Wormwood - healing properties and contraindications

Bitter wormwood, unexpectedly grown in the dacha, is perceived by many as a useless weed, which, moreover, is difficult to remove. However, despite the fact that wormwood is rarely found in pharmacies on the same shelf with chamomile and calendula, it has a number of healing properties and occupies an important place in traditional medicine.

Wormwood is one of the most bitter plants, many are deterred by its specific taste: there are fears that the use of wormwood can cause heartburn, and in the worst cases - disruption of the digestive system. But in reality, the correct use of this plant will help to cope with a wide range of diseases.

How to collect wormwood

This plant prefers desert places: wormwood is often found on abandoned sites, as well as on roadsides or on remote forest edges.

Bitter wormwood is a herbaceous plant that can reach two meters in height. The stems of wormwood are erect, branching towards the top. At the base, its leaves are biconocular, on short petioles, at the apex - trifoliate. The flowering period is July and August, at this time there are yellow flowers-baskets, gathered in inflorescences in the form of panicles.

Bottom leaves of this plant, as well as foliage from the tops (it is called grass) and flowers are suitable for use as a medicine. The grass and flowers of wormwood are collected during flowering, and the leaves - before it starts. If this rule is not observed, the grass will darken during drying and the flowers may crumble.

A self-assembled plant must be thoroughly cleaned: despite the anti-inflammatory effect, poor-quality raw materials may infect the wounds. Dry wormwood should be in the shade, laying out a thin layer and turning over periodically. Subject to these rules, dried wormwood should preserve the smell and taste. Store raw materials can be two years.

Medicinal properties and chemical composition

Diverse healing effect of wormwood due to its chemical composition. It includes:

1. Essential oil. Thanks to him, wormwood affects the central nervous system, which stimulates the body's fight against infectious diseases, as well as improves the functioning of the respiratory system.
2. Bitter glycosides. Because of them, wormwood has a specific smell and taste, irritates the taste buds in the oral cavity and, thereby, improves the functioning of the digestive system, in particular, enhances the secretion of bile.
3. Vitamin C. With its help, wormwood helps strengthen the immune system and fight infections. In addition, the acid promotes the absorption and synthesis in the body of a number of useful trace elements.
4. Saponins. They have a sedative, diuretic, expectorant effect.
5. Phytoncides. Stimulate cardiovascular activity and also help in the treatment of trophic ulcers and purulent wounds.

It should be remembered that wormwood is used as an accompanying method of treatment along with a complex of other drugs.

Important! The wormwood is toxic, therefore at its application it is necessary to strictly follow the dosage. Dangerous and excess treatment, wormwood can not drink more than two weeks. An overdose of this plant may cause hallucinations, convulsions and convulsions.

Contraindications

There are a number of strict contraindications for use:

• Hypersensitivity to the components of wormwood.
• Liver failure.
• Renal failure.
• Pregnancy.
• Lactation period.
• Children's age up to 12 years.

Indications for use

Wormwood is used in the treatment and prevention of a wide range of diseases. Its main properties include:

• tonic;
• wound healing;
• choleretic;
• antispasmodic;
• hemostatic;
• expectorant;
• pain killer;
• antipyretic;
• sedative;
• tonic;
• antifungal;
• diuretic;
• anti-inflammatory.

Due to the rich chemical composition of wormwood, various preparations based on it are used in the treatment of the following groups of diseases:

1. Diseases of the respiratory tract. Wormwood helps to eliminate sputum, relieves spasms, improves the functioning of the respiratory system.
2. Diseases of the urinary tract. The plant helps to remove fluid, dulls pain during urolithiasis.
3. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Preparations based on wormwood normalize the level of acidity,improve the functioning of the stomach and pancreas, help relieve inflammation, promote the secretion of bile.
4. Rheumatic diseases. When applied externally, wormwood reduces pain, reduces inflammation of the joints.
5. Skin diseases and injuries. Wormwood protects open wounds from infection and inflammation, relieves pain, and also contributes to the speedy healing of tissue.
6. Parasites. Internal and external use of wormwood helps to effectively fight worms.
7. Sleep disturbance Due to its sedative effect, wormwood normalizes sleep, helps to cope with insomnia and depression.

Ways to use

Wormwood is suitable for both internal and external use. From it make the following types of drugs:

• Decoction.
• Tincture.
• Powder.
• The juice.
• Ointment.

Decoction
The classic decoction of wormwood helps in the fight against diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, tuberculosis, fever. Thanks to its anti-infective properties, it also helps to eliminate bad breath. Wormwood broth enhances appetite, is used as a fortifying and febrifuge. For its preparation, both leaves and grass and flowers of wormwood are suitable.Two tablespoons of the crushed raw materials are poured with a glass of boiling water and boiled for 2-3 minutes. Strained broth should be diluted with another glass of water and apply a tablespoon three times a day before meals.

When applied externally, the decoction has a wound-healing and hemostatic effect, helps fight irritation and inflammation at the site of mosquito bites and bees. Wormwood decoction is also used for enemas in the fight against worms. Store broth no more than two days.

Tincture
To prepare the tincture of wormwood, pour a tablespoon of the plant with 10 tablespoons of 70 percent alcohol, and then infuse for two weeks. Apply the drug after filtering a teaspoon three times a day (before meals).

Indications for use - insomnia caused by stress, worms, viral colds. Outwardly, tincture is used in the form of compresses for eczema and fungal infections, as well as for rubbing with rheumatic pains in the joints.

Unlike broth, tincture of wormwood is much more contraindications. It can not be used when?

• a gastric or duodenal ulcer;
• increased gastric secretion;
• acute cholecystitis;
• hyperacid gastritis;
• as well as hypersensitivity.

Tincture is recommended to take until the symptoms of the disease disappear. Exceeding the daily dose or an increase in the treatment period is fraught with the occurrence of headaches, seizures, tremor. Allergic side effects include itching and redness of the skin, angioedema, heartburn, nausea and diarrhea.

It is important to remember: absinthe and vermouth, whose composition may seem similar to the usual tincture of wormwood, do not have healing properties, and are not used in traditional medicine.

Powder
Fragmented powder of grass wormwood take half a teaspoon after a meal. Its effect is similar to the tincture, but the powder acts more aggressively, so its use must be treated with greater accuracy, the treatment should be no more than seven days. The recommended regimen involves reducing the dosage. On the first day they drink it six times, on the last - only three.

The effect of receiving the powder is most noticeable in the fight against worms: in this form, the drug passes more slowly through the intestines, which allows for a more active influence on the parasites.Wormwood powder is used for prophylaxis, but not more often than twice a year.

The juice
The juice of wormwood, which is squeezed out of fresh leaves and branches of the plant, because of its bitterness, is taken only with honey - a tablespoon three times a day before meals.

When applied externally, the juice has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, it is used for dressings for injuries and calluses. It also helps stop bleeding, disinfects open wounds and speeds up their healing.

Ointment
For external use with injuries, strains, burns, bruises and eczema, use and wormwood ointment. Three recipes of its preparation are popular:

1. A teaspoon of thick tincture of wormwood is mixed with vegetable oil (100 grams).
2. Half a liter of melted lard mixed with freshly chopped wormwood (100 grams) is boiled in a water bath for two hours, then decanted.
3. Crushed fresh wormwood (glass) is poured with olive oil, tightly closed and infused for two weeks, until the ointment becomes green.

Regardless of the method of preparation, the ointment of wormwood should be stored in the refrigerator.

Combination with other drugs

Wormwood is often used in combination with herbs and flowers to enhance their effect. So, to combat insomnia, it is recommended to take a decoction of wormwood and mint, since both plants have a sedative property. To achieve the same goal, you can mix wormwood with chamomile.

In combination with tansy wormwood is used to combat parasites, in particular, with worms, fleas and chlamydia. Both plants have antibacterial properties. Also effective cleaning of parasites decoction of wormwood and cloves or garlic.

To normalize the metabolism, as well as to combat headaches and depression, it is recommended to take a decoction of wormwood and St. John's wort or chamomile flowers.

Depending on what kind of disease is planned to be treated with the use of wormwood, it can be mixed with various natural preparations, there are no strict limitations in this matter. However, it is important to sensibly assess the side effects and contraindications to the use of all components.

Cosmetology

Bitter wormwood is actively used in cosmetology, as it helps to care for oily skin, fight acne, excessive sweating and inflammation.

The plant has an anti-inflammatory effect, but despite this, the procedure of cleansing the face before using wormwood can not be neglected. It is necessary to comply with all sanitary standards, otherwise the positive effect from the use of this plant will not be so noticeable.

For problematic facial skin, washing with a decoction of wormwood is suitable, it can also be frozen and used as a tonic. Effective and steam baths with a decoction of wormwood, as well as the treatment of problem areas of the skin tincture.

Chopped fresh wormwood or powder is used in face masks. They are not recommended to do more than twice a week, there are no restrictions on the duration of the course. The following recipes are suitable for normalization of the skin condition:

1. Oatmeal porridge is brewed in a wormwood broth (in proportions 1 to 1) and applied to the skin of the face for 20 minutes, then washed off with cold water.
2. A decoction of wormwood is added in equal proportions to the cream against dermatitis, then applied with a thick layer for 15-20 minutes. In this case, wormwood enhances the effect of a cosmetic, helping to quickly deal with inflammation.
3. A tablespoon of wormwood is brewed in 150 milliliters of water, allowed to infuse for about an hour.The broth is decanted, and the remaining herb is mixed with sour cream (2 tablespoons). The resulting mixture is applied with a thick layer for 15 minutes, then removed with a napkin, and the skin is rinsed with the remaining decoction. This mask helps to fight redness.
4. For healing acne and fighting with oily sheen, a mask made from wormwood, sage, St. John's wort and oak bark is suitable. A tablespoon of each drug is mixed in two glasses of water, boiled for 10 minutes. Warm herbs are applied to the face for 20 minutes, then washed with broth.
5. The mask of wormwood and chamomile helps fight acne and burns. It requires a decoction of herbs in equal proportions. It moistened with a napkin, which is used as a compress on the affected areas of the face. Keep it for half an hour, then it is recommended to wash the remaining broth.

Alcoholism

Wormwood is among the herbs, the use of which helps in the fight against alcoholism. When used properly, this plant helps to cope with a hangover, as well as to overcome the dependence on alcohol.

As a rule, it is recommended to use it without the knowledge of the patient, because alcoholics often deny their dependence and will not take the drug of their own free will.In this case, it is necessary to carefully study the possible side effects, as well as the likelihood of allergic reactions, at risk of their occurrence, the use of wormwood to combat alcoholism is prohibited.

The development of alcoholism is associated with withdrawal symptoms. With a sharp rejection of alcohol after a long use, a person has a number of psychopathological and somatoneurological symptoms, in particular, dry mouth, tachycardia, sweating, heaviness in the head, vomiting, tremors, in the worst cases - anxiety, negative attitude towards others and nightmares. To avoid the manifestation of these symptoms, the patient re-uses alcohol, which dulls their manifestation.

Wormwood in this case helps to cope with the abstinence syndrome, and therefore the need for further alcohol intake in an addicted person gradually disappears.

In the fight against alcoholism, several recipes using wormwood are effective. Drugs take no more than 10 days.

1. Brew a teaspoon of wormwood in two glasses of boiling water, leave for half an hour. Strained broth to take a quarter glass three times a day before meals.
2. A decoction of wormwood and centaury (in equal parts) to take a tablespoon three times a day.
3. Brew a table spoon of wormwood with a glass of boiled water. Strained decoction taken in three doses before meals.
4. A mixture of tincture of thyme, wormwood and centaury (4 to 1 to 1) to take a tablespoon three times a day.

In order that the bitter taste of wormwood does not arouse suspicion in the patient, it is recommended to add honey to the decoction and tincture.

Video: useful properties of wormwood