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Once upon a time, wormwood was very popular, especially among artists who chose absinthe as their favorite drink – an alcohol containing wormwood, anise and fennel. For many people today, wormwood is associated exclusively with absinthe, but this herb has much more advantages than serving only as a raw material for alcohol. And I must say, our great-grandmothers knew about it.
General characteristics
Wormwood, or Chernobyl, is common throughout Europe, North America, Western Asia and North Africa. This plant from the Compositae family can often be seen on sunny hills, wastelands, forest glades, mountain slopes. Chernobyl is a tall perennial with a straight branched stem, covered with fluff, and silvery leaves. This grass blooms with yellow flowers, collected at the top of the stems in small discreet baskets. During the flowering period, the plant secretes a resin that protects it from insects.
Wormwood was known as a medicinal plant in ancient Babylon and Assyria, and Hippocrates, the father of medicine, mentions it in his writings as a potion for jaundice and stomach diseases. In Algeria, an alcoholic infusion of wormwood is taken as a medicine against malaria. And this plant is also known as a universal remedy against pests. Interestingly, in ancient times, wormwood juice was added to ink to scare mice away from books. To drive away moths from different tissues, they were also sprinkled with grass juice. And bouquets of this plant, arranged indoors, will help get rid of flies. Interestingly, pets can also benefit from wormwood. If cats or dogs are bothered by fleas, it is enough to redeem the animals in a strong decoction of Chernobyl. The same decoction can disinfect wounds in animals. And for gardeners and gardeners, wormwood infusion will come to the rescue when you need to get rid of annoying caterpillars.
In addition, in ancient times, people believed that this bitter plant protects against witchcraft. It was believed that wormwood growing in the garden drives away evil spirits from the house.
Chemical composition
There are many varieties of wormwood and not all of them have healing properties. In addition, some varieties are difficult to distinguish among themselves. In herbal medicine, branches, leaves and flowers of grass rich in chemical components are used. Wormwood leaves, for example, contain glycosides, essential oils, flavonoids, tannins, organic acids, vitamin C.
Recent studies have pointed to the presence of specific compounds in the leaves of wormwood, which actually give the plant a bitter taste. In addition, it turned out that these substances also have antispasmodic and antiseptic properties. Among other components contained in wormwood, flavonoids, tannins and minerals were found, in particular, the plant contains a lot of potassium.
No less useful for humans is wormwood oil, which is obtained by steam distillation from the leaves and flowers of the herb. Chernobyl essential oil contains 28 active ingredients, and they make up 93% of the total chemical composition of the substance. But among the chemical elements in wormwood there is also a dangerous thujone, which, however, is removed from the plant during the production of alcohol.
Human benefits
Wormwood has an antibacterial effect, cleanses the kidneys, relieves fever, activates metabolic processes, stimulates appetite, improves digestion, and has a beneficial effect on the urinary and bile ducts.
One of the most well-known benefits of this herb is its ability to eliminate parasites, including intestinal ones. In addition, wormwood contains a substance known as artemisinin, which has antimalarial activity. And this is not all the useful properties of the plant. Studies indicate that mugwort has the ability to inhibit the development of cancer cells and is also a useful remedy for anorexia, anemia, bloating, and indigestion. Chernobyl has long been known as a remedy for digestive disorders and flatulence. In addition, the bitter taste of the herb promotes better production of bile and gastric juice, and wormwood tea has energy properties.
Now let’s talk about the scientifically proven properties of wormwood.
Cures malaria
Malaria is a serious disease caused by parasites. Infection occurs through the bite of an infected mosquito. The artemisinin found in wormwood is a powerful antimalarial agent. Once in an infected body, this substance contributes to recovery. WHO recommends wormwood preparations for people suffering from various forms of malaria.
Artemisinin, among other things, has the properties of an antioxidant that removes free radicals from the body. And this is also an additional plus in antimalarial therapy.
It has anti-cancer properties.
According to recent studies, thanks to the already mentioned artemisinin, wormwood reduces the risk of malignant tumors and inhibits their growth. The effectiveness of the plant has been laboratory-proven on the example of breast cancer cells. It is also interesting that against the background of consumption of Chernobyl, healthy cells do not experience any changes, but tumor cells die within 16 hours.
Removes parasites from the body
Wormwood is one of the most famous substances for removing endoparasites, in particular roundworms and pinworms. Pinworms are one of the most common parasites in the world and are very easily transmitted. Nematodes and worms are less common, but they are more dangerous to health. Tapeworm infestation presents with severe itching, coughing, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, blood in the stool, and weight loss despite proper nutrition. Parasites are found in most animals, and are sometimes transmitted to humans. Fortunately, modern pharmacology offers many options for the treatment of parasites. But this does not mean that “chemistry” is the only panacea. Before resorting to the help of the chemical industry, you can try the method used by our great-grandmothers. We are talking about the extract of wormwood. Perhaps the most effective folk remedy for parasites is to use a mixture of black walnut, cloves and wormwood. And I must say the effectiveness of such a drug has also been confirmed in scientific laboratories.
Helps treat Crohn’s disease
Scientific evidence indicates that consuming mugwort extract three times a day can help reduce the symptoms of this condition. A positive effect was recorded in 90% of patients participating in the experiment. But it should be said that these are only the first preliminary studies. But the effect of Chernobyl on an organism suffering from autoimmune diseases has already managed to impress scientists. Researchers continue to discover new properties of this herb.
Has antibacterial and antifungal activity
Laboratory studies confirm that wormwood essential oil has a strong effect on bacteria, viruses and fungi. Its action is so powerful that it destroys even virulent bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella. By the way, several million people become victims of salmonella every year in the world, children and the elderly are especially vulnerable. The bacterium Escherichia coli is the cause of many diseases. It can cause diarrhea, infectious diseases of the genitourinary system, respiratory diseases and others. Wormwood helps keep the digestive system healthy by killing bacteria.
Also, the effectiveness of the herb extract was determined against fungi. The most effective is the essential oil of wormwood, which also has antioxidant properties. Studies indicate that the essential oil of this plant inhibits the growth of fungi of the genus Candida. And this is very important, because in recent years, candidiasis has become a universal problem. These fungi can attack the entire body – the oral cavity, intestines, reproductive system. But using wormwood, you can get rid of the disease.
Protects the small intestine
Studies have shown that wormwood restores the natural intestinal microflora. It is known that the use of antibiotics has a bad effect on the state of the intestinal microflora. Scientists, comparing the effectiveness of antibiotics and herbal remedies, came to some interesting conclusions. It turned out that herbs such as wormwood, oregano, thyme are effective in the treatment of intestinal diseases. The positive effect of herbal treatment was felt by 46% of the participants in the experiment. In addition, herbs, in comparison with antibiotics, do not cause dysbacteriosis and do not affect the work of the digestive tract. According to scientists, the treatment with these herbs is almost as effective as the use of pharmacy medicines.
Wormwood in folk medicine
This bitter plant has been used in folk medicine in many countries. Chernobyl is harvested for medicinal purposes from July to September. Raw materials are dried naturally in well-ventilated but dark places.
Once crushed fresh leaves of wormwood, mixed with egg white, were applied as a compress to bruises and wounds. Lotions from the juice of wormwood were used to treat sore eyes. Stomach ailments, bad breath were treated by herbalists with Chernobyl infusions. The same medicine was given to people with any liver disease.
Infusions and tinctures from this herb were used to treat the stomach, drank in the absence of appetite, chronic gastritis and intestinal diseases caused by reduced secretory work of the stomach. In addition, wormwood was used to treat flatulence, intestinal colic, pancreatic dysfunction, and wormwood infusion was used to remove parasites, including lice and intestinal.
Natural medicines from Chernobyl
To improve appetite, three times a day, half an hour before meals, it is useful to drink a teaspoon of wormwood wine. Medicinal wine is prepared from 3-5 tablespoons of chopped herbs and half a glass of 40% alcohol. The ingredients are mixed and infused for 24 hours. Then add 1 liter of white wine and leave overnight. Strain in the morning and drink.
Wormwood tincture retains all the healing properties of the herb. But most often this medicine is used for diseases of the digestive system. In particular, with diarrhea, abdominal pain, indigestion. Prepare the tincture as follows. Fill the bottle with young leaves of grass and pour alcohol. Infuse in a warm place for a week, then strain. The strength of the finished tincture can be reduced by adding water to it. For severe diarrhea, this medicine is taken in a tablespoon every 3 hours. In other cases, it is enough to consume 1 tablespoon per day.
And here is another popular recipe for Chernobyl tincture, which herbalists advise drinking a tablespoon 2-3 times a day to cleanse the blood and in case of indigestion. Put 3 dry sprigs of wormwood, 5 inflorescences of St. John’s wort with leaves, 1 leaf of geranium, 8 grains of black pepper, 10 raisins, 10 g of green tea, 1 tablespoon of honey and a liter of vodka in a vessel. Close the vessel, wrap it in a cloth and put it in a pot of hot water for 2 hours. Then the mixture is infused for a week, after which it is filtered through several layers of gauze.
Use in the food industry
Even in ancient Egypt, wormwood was added as a seasoning to food, and more specifically to alcohol. Mainly for wines. The tradition of using Chernobyl in the preparation of alcoholic beverages continued in France in the XNUMXth century. At that time, absinthe was popular, especially in the bohemian environment. However, in those days, absinthe contained a lot of the poisonous substance thujone, which has a detrimental effect on the central nervous system and causes addiction. Today, absinthe is safer.
Wormwood is sometimes added as a herb to fatty meat dishes, including goose, duck, or lamb. It is believed that a small amount of this herb improves the taste of the finished dish. Fresh leaves are also added to some cocktails. In Morocco, for example, a small piece of Chernobyl leaf is traditionally added to a mixture of mint and green tea. Such a drink leaves an unusual bitter aftertaste. But in this case, the main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise the tea will become very bitter and with an unpleasant odor. Surprisingly, the bitter taste of wormwood tea persists even when diluted 1:800. But it was precisely because of the bitterness that this herb in microdoses was once so often added to various sauces. Today, wormwood is used mainly for the preparation of bitters, vermouth, liqueurs, flavored vodka.
How to collect and prepare
In dried wormwood, thujone is either not contained at all, or is present in negligible amounts, which makes the dry plant safe for consumption. A medicinal infusion of Chernobyl is prepared from half a teaspoon of dry grass and a glass of boiling water, the mixture is infused for 15 minutes. You can give a little more grass, but in this case you get a very bitter infusion that is impossible to drink. The same applies to drinks aged for more than 15 minutes.
But no matter how bitter wormwood tea is, it is undesirable to add sweeteners to it, since sugar affects the medicinal properties of the herb. You can minimize the bitter taste with mint and anise, which are added to tea. Wormwood is drunk in small sips.
Possible side effects
Wormwood is not one of those herbs that can be drunk without harm for a long time. Excessive passion for a drink or an increase in dose can cause poisoning. It is important to know that for making tea, only a dried plant should be taken, which contains very little essential oil and thujone. In addition, it is better not to engage in self-harvesting of wormwood, but to buy grass for tea in a pharmacy.
Alcohol tinctures may contain a certain amount of thujone, so it is important to carefully study the label, description and instructions for use before buying such a drug. Experts do not advise preparing an alcoholic infusion of wormwood on your own, since it is impossible to control the concentration of thujone at home.
The use of preparations from Chernobyl for longer than 4 weeks can cause nausea, vomiting, insomnia, dizziness and convulsions. In some cases, very large doses of wormwood can cause muscle paralysis, kidney damage, vomiting, stomach cramps, urinary retention, and even death. This herb should not be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The substances contained in this herb stimulate the uterus and can cause premature birth or miscarriage. Wormwood is forbidden to people with allergies to plants from the Asteraceae family, people with epilepsy or kidney disease. In addition, you need to know that Chernobyl reduces the effectiveness of anticonvulsants.
One of the most famous products containing wormwood is absinthe. Also, this herb is known as a powerful antiparasitic drug, it has antimalarial activity, helps to treat jaundice, insomnia, anorexia and many other disorders. Meanwhile, we must not forget that in addition to benefits, this plant can also bring harm. Non-compliance with the recommendations of doctors, self-medication or excessive passion for bitter tea can actually have disastrous consequences.