| Common Names | Absinthe, Absinthe Wormwood, Absinthium |
|---|---|
| Description | |
| Locations | Epirus (Pindos) |
| Clinical Summary | |
| Contraindications | The liquor of wormwood (absinthe) is neurotoxic. Its prolonged use may cause irreversible neurodegeneration ('apsinthism') due to thujone, which is contained in the essential oil. Mental and movement disorders are characteristic symptoms of 'apsinthism'. |
| Active Substance | lignans tannins phenolic acids sesquiterpene lactones Essential oil (it contains thujone, thujole, proazulene) azulenes The green plant parts contain absinthin (glycoside) and artemisinin (terpene). |
| Active Substance Plant Part | root flowers |
| Adverse Reaction | |
| Educational Research | |
| Interaction | |
| Features Description | Artemisia absinthium is a biennial plant growing up to 50cm, with pinnate, silver leaves covered with silky silvery-white trichomes and fragrant, yellow flowers. The flowering and the harvesting take place from July to August |
| Method Administration | The plant is administered as stomach stimulator and orexigenic in the form of herbal tea (a spoon of dried leaves and flowers in boiled water, 2-3 times a day), infusion and tincture. Also, the plant is used to isolate the constituent of artemisinin, in order to be administered as antimalarial drugWarning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions. |
| Pharmacological Info | The whole plant is used as antimalarial, in combination therapy with other chemical antimalarial drugs, as malaria parasites develop resistance to artemisinin (the antimalarial substance). Also, it has antipyretic, antiseptic, diuretic, emmenagogue and anthelmintic properties. It is recommended to stimulate the stomach and for the treatment of dyspepsia, stomach pain and liver failure. Finally, it is administered against anemia, pulmonary tuberculosis, arthritis, as well as abortifacient. |
| Pharmacological Use | |
| Mechanism Action | |
| References | Bιβλίο: Τα φαρμακευτικά βότανα και οι θεραπευτικές τους ιδιότητες, Λάμπρου Π. Σπύρου, Αγροτικός εκδοτικός οίκος, Αθήνα 1981, A' τόμος, σελίδες: 117-119 Βιβλίο: Οδηγός των φαρμακευτικών φυτών, Paul Schauenberg, Ferdinand Paris, Εκδότης Μ. Γκιούρδας, Αθήνα 1981, σελίδες 216-217 PLANTS USED IN PHYTOTHERAPY, COSMETICS AND DYEING IN THE PRAMANDA DISTRICT (EPIRUS, NORTH-WEST GREEC , F. TAMMARO and G. XEPAPADAKIS, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 16 (198 167-174, Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd. http://www.chem.uoa.gr/chemicals/chem_artemisinin.htm http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/w/wormwo37.html |
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