Wormwood is one of the oldest traditional herbal medicines for stimulating digestive function, supporting healthy appetite and killing digestive parasites. However, wormwood may have side effects that increase the risk of some types of skin cancer. Treat wormwood extract with caution, and use it only as directed by a health professional. Consult with a registered medical herbalist and a doctor before purchasing wormwood products.
Pharmacology
According to Henry Potter, a medical herbalist and author of "Potter's Encyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs & Preparations," wormwood leaves contain a variety of essential oils and lactones that give the plant its medicinal, aromatic and bitter-tasting qualities. Some of the major compounds include absinthin, anabsthin, chamazulene, pinene, camphor and thujone. In addition, wormwood contains antioxidants such as quercetin, which may help to reduce your inflammation and allergies.
Tumor Necrosis Factor
In a study published in "The Annals of the New York Academy of Science" in 2005, researchers from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology tested the effects of wormwood on pro-inflammatory chemicals. Wormwood had significant anti-inflammatory properties in mice, and inhibited the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or TNF-alpha, COX-2 enzymes and nitric oxide. While pro-inflammatory chemicals like these may be linked with some forms of cancer, TNF-alpha is an important anti-cancer compound. Specifically, it protects against non-melanoma skin cancer. Taking wormwood for long periods of time may increase the risk of skin cancer for this reason, and caution is advised.
Immune Modulation
In a study published in "The Journal of Ethnopharmacology" in 2010, researchers from Xinjiang Medical University in China studied the properties of wormwood on mice with damaged livers. Wormwood helped to modulate the immune systems of the mice, restored levels of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione, and improved liver enzyme levels. While wormwood also decreased levels of the anti-cancer compound TNF-alpha, its ability to support immune function and protect against chemical and free radical damage may help to negate the harmful effects of reducing TNF-alpha levels. Wormwood works on a variety of complex levels in the body, and researchers confirm that more clinical research is still needed to verify the safety of using wormwood products.
Safety and Toxicity
According to Drug Information Online, there was no evidence as of 2011 that wormwood increases the risk of cancer in humans. However, wormwood is considered a potentially toxic and dangerous herb, and is classified as "unsafe" by the FDA. Wormwood leaves contain essential oils such as thujone, that cross the blood-brain barrier and may cause neuro-toxicity. Adverse reactions have been reported from ingesting wormwood oil, and wormwood flowers can cause allergies and contact dermatitis. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid use of wormwood completely. Use this plant only under the direct supervision of a registered medical herbalist and a doctor, and when possible, look for thujone-free wormwood products.
References
- "Potter's Encyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations"; Henry Potter; 1998
- "The Annals of the New York Academy of Science"; Tetramethoxy Hydroxyflavone p7F Downregulates Inflammatory Mediators via the Inhibition of Nuclear Factor KappaB; H.G. Lee, et al; 2004
- "Frontiers in Bioscience"; TNF and Cancer: the Two Sides of the Coin; S. Mocellin, D. Nitti; 2008
- "The Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; In Vivo Hepatoprotective Activity of the Aqueous Extract of Artemisia absinthium L. Against Chemically and Immunologically Induced Liver Injuries in Mice; N. Amat, et al;2010
- "Drug Information Online": Wormwood
