Wormwood Essential Oil: 10 Health Benefits

Wormwood, or Artemisia absinthium, is renowned for its ability to rid of tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and other parasites in the human body. It’s also known as the narcotic ingredient in the alcoholic beverage Absinthe. Wormwood essential oil is extracted from the flowers, twigs and leaves by means of steam distillation. (1) Read about the numerous medicinal properties of wormwood oil be reading the list below.

Here are 10 health benefits wormwood essential oil can offer:

1. Stimulates Bile

Wormwood essential oil is a cholagogue, meaning it promotes the discharge of bile from the liver into the stomach. It stimulates other discharges as well. This is helpful in two aspects. First, bile helps decompose food, which helps in digestion. Second, it helps neutralize excess acids in the stomach, which can offer relief from acid-related stomach problems, such as stomach ulcers. (2)

2. Eliminates Odor

Due to its high thujone content, this oil serves well as a deodorant. However, it must be diluted to a high degree to avoid excessive inhalation. (3)

3. Promotes Digestion

As mentioned above, wormwood oil is a cholagogue. Since it can stimulation the secretion of bile into the stomach, it can thereby aid in digestion. However, for digestive purposes, this oil should be used in extremely low doses.

4. Helps Ease Problematic Menstruation

There are a number of essential oils that can unblock obstructed menstruation, and wormwood is one of them. Wormwood oil, being a stimulant, also stimulates menstrual discharges, which helps open obstructed menstruation. This can help prevent against possible uterine tumors and cancer, as caused by that blockage. Furthermore, wormwood essential oil can offer relief for headaches, abdominal cramps and aches, nausea, fatigue, lack of appetite, as well as make periods regular. (4)

5. Prevents Infections

As wormwood essential oil contains toxic components such as alpha thujone and beta thujone, it can help fight bacterial and viral infections. This is helpful in avoiding illnesses and complications. For example, it's effective in fighting fevers caused by bacteria and viruses. (5)

6. Effective Insecticide

A highly poisonous substance such as wormwood essential oil makes for a fantastic insecticide. While some insects may be immune to it, you will likely find it’s effective against most pests. (6) This is even true for lice.

7. Relieves Nervous Afflictions

While the term narcotic has negative connotations, it can help alleviate symptoms associated with certain medical conditions and afflictions. For example, it can help pacify nervous afflictions, epilepsy, hysteria, convulsions, stress, tension, and insomnia. (7)

8. Kills Intestinal Worms

Wormwood essential oil, being toxic, can also kill parasites like roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms that are found in the human body. This in turn helps in regaining a proper growth pattern, due to the return of proper absorption of nutrients in the body. (8)

9. Acts as a Tonic

As it can tone up various systems in the body, wormwood essential oil makes for an excellent tonic. For example, it’s great for digestion and helps distribute nutrients throughout the body. It also helps keep your body free of unwanted toxins. Furthermore, it tones up the immune system, which will help your body fight off diseases. (9)

10. Other Benefits

Other benefits wormwood essential oil can offer include its abilities to treat anorexia, anemia, flatulence, stomach aches, jaundice, and indigestion. (10)

Words of Caution:

Wormwood essential oil is poisonous. For example, large doses can cause nervous afflictions, convulsions, restlessness, impulsive behavior, and in some cases, death. Furthermore, prolonged use can lead to permanent brain and nervous system damage. It’s highly addictive and has narcotic effects. (11) Only use with the guidance of a health care professional.