GROW
Propagate: seedings
Light: sunny
Water: once a day
Soil: good drainage
Fertilizer: twice a month
USES
Anti-Cancers : Wormwood leaves are high in antioxidants and contain artemisinin, which was used as anti-malaria drugs. The Artemisinin compounds in this plant can kill up to 98% breast cancer cells in less than 16 hours.
When using wormwood alone, this plant can reduce cancer cells up to 28%; but when used together with iron, wormwood can kill almost all cancer cells. Uniquely, the effect does not attack healthy cells at all. Can be consumed as tea.
Anti-Malaria : Artemisinin compound in wormwood tea has been used in anti-malaria drugs. The more recent studies showed that Plasmodium, the malaria parasites, cannot live when exposed to artemisinin because of the iron compounds in it.
Anti-Helminthic : Anti-helminthic activity is thought to be caused by lactone which is related to santonin and thujone in wormwood, which is known to kill worms and then eliminated from the intestines and body. Thujone can be found in the seeds and leaves of wormwood, also other Artemisia species. Thujone can “electrocute” intestinal worms, which are then eliminated from the body by peristaltic movements of the guts.
Anti-Fungi : Essential oil distilled from wormwood leaves inhibits the growth of Candida albicans (the main cause of oral and vaginal thrush) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. chevalieri. This is one of the health benefits of wormwood tea which are known by Chinese people, to cure leukorrhea (or woman’s disease) caused by Candida albicans.
Anti-Microbe : The essential oil contains thujone, which is recognized as an active constituent influencing the growth of microbe like Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteridis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonieae, Staphylococcus aureus, C.albicans, and Aspergillus niger.
This is why wormwood tea is used traditionally to cure diarrhea, dysentery, boils, pneumonia and other bacterial/fungal respiratory problems, and leukorrhea.
Treatment of Crohn Disease : The intake of herbal mixture of wormwood or wormwood tea to the crohn disease patients showed that the patients were freed from physical and psychological symptoms of the disease, and there was no serious side effects.
Treatment of Peptic Ulcer : The study done on rats showed the significant reduction of stomach acids and peptic activity.
How to Make Wormwood Tea
1 teaspoon of thinly cut fresh woodworm leaves (or ½ teaspoon of dried leaves) is infused in 1 cup of hot water, let it cool down, and add honey to mask the bitter taste.
Drink it 3-4 times a day, 2 teaspoons of the tea each time.
However, since wormwood has side effects too, it is not advised to consume the tea more than the reccomended dose.