The wormwoods are members of the great family of compositae. Both herbs are bitter digestive remedies, and many bitter aperitifs contain wormwood as a digestive stimulant. Wormwood is also used to expel intestinal worms in children.

The aerial parts of both plants are the parts used either fresh or dried.

Volatile oil – includes sesquiterpene, lactones and thujone, bitter principle, flavonoids, tannins, silica, inulin.

A. absinthium is traditionally used as a bitter digestive tonic, uterine stimulant, expelling worms, antibiotic, bile stimulant and antiseptic.

A. vulgaris is traditionally used as a bitter, digestive tonic, uterine stimulant, menstrual regulator and antirheumatic.

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Aerial parts - A. absinthium
Infusion This has been traditionally used for sluggish digestion, poor appetite and gastritis (5 – 10g of the herb to 500ml of water). It can also be prescribed for jaundice and hepatitis and expelling intestinal worms.

Tincture This is traditionally used as the infusion, however do not exceed 3ml per day.

Wash This is traditionally used for infestations such as scabies using the infusion.

Aerial parts - A. vulgaris
Infusion This is traditionally used for menopausal syndrome or use as a bitter to cool the digestive tract.

Decoction This is traditionally used for period pain (combine 5g with an equal amount of dry ginger to make a warming tea)

Tincture This is traditionally used for period pain, scanty menstruation and prolonged bleeding, or as a stimulant in liver stagnation and sluggish digestion.

Avoid both herbs during pregnancy as they are uterine stimulants.

Avoid if breastfeeding as thujone may be passed to the baby in the mothers milk.

If using the tincture of either herb for liver or digestive disorders, use the hot water method to reduce the alcohol content.