are often used to create detox drinks or teas.

Health benefits of wormwood

Despite wormwood’s documented uses as a healing herb, studies on its reported benefits are scant. Nevertheless, many people still use wormwood to make herbal teas and cultivate the herb in their gardens.

Here are some of the most popular health benefits of wormwood:

It promotes digestion

Gut issues like indigestion, constipation and diarrhea are signs of bad digestion and poor gut health. If left as is, poor gut health can cause a host of problems, including sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue, skin irritation and mood disorders. But according to studies, wormwood can help you control your appetite and produce more stomach enzymes to improve digestion.

It eases pain

Inflammation and a weakened immune system make a bad combo that contributes to poor pain management. Luckily, you can rely on wormwood to give you relief. Wormwood has natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce pain and inflammation caused by conditions like osteoarthritis.

It helps manage symptoms of Crohn’s disease

Besides fighting inflammation, wormwood can also help with the symptoms Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract. Its symptoms include chills, abdominal pain, diarrhea, mouth sores and reduced appetite. Wormwood can also protect your gut from microbial infections.

It treats malaria

Malaria is a serious, sometimes fatal, disease that’s transmitted through the bite of an infected female mosquito. Although not as big of a problem in the U.S., malaria remains a major health problem in a lot of tropical and subtropical countries. That said, it’s possible to treat malaria using natural medicines, and wormwood tops this list.

Some considerations

Wormwood offers incredible health benefits, but it can cause side effects for some.

As with many herbal supplements, pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised to consult their natural health advisor before use. Pregnant women, in particular, shouldn’t take wormwood as it contains chemical components that can cause miscarriages.

Epileptics should also refrain from drinking wormwood tea or taking wormwood supplements. Thujone, a compound present in wormwood, has brain-stimulating effects that could trigger seizures.

Thujone can also be toxic in large doses. For your safety, consult with a health professional before taking any supplements and seek guidance about proper dosage.

Wormwood is one of the oldest medicinal herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Despite scant research, it remains a go-to medicine for pain, inflammation and gut problems. Because of its versatility, you can use wormwood to make an aromatic herbal tea or an all-natural remedy for pains and other minor complaints.

Sources:

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

WellAndGood.com