Wormwood essential oil is not recommended for use in the usual methods of aromatherapy, since the oily liquid is toxic and requires caution in use. At the same time, the oil has a wide range of useful properties, including effects on the psycho-emotional state of a person. At home, for cosmetic and medicinal purposes, only lemon wormwood oil is used, which has high irritating properties and less toxicity.
Plant material
The properties and application of wormwood oil determines the specific type of plant. Most often you can find in pharmacy chains ether from common wormwood - it is a perennial branching plant with light green leaves and small flowers, reaches a height of one and a half meters. Wormwood essential oil is obtained from a plant with whitish stems and light green-silver leaves. The softest and safest is considered to be lemon wormwood oil. This is a low shrub (up to 80 cm) with paniculate inflorescences, all parts of which exude a sweet fruity aroma.
Production Regions
Wormwood is grown commercially in all regions. The exception is only lemon wormwood, the area of distribution of which until recently was very limited. Bitter and common wormwood is grown in Russia, Southern Europe, North America (USA). The quality is distinguished by Chinese, Moroccan, Hungarian, German, Japanese, Indian oils. Wormwood is grown in Turkmenistan, the Republic of Moldova and Russia.
Marking and varieties
Of the greatest value, due to their properties, are essential oils of wormwood lemon (Balkhan), bitter and ordinary with the markings of Artemisia balchanorum, Artemisia absinthium and Artemisia vulgaris, respectively. Sometimes balkhan wormwood (this is another official name for lemon) is replaced by producers of Bakhyz wormwood, but this is not a complete analogue, because it looks like lemon only with aroma. For aromatherapy, mostly only lemon wormwood is used, but many pharmaceutical companies by additional purification rid other esters of toxic substances, which makes the product available for use. The use of wormwood oil at home is permissible, but proceed with caution, because it is not known how the cleaning method can affect the quality of the finished product.
Poor quality products
There are practically no chemical analogues of wormwood oil on sale, because it is impractical to fake an already toxic oily liquid. Some cases of distribution of counterfeit products are usually associated with a lack of raw materials (use in the production of undesirable parts of plants, non-ecological growing area, collection at the wrong time) or a change in production technology. Caution must also be exercised when buying purified esters. Before applying wormwood essential oil, you must definitely study all the information on the label regarding the cleaning method, and make sure that the manufacturer does not hide the important characteristics of the product. In addition, recommendations for use and dosage should be further explored. It is better to buy essential oils (including wormwood oil) from trusted manufacturers and reliable distributors.
Oil production method
All oils are obtained from the aboveground parts of the plant. The use of shoots is highly undesirable: ether is obtained only from leaves and flowers. Regarding lemon wormwood, plant materials harvested during flowering can be used. The yield of oil is small, especially if the raw materials were collected at the wrong time (maximum value - 0.2% by weight of the plant).
To obtain ether from ordinary, bitter and lemon wormwood, the steam distillation method is used. Extraction, solvent extraction and other methods in the production of this plant oil are unacceptable. Lemon wormwood on sale can be represented not only by ether, but also by absolute or specific, which necessarily require preliminary dilution.
The oil is super toxic, due to its high toxic thujone content. In wormwood oil, up to 70% of this substance can be contained, and citral dominates in the composition of lemon (up to 45%). The most toxic esters are Moroccan or Indian-made esters, which must be used with extreme caution (even as part of aromatic mixtures).
Oil at home
How to make wormwood oil at home? To prepare medicinal raw materials, it is necessary to collect the leaves and inflorescences of the plant during the flowering period. Medicinal properties are possessed by seeds that are harvested in late summer - early fall. The raw materials must be finely chopped and folded into a glass jar, filled with any vegetable oil (it is better to use olive oil), cork tightly and shake several times. Oil must be infused for at least two weeks in a cool and dark place. After the dark green liquid must be filtered. Keep refrigerated.
Another way to prepare: grind the seeds in a coffee grinder full and pour a tablespoon of raw materials 100 ml of olive oil. The composition is removed in a dark place for a week, periodically shake. Strain before use. And here’s the old way of making wormwood oil: mix 40 g of the tops of wormwood and 100 ml of corn or olive oil, put in a water bath and wait for it to boil. Warm over low heat for 30 minutes, and then cool and store in a dark and cool place.
External characteristics
Wormwood oil, purchased at a pharmacy, should be transparent and colorless, a slight yellowish tint is allowed. The rest of the species are practically no different, only in the lemon a light yellow color can be more pronounced, a pale color is also allowed. All oily liquids are very light and fluid. Home-made oil usually has a deep dark green tint with a yellowish tint. Such a product must be used with extreme caution, because the plant is toxic. Only oils manufactured by pharmaceutical companies on an industrial scale are refined. At home, such a procedure is impossible to repeat.
Fragrance Features
The intense aroma of wormwood is most fully expressed in wormwood oil. Strong, saturated, with a recognizable bitter base and pleasant subtle shades, it can both charm and cause persistent rejection, so it is important to check the product for the comfort of the aroma. Common wormwood retains all its characteristics, but the smell is much calmer and thinner. First camphor and cedar notes are caught, then they are replaced by a very persistent base of dry grass. Lemon wormwood does not at all resemble medicinal herbs: candy notes successfully mask the lemon-grass base. Tones are sweet, fruity, the characteristic aroma of the plant is almost not recognized.
Combination with other oils
When using wormwood oil in combination with other aromas, it should be remembered that this is a bright dominant that can kill even intense aromas. It is better to supplement ordinary wormwood with oils of patchouli, cedar, pine, oak moss, rosemary, sage or lavender. After cleaning, bitter is used with esters of hyacinth, jasmine, lavender, oak moss and neroli. The best additions for lemon wormwood will be the scent of neroli, lavender and jasmine.
Psycho-emotional impact
The properties of wormwood oil are manifested in a strong effect on the psycho-emotional sphere. Therefore, ether should be used with caution and in minimum dosages, because it can cause loss of concentration and even impaired consciousness. The aroma of wormwood was previously considered magical, driving away adversity. This strong odor gives the impression of reliability and safety, but the sedative-suppressive effect is misleading and can cause a backlash. The smell of wormwood oil is one of the best for reflection, immersion in oneself, creating the illusion of comfort and detachment from the world, good for dealing with negative emotions and stress. Perhaps this explains the popularity of this product. What other areas of its application are there?
The properties of wormwood essential oil are well known to women. According to them, ether helps relieve PMS and neurological symptoms of hormonal disorders, gives self-confidence and own attractiveness, peace of mind. Women especially note the calming effect of the product. But lemon wormwood has completely different properties. This aroma improves performance and allows you to increase activity, eliminates fatigue and reduces the negative effects of stress factors.
Healing properties
Wormwood is an antispasmodic, healing, stimulating and diaphoretic, can regulate the menstrual cycle, has an antimicrobial and antifungal effect. At home, it is impossible to use ether for therapeutic purposes, because neither wormwood oil can be used either internally or externally. The beneficial properties partially manifest themselves when inhaled, but usually it is only about relieving cramping and increasing concentration.
Bitter wormwood stimulates menstruation, can reduce temperature and contributes to the complex treatment of functional disorders of the gallbladder and liver. Used in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract as a healing, tonic and emollient component, but cannot be used at home.
Lemon wormwood is characterized by immunomodulatory, antispasmodic, general tonic, deodorizing, expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties. Essential oil improves air characteristics, positively affects the work of the heart and blood vessels, lowers blood pressure and accelerates the recovery process in various serious diseases, disinfects. These properties and the use of wormwood oil to combat diseases of the respiratory system, including bronchitis, tuberculosis and asthma, also determine these properties. In addition, it is a good means of prevention in the season of viral and colds.
Wormwood oil from papillomavirus infection can only be used after consulting a doctor, because it is a very aggressive remedy. Treatment of the papilloma virus helps prevent further spread of the virus and eliminate growths on the body, but not a pharmacy product, but self-made tinctures or complex formulations are used. Pharmaceutical oil is recommended to be mixed with almond and olive, and if the warts are localized on the genitals or in the armpits - with tea tree oil. A cotton swab is applied to the wart three times a day. During treatment, the papilloma begins to dry out and disappears. The duration of treatment depends on the size of the growth.
Cosmetological properties
The properties of essential oil of wormwood have found application in cosmetology and dermatology. The ether has the ability to eliminate warts, tone and rejuvenate the skin, heal wounds, regulates the oily epidermis, and helps fight dandruff. At home, the use of oil is not recommended, unless it is about refined. Despite the above beneficial properties, ether is usually not used in cosmetology. But the properties of the plant are manifested when using the product to improve the characteristics of cosmetics (the extract is added to shampoos, masks, tonics, cleansers and so on).
Household use
The use of wormwood oil for domestic purposes is a fairly common practice. It is a powerful insecticide that is used to control insects, disinfect and sterilize surfaces. With wormwood make fragrances, personal flavors and fragrances that are not applied directly to the skin. The aroma is dominant, so it suppresses even persistent oils, so it is used in minimal amounts in compositions. Wormwood is suitable for male compositions. Bitter wormwood in the food industry is used to flavor soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. Lemon is used in the manufacture of perfumes, as well as in the food industry. It is also an effective household insecticide.
Application features
Wormwood oil requires special care in use. Since esters are toxic, they cannot be applied directly to the skin and used for oral administration. The only possible method of application involves the inhalation of aroma, and such use is limited for bitter wormwood. The aroma of the plant can cause nausea, uncontrollable fears and anxiety, anxiety, serious sleep disturbances, so it should be used with caution. Lemon wormwood ester can cause skin irritation. You can not use oils for more than two weeks without a break, it is strictly contraindicated during pregnancy (even in aromatic compositions), because wormwood, having an embryotoxic effect, can provoke spontaneous abortion.
Application methods
The specific application methods for wormwood oil are different for different types of product, but all dosages should be minimal. Bitter wormwood is used only for short-term sessions of psychotherapy. Cold inhalations lasting no more than five minutes at starting two to three minutes are permissible. Common wormwood oil is used to flavor water during disinfection (this is an effective way to get rid of bugs, fleas and other insects, but requires caution if there are small children and pets in the house) in an amount of one to three drops. For an aromatic lamp, one or two drops are enough, in perfume mixtures that do not require direct contact with the skin, ether needs to be added one drop at a time until the desired result is achieved.
Lemon wormwood oil can be used to aromatize rooms using aromatic lamps, in massage mixtures, aroma baths, compresses and applications, for the enrichment of cosmetics, humidifiers, disinfection of floors and surfaces, in aromatic mixtures. It is enough to add two to five drops of wormwood ether per 30 ml of base oil in the massage mixes, one or two drops per procedure in aromatherapy baths, no more than six drops per dressing in applications and compresses, no more than two drops per enrichment of cosmetics 10 ml of base, for humidifiers and floor disinfection - no more than four drops per room. Refined oils can be used in the same dosages as lemon wormwood ester.