Health Benefits of Wormwood Tea

Wormwood is a major ingredient in absinthe, a famous drink of the nineteenth century, believed to be associated with the deaths of Edgar Allan Poe and Vincent Van Gogh.

Wormwood is a perennial shrub, native to Europe, northern Africa, western Asia, and nowadays, North America. It is usually planted along roads and pathways, and grows to a height of 1 to 3 feet. The stem of wormwood has a gray-green or white color, covered with fine hair.

Its flowers, leaves, and upper shoots are used in herbal medicine, while its bitter flavor is instrumental in enhancing the taste of alcoholic beverages.

The tall claims made about wormwood's ability to treat cancer, or the side effects of conventional cancer treatment methods, are not supported by scientific evidence.

However, some compounds from sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua), which is related to wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), have shown positive results in the treatment of malaria, and have been used for the same since ancient times. Drinking wormwood tea is also known to increase the libido, and strengthen the immune system.

Caution: Wormwood tea is not recommended for pregnant and nursing women, and babies.

Acts as a Digestive Stimulant

The number of stomach problems that wormwood tea treats is countless.

It aids digestion, relieves stomach ache, heartburn, gas, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, improves appetite, and treats irregular menstruation. The reason behind the effectiveness of wormwood is its excruciatingly bitter taste.

This bitter taste triggers a release of bile from the gallbladder, and other secretions from the intestinal glands, that aid digestion.

Wormwood tea is also used to fight intestinal worms. The herb contains a potential chemical component, thujone, that kill parasites.

In addition to thujone, wormwood also contains santonin, which is beneficial in treating several parasitic diseases. Furthermore, wormwood is also rich in sesquiterpene lactones, that have properties similar to peroxide, which weaken the membranes of the parasites and then kill them.

If you have skin problems due to contact dermatitis (a form of eczema), drinking wormwood tea is one of the best remedies to treat these problems. The higher levels of antioxidants present in wormwood are capable of reducing itching and irritation of the skin. Moreover, this herbal tea can keep your skin healthy and refreshed.

While it reduces the itching sensation and feeling of irritation, it also moisturizes your skin. Apart from that, it can also be used to treat slow-healing wounds, skin blotches, and insect bites.

Bitter wormwood tea is the best treatment for the removal of parasites from the body. The bitter flavor of the tea has the potential to get rid of the bad parasites from the body, and also detoxify the body by getting rid of unwanted toxins.

Wormwood tea has a purging effect, which throws the bile away from the liver and ultimately, out of the body. For better cleansing results, you should drink wormwood tea daily.

★ Add 1 heaped teaspoon of the wormwood herb, or 1 rounded teaspoon of wormwood powder to 1 cup of boiling water.

★ Allow the herb to steep in water for about 10 to 15 minutes, and then drink it. Wormwood tea can be taken either before, during, or after meals.

★ To counter the bitter taste, you can add stevia or xylitol, which are natural sweeteners that help make the tea more palatable.

★ Remember that the longer the tea brews, the better the effect on the body.

To enjoy the health benefits of wormwood tea to the fullest and avoid any adverse effects, it is important to take it in moderation. Moreover, ensure that you are consuming wormwood tea or any of its forms only under the supervision of a medical professional, and in small amounts. Also, do not drink the tea continuously for more than four to five weeks.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only and does not, in any way, intend to replace the advice of a medical professional.