On our planet there are many diverse plants and herbs that have healing properties. Some of them are well known to us and are found even in megacities, others are common in forests and meadows, and therefore are known only to experienced herbalists.
Many of our readers have probably heard about wormwood, and they, without hesitation, will say that this is a medicinal plant. But few will be able to answer the question: what does wormwood treat. Today, this medicinal herb is widely used, and not only in medicine. It is added to alcoholic beverages (absinthe and vermouth), to meat dishes as a seasoning, and, of course, for the preparation of medicinal infusions. In addition, this plant is used for household purposes: it helps fight parasites and insects. But today we’ll talk about what can be treated with wormwood and how to do it right.
Plant description
Wormwood belongs to the numerous family Asteraceae. It has a short, branched, lignified root. On the basal neck in the first year of life, adventitious buds appear, already in the second year shoots appear, which in a year begin to bloom and bear fruit.
The stems of wormwood are multi-branched, erect. In the upper part they are painted in a silver-gray color with a slight pubescence.
Leaves
At the base, the leaves are located on long petioles, with two, and most often with three divisions. In the middle of the stem, the leaves on the short petioles are sessile, bicoperiform, and cirrus. The upper leaves are simple, triple, lanceolate.
Flowers
In late July or early August, flowers appear on the plant. They are quite small, tubular, painted in yellow shades. The flowers have a spherical shape and are collected in dense inflorescences, panicles.
Seeds
From August, seeds located in wedge-shaped, elongated, thinly grooved achenes begin to ripen. Only one plant produces up to one hundred thousand seeds. They are the main way of propagating wormwood.
Spread
Wormwood is distributed practically throughout Europe, in Western Siberia and the Caucasus, Kazakhstan and Central Asia. It grows on abandoned empty areas, along roadsides, on forest edges.
Harvesting raw materials
Many people who know that it is possible to treat with wormwood, procure medicinal raw materials during the flowering period, cutting off the leafy tops. It is important to collect the grass on time, precisely when the wormwood blooms, because being late, as a rule, leads to the fact that during drying the grass becomes dark and the baskets crumble. Dry the grass in the shade or under a canopy, laying it out in a thin layer and shaking it regularly. Wormwood, dried correctly, has a spicy-bitter taste and a very pleasant spicy smell.
Wormwood species
There are about four hundred species of wormwood, but the following varieties are most common and in demand in medicine:
Consider each view in more detail.
Wormwood
Our readers may know that bitter wormwood cures so many diseases. In her family, she is a recognized leader. It is a perennial herb, painted silver, with a strong spicy aroma. Its use is effective for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. The unique properties of this plant contribute to the normalization of many disturbed processes in the body, relieve parasites and microbes.
Probably, not everyone knows that bitter wormwood cures insomnia, various nervous disorders, strengthens the immune system, and normalizes metabolism. The bitterness of this plant stimulates the digestive tract, the secretion of pancreatic juice and bile. Essential oils and chamazulen stimulate appetite, have anti-inflammatory effects.
Herbalists claim that bitter wormwood cures bronchial asthma (as part of complex therapy), rheumatism, eczema.
Common wormwood
It is a perennial with a height of 1.5 m. Its stem is panicle-branched, lignified in the lower part, painted in brownish-red tones. The leaves are pinnately dissected, having lanceolate segments, on top they are absolutely smooth, dark green in color, pubescent on the bottom. Small inflorescences-baskets with reddish or yellow tubular flowers are collected in brushes or spikelets. Raw materials are collected during flowering, leaves and stems are tied in small bundles and dried under a canopy.
In its composition, this variety has aromatic bitterness, but at the same time its effect on the body during treatment is much weaker than wormwood. What diseases does the wormwood of this species cure? It can be used to increase appetite, normalize the secretion of bile and gastric juice.
Healing wormwood
This grass reproduces vegetatively, so for its cultivation it will take some effort and certain conditions. This wormwood tolerates low temperatures and is completely undemanding to the composition of soils. This variety of wormwood has an unusual aroma and taste of lemon, combined with the bitterness of needles. Leaves contain:
- alkaloid abratin;
- flavonoid compounds.
You should know that the wormwood of this species cures scrofula and anemia (decoctions of leaves). Plant-based drugs will be useful for gynecological pain, menstrual irregularities. In addition, therapeutic wormwood is effective for bone aches, helminthic invasion, inflammation of the bladder. Infusions and decoctions in the form of rinses relieve toothache.
Chemical composition
Before you know what the wormwood herb treats (bitter, ordinary or medicinal) and why this happens, you need to understand what active substances are included in its composition.
Wormwood contains up to 2% of essential oil, which has an extremely bitter taste and a blue-green color. This is due to the fact that esters form sesquiterpene alcohols, from which it is necessary to isolate: anabsintin, absintin, artabsintin and others. In addition, the oil contains thujone, ketolactones, various sesquiterpene lactones and hydrocarbons. It is rich in wormwood and flavonoids, which are actively involved in many biological processes. The plant contains vitamins B and C, tannins, lignans and plant acids.
Beneficial features
Most often, wormwood-based preparations are used to treat digestive ailments. They stimulate the activity of the digestive tract, increase the outflow of bile, normalizing the pancreas. You may be interested to know what cures wormwood and lost appetite. It causes a feeling of hunger, which is a safe therapeutic tool in the treatment of a number of diseases.
It is impossible not to mention the anthelmintic properties of the plant, which make it possible to carry out not only preventive measures, but also create an environment in the body that will be unsuitable for the life of parasites.
People suffering from respiratory diseases should be aware that it treats bitter wormwood (reviews confirm this) and such diseases, since it has a pronounced expectorant effect, increasing the productivity of coughing. Drugs based on it enhance the separation of sputum from the bronchi and lungs. Potions and infusions prepared from wormwood are recommended for bronchitis, including chronic.
The use of solutions of essential oil of wormwood for gargling in the early stages of respiratory viral diseases helps to destroy the infection and to avoid further exacerbation of the disease. Hypertensive patients can take wormwood preparations that dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure.
With the help of this herb, you can implement local anesthesia, accelerate wound healing, stop heavy bleeding. Quite often wormwood compresses and lotions are used for local injuries (cuts, bruises).
Since ancient times, people have known that wormwood treats various skin defects. For this, plant essential oil is used. They affect local lesions, which include inflammatory processes, eczema and acne.
What cures wormwood in folk medicine?
We have already said that traditional healers are actively and fairly successfully treating many diseases with wormwood-based drugs. We will tell you about some of them.
The use of bitter wormwood to get rid of parasites
Healers believe that wormwood powder (we will explain below) has a more effective antiparasitic effect than infusion.
Many chronic diseases cause parasites and ecotoxins. Wormwood truly works wonders, saving patients from chlamydia, Trichomonas, feline Giardia, toxoplasma, Proteus, etc.
Recipe number 1
Grind dry grass into powder and take as follows, washed down with water:
1 day - 1 pinch;
2 day - a quarter of a spoon (teaspoon);
3 day - a third of a spoon;
4 day - half a spoon.
The dosage is increased every day for two weeks, bringing the volume to a quarter of a tablespoon (tablespoon). From 15 days and 5 subsequent days take this dose.
Recipe number 2
I must say that wormwood cures infection with parasites, not only with the use of powder. You can use a special decoction while washing the intestines. Such an effective remedy is indicated for ascariasis. It has an immunomodulatory effect.
To prepare a decoction, mix a spoon (teaspoon) of raw materials with a liter of water, bring to a boil and let the composition brew for ten minutes, then strain. Enema is done using a slightly cooled composition. At night, it is recommended to inject about 100 ml of warm broth so that it is absorbed into the rectum.
Hemorrhoid treatment
An increase in hemorrhoidal nodes leads to serious problems. In addition to acute, sometimes unbearable pains, this insidious disease is often accompanied by bleeding. As a rule, the treatment of this ailment is long, the advanced form of the disease is treated only in an operable way. Many people who are diagnosed with this disease will be surprised to find out that the tincture of wormwood hemorrhoids cures.
Grind a small sprig of grass, fill it with 100 ml of alcohol and let it brew for seven days. Take tincture twice a day, ten drops. They are best dissolved in a small amount of water.
At the same time, you can use a decoction: in a liter of boiling water, boil over low heat four tablespoons (tablespoons) of crushed raw materials for seven minutes. After this, wrap the container with the product and let it brew for two hours. Enemas make a decoction of room temperature.
Herpes
What diseases does wormwood treat, other than those listed? The dangerous herpes virus is manifested by red bubbles on the wings of the nose, lips, face. Folk doctors recommend the use of wormwood tinctures as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent.
Pour five tablespoons (tablespoon) of wormwood seeds into 0.5 l of vodka and soak the composition for twenty days in a dark place, shaking the container periodically. Then strain it and take daily before meals on a spoon (tablespoon). Taking this composition for two weeks, you will be convinced that the tincture of wormwood and this insidious virus are treating. It is important to strictly observe the dosage and regimen of the drug.
Liver treatment
Do you know that wormwood cures the liver? This is true - numerous patient reviews confirm this fact. Wormwood is taken in two forms, every two weeks, alternating with therapy. Use vodka tincture (the recipe we described above) three times a day, 10 ml after a meal.
During the next course, take a dry mixture of wormwood with sage. Plants are crushed and mixed in a ratio of 5: 1. This remedy is taken in half a teaspoon twice a day during dinner and breakfast.
Gynecological problems
What cures wormwood in gynecology? First of all, it is used to combat such a serious disease as uterine fibroids - a benign tumor consisting of muscle fibers and connective tissue. To treat this serious problem, use a vodka infusion of the herb, which is taken for fifteen days daily with a spoon (teaspoon) during meals in the morning and evening. If necessary, the course of treatment can be repeated, but after a month.
Does it help with allergies?
Can wormwood cure allergies? This disease is characterized by hypersensitivity of the immune system to any substances, including pollen of flowering plants. Unfortunately, wormwood is not able to cure this disease, but it can cause an allergic reaction, since it has active pollen.
In people who are prone to hay fever, the likelihood of illness increases in August. It is manifested by swelling of the nasal mucosa, sneezing, runny nose, lacrimation, the development of various types of conjunctivitis.
After making a diagnosis, it is necessary to immediately begin treatment:
- exclude all contact with grass;
- do allergy vaccination;
- in windy dry weather, try not to leave your home if possible, close windows;
- returning from the street, take a shower and wash clothes, gargle and rinse your nose with saline;
- carry out wet cleaning twice a day;
- take all medications prescribed by your doctor.
How to use wormwood for weight loss?
We told you that wormwood treats, but you can not say about another property of this plant, which many have appreciated. Using wormwood, they effectively cleanse the body, getting rid of harmful deposits, salts and toxins. For this, oil is most suitable, the recipe of which we will present below.
All who carried out wormwood cleansing claim that they lost several kilograms during the two-week course. In addition, the metabolism returned to normal. Oil is taken for fifteen days in a spoon (tablespoon) half an hour before meals.
We will present you the most popular recipes for wormwood.
Cognac Tincture
We talked about tincture made with vodka and alcohol. A similar drug can be prepared on cognac. You will need:
- dry wormwood roots - two spoons (tablespoons);
- cognac - one liter.
These ingredients are kept in a water bath for ten minutes. The finished composition is poured into a bottle, tightly closed and put for two days in a warm place. Then the tincture is filtered and taken with neurasthenia five drops twice a day.
Wormwood oil
Wormwood fresh grass is placed in a glass liter container, filled with olive oil and tightly closed with a lid. The remedy is infused for ten days. The readiness of the oil can be determined by color, it will become pearlescent or dark green. The strained oil is stored in the refrigerator.
Seed oil
Five grams of crushed seeds are infused with twenty grams of olive oil for eight hours. Take this tool one or two drops on sugar or bread with cramps and muscle pain.
Wormwood juice
Fresh grass juice is effective for dressings with calluses and corns, to stop bleeding, and has a healing and disinfecting effect. If a bruised grass is applied to the place of the bruise or to the dislocated joint, then the pain quickly subsides, edema decreases.
Contraindications
Like all medicinal plants, wormwood can be harmful to human health, especially if there is a dosage violation, an independent change in the formulation and rules for the use of drugs.
In order to avoid negative effects from taking this herb, you must refuse to take it in the following cases:
- gastritis (low acidity);
- internal bleeding;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- allergic reactions;
- stomach ulcer;
- anemia.
Reviews
As it turned out, today many people suffering from serious ailments know that it treats wormwood (reviews eloquently testify to this). These are really effective drugs, which in most cases are recognized by traditional medicine.
Many people who have undergone treatment with wormwood to cleanse the body, note improvement in well-being, increased efficiency, reduced headaches. Women talk about reducing the size of myomas. All those who leave feedback recommend that you consult with your doctor before starting treatment, in order to avoid negative reactions.