Wormwood: beneficial properties and uses, how to take

The benefits and harms of wormwood are a pressing issue for connoisseurs of traditional medicine. Bitter herb has many beneficial properties, but it must be used correctly so as not to harm health.

What does wormwood look like and where does it grow

Wormwood is a perennial herb that can grow up to 1.5 m in height. The plant has a straight, rigid stem, a strong root system, but the easiest way to recognize it is by its leaves - thin, pointed, characteristic greenish-gray color.

Wormwood grows throughout the Northern Hemisphere. You can meet it in Europe and Siberia, in Central Asia and the Caucasus, grass grows in North America and even some parts of Africa.

The chemical composition of wormwood

The benefits of the wormwood herb are easy to understand if you study the chemical composition of the plant. The green parts, flowers and roots include:

• phytoncides and saponins;
• resinous and tannins;
• flavonoids;
• natural acids - succinic and malic;
• carotene;
• potassium salts;
• wormwood essential oil;
• artabsitin, absintin and anabsintin are glycosides that give the plant its characteristic bitterness.

The health benefits and harms of wormwood depend on how to apply its qualities - the plant can have a healing or negative effect.

What is wormwood useful for the body

At first glance, the plant looks unfit for consumption, it tastes too bitter. However, when properly prepared, it has the following beneficial effects:

• helps fight inflammation - bacteria, infections, viruses and fungi;
• has a beneficial effect on digestion - stimulates appetite, improves the outflow of bile and the process of breaking down food;
• heals skin damage and promotes the rapid recovery of cells and tissues;
• effectively cleanses the body - removes toxins, toxic substances and parasites from it;
• has an analgesic effect;
• stimulates the immune system and helps fight off colds;
• normalizes the state of blood vessels and equalizes pressure.

Women

The benefits of wormwood for women are undeniable - the properties of the plant help with heavy and painful menstruation, reduce bleeding and eliminate the risk of anemia. Remedies from this herb soothe pain and relieve cycle disruptions, normalize hormonal levels.

The benefits of the plant for the female body lies in the fact that the antioxidant properties of the herb prevent the development of cancer. Wormwood fights infectious inflammation of the urogenital area.

Men

The benefits of wormwood for men are also very great - the plant fights ailments and reproductive disorders. The herb helps to restore potency, shows a good effect in the treatment of prostatitis, and has a positive effect on libido.

Another useful property of the herb is the ability of wormwood to cause a persistent aversion to alcoholic beverages. The plant is also used to eliminate the effects of alcohol poisoning.

Is wormwood useful during pregnancy

The valuable properties of wormwood for women do not apply to the period of bearing a child. At this time, taking the plant inside is strictly prohibited. The herb is widely known for its abortive properties, so it will only harm the expectant mother.

How to take wormwood for weight loss

When used carefully, the plant is extremely beneficial during the diet. The medicinal herb effectively removes toxins from the body, regulates appetite and helps burn fat.

Good results will be from the use of wormwood oil - to prepare it, you need to insist fresh leaves in olive oil for 10 days. The finished product is filtered and taken shortly before eating, in a large spoon. Tea and herbal decoctions based on the plant also show a beneficial effect.

It should be noted that while taking the herb in the first few days of the diet, hunger may increase. It can be drowned by drinking at least 2 liters of water per day - soon the appetite will normalize. In total, the plant should be continued for no more than 2 weeks, otherwise the body will be harmed.

Wormwood-based traditional medicine recipes

In order for the healing properties of bitter wormwood to fully unfold, it is necessary to adhere to proven recipes. There are several main herbal remedies.

Alcohol tincture of wormwood

The beneficial properties of wormwood are clearly manifested in alcohol tincture. It is very simple to make it - you need to pour fresh or dry leaves with strong alcohol in a ratio of 5 to 1 and insist in a glass vessel for 2 weeks. Keep the tincture bottle out of direct sunlight.

The finished strained product is taken only 25 drops before meals, the medicine helps with inflammation and gastric ailments, with anemia and even with oncology.

Wormwood tea

Wormwood tea is beneficial, you can use it for weight loss and in case of malfunctions of the stomach, to calm the nerves and as a remedy for insomnia. It is simple to prepare a drink - pour boiling water over a teaspoon of wormwood and leave for about 20 minutes.

To make the tea as effective as possible, drink it three times a day for 5 sips.

Wormwood juice

The properties of wormwood juice bring benefits in violation of the outflow of bile and in case of gastric malfunctions. To obtain it, it is necessary to thoroughly grind and squeeze fresh grass through cheesecloth, more precisely, all green parts of the plant with the exception of the root.

You need to drink healthy juice three times a day, just 1 large spoon. Given the bitter taste of the plant, the juice can be sweetened with natural honey, there will be no harm from this, and the benefits will become even higher.

Wormwood decoction

For gastritis, intestinal disorders, respiratory diseases and other ailments, a decoction of wormwood is beneficial. To prepare it, you need:

• grind dry leaves of a medicinal plant in a volume of 2 large spoons;
• pour a glass of boiling water in an enamel container;
• boil for 3 minutes over medium heat, and then cool the drink and strain it through cheesecloth.

The finished broth is topped up with a glass of cold boiled water and drunk three times a day for several sips.

Wormwood baths

For joint ailments and skin diseases, wormwood baths are of great benefit. The valuable properties of the medicinal herb have a beneficial effect on irritation and inflammation, and help relieve pain.

To prepare a bath, pour 500 g of raw wormwood with water and boil for about a quarter of an hour. The cooled broth must be poured into a prepared bath and lie in it for no more than 20 minutes. In this case, the water temperature should be maximum 37 ° C - too hot a bath will be harmful.

Wormwood foot baths

In case of fungal diseases, useful mini-foot baths with the addition of wormwood are very helpful. It is necessary to brew 100 g of the plant in 2 liters of boiled water, leave for half an hour, and then hold the legs in the medicinal broth for 15 minutes. The liquid temperature should be about 45 ° C. In addition to fungus, the procedure eliminates the symptoms of arthritis and excessive sweating of the feet.

Wormwood oil

For external use, wormwood oil is often used - it is lubricated with healing burns and sore joints, bruises, rubbing is carried out for ARVI and bronchitis. You can prepare the remedy at home - pour the wormwood with olive oil and insist under the lid for 2 weeks.

When the oil absorbs the medicinal properties of wormwood, it will need to be filtered, poured into another vessel and stored in the refrigerator.

How to use wormwood for medicinal purposes

It is possible to drink wormwood with benefit only in small dosages and according to reliable recipes. In this case, the body will not receive harm from the use of the plant, and the symptoms of diseases will really recede.

For colds and coughs

For coughs and cold symptoms, the properties of wormwood tincture are best of all - the remedy effectively warms up the body and fights infections. For medicinal purposes, it is necessary to take 3 teaspoons of the tincture for 3 days, and it is advisable to dilute the agent with water.

For the prevention of colds and coughs, wormwood broth helps well - the herb needs to be boiled for about a quarter of an hour over a fire or a water bath. It is taken in the same way - for several days, diluting a teaspoon of broth in a glass of water.

For insomnia

The beneficial properties of the plant soothe the nervous system and help improve sleep. To forget about insomnia, it is recommended to use wormwood oil. Fresh grass is infused in a closed vessel in olive oil throughout the day, filtered, and then taken 6 drops of oil with a lump of sugar shortly before bedtime.

For diarrhea

The medicinal plant has anchoring properties, so it can stop diarrhea. To get rid of diarrhea, you need to pour a teaspoon of the herb with a glass of water and boil for about 10 minutes. A useful strained product is drunk warm every 3 hours, no more than 20 drops.

From parasites

Wormwood is an excellent mild anthelmintic agent. It is usually consumed as part of medicinal preparations. In particular, the following recipe works effectively:

• wormwood, clove powder and flax seeds are mixed in equal volumes;
• crush the raw materials and mix properly;
• a teaspoon of the resulting collection is poured with a glass of carrot juice;
• the product is drunk in a glass in the morning and evening.

You need to take a useful collection throughout the week. Wormwood copes well with adult parasites, and additional ingredients have an auxiliary effect, reliably eliminating helminth eggs.

With gastritis and stomach ulcers

Bitter wormwood can be used with caution, even with gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. The herb reduces the acidity of the stomach and relieves irritation, improves appetite and helps to establish the removal of toxins.

For gastritis, the following herbal collection is beneficial:

• wormwood is mixed in equal volume with peppermint, yarrow and chamomile;
• raw materials are poured with a glass of boiling water and insisted for about an hour;
• the product is drunk hot once a day.

With a peptic ulcer, the recipe changes slightly:

• 2 large spoons of wormwood are mixed with 3 large spoons of dill seeds, add 1 spoonful of rose hips, flax seeds, calendula and chamomile flowers;
• raw materials are mixed with 7 large spoons of yarrow and 4 spoons of St. John's wort;
• all components are crushed, and then 2 large spoons are measured and brewed with boiling water;
• for about 10 minutes, the product is kept steaming, and then insisted for about 45 minutes.

You need to drink a useful combined infusion three times a day for 5 sips, you need to do this on an empty stomach.

To cleanse the liver

The anti-inflammatory and choleretic properties of the herb are used to treat the liver. The benefits of cleansing the body with wormwood is that the plant relieves stress from the liver and gives it the strength to recover. Usually a decoction is used - 10 g of dry grass is poured with a glass of boiling water and the medicine is kept for another 20 minutes.

Then the product must be insisted closed for about half an hour and filtered. Take the broth for 5-6 sips before eating, three times a day.

To increase potency

To get rid of male problems, you can brew a teaspoon of wormwood in a glass of boiling water and leave for 10 minutes. The finished strained product is divided into 3-4 portions, they must be taken during the day, diluting the medicine with water.

In total, the course of therapy lasts no more than 1.5 months, a useful herb in too large quantities is harmful.

For the treatment of fibroids

Wormwood is actively used in gynecology, in particular, for the treatment of benign tumors of the uterus. For fibroids, it is recommended to pour 2 large tablespoons of raw wormwood with 500 ml of alcohol and insist in the dark for about 10 days.

The benefits of wormwood for female diseases will appear if you use such an infusion, a teaspoon twice a day. This should be done simultaneously with food intake, and the total treatment is continued for no more than 2 weeks.

From hemorrhoids

The properties of wormwood in medicine are highly valued in the treatment of hemorrhoids. Alcohol tincture of wormwood is taken 12 drops twice a day - the product must be diluted in a large spoonful of water.

Useful enemas with a decoction of wormwood also help; for their preparation, 4 large tablespoons of herbs are boiled in 1 liter of boiling water for 5 minutes. The remedy is insisted for 6 hours under the lid, and then it is used daily as directed until the disease recedes.

For herpes

If you brew a teaspoon of wormwood in a glass of boiling water and insist under the lid for a quarter of an hour, the remedy will help get rid of herpes on the lips faster. You need to take the medicine orally, a few drops three times a day.

You can make lotions with a decoction - a cotton swab is moistened in a medicinal product and briefly applied to a sore spot.

From warts and papillomas

The healing properties of wormwood help improve skin condition. A teaspoon of dry collection is brewed in a glass of boiling water, infused for 15 minutes and drunk on an empty stomach three times a day, this therapy allows you to get rid of warts.

As for papillomas, plant seeds are infused in olive oil for 3 days to combat them. When the healthy oil is ready, you will need to strain it and drink 5 drops 4 times a day.

Toothache

In case of diseases of the teeth and gums, rinse with wormwood is used - you need to pour hot water over several leaves of the plant and wait until the product is infused and cooled. You need to rinse your mouth several times a day, the healing herb will quickly relieve inflammation and pain.

With oncology

The medicinal properties of wormwood in oncology are widely known - the plant inhibits the growth of malignant tumors. The dry root of the plant must be crushed, the resulting powder in a volume of 2 large spoons, pour boiling water and boil for 10 minutes over low heat. After that, the remedy is insisted for several hours under the lid, the grass is filtered off and the broth is taken three times a day, 2 large spoons.

For joint pain

Wormwood baths help well against rheumatism and arthritis - a bunch of wormwood is boiled in 5 liters of water, and then a decoction is added to the prepared water. You need to take a healthy bath no more than 15 minutes, it is important to monitor its temperature - 37 ° C will be enough.

Wormwood helps to fight joint ailments and with internal use - it is necessary to insist a teaspoon of the plant in a glass of boiling water for an hour, and then drink 1 large spoon on a full stomach.

Alcoholism treatment

The benefits of bitter wormwood for the human body is that the plant helps to get rid of alcohol addiction. This drink is usually prepared:

• wormwood and thyme are mixed in equal parts;
• 2 large spoons of collection are poured with a glass of hot water, and then put on fire;
• bring to a boil and cook for another 5 minutes.

When the broth cools down, you will need to strain it, and take a couple of large spoons with food, three times a day.

The use of wormwood in cosmetology

The beneficial properties of wormwood can not only heal ailments, but also improve the appearance. Wormwood helps to maintain youthfulness and attractiveness as it takes care of both skin and hair.

For facial skin

First of all, the medicinal plant effectively helps to deal with acne and clear the skin of the face. For example, the following lotion for oily skin is popular:

• an infusion of wormwood in the amount of 1 teaspoon is mixed with 300 ml of mineral water;
• add 20 drops of almond oil;
• mix thoroughly in a small bottle.

Twice a day, wipe the face with the resulting product, after washing. The lotion soothes irritations and acne, helps remove blackheads and regulates oil production.

For hair

The benefits of wormwood for hair are expressed in the fact that the herb prevents hair loss. A dry plant should be brewed in hot water in proportions of 1 to 10, and then infused for about an hour and filtered thoroughly. They wash their hair with such a broth for a whole month - this should be done every other day.

Wormwood will effectively strengthen the roots and give the curls strength. But after a course of treatment for 3 weeks, you will have to take a break from using wormwood so that the body does not get harmed.

Wormwood brooms for a bath

Wormwood in the bath is beneficial - when steaming, you can use brooms not only from birch, oak or nettle, but also from this healing plant. In humid and hot conditions, wormwood emits a bitter aroma that promotes relaxation, has a great effect on the condition of the bronchi and lungs.

We must not forget about the massage effect when using wormwood brooms. Patting the skin with wormwood ligaments will not harm, but it will improve blood circulation and tone the body.

How wormwood is used in cooking

Wormwood is a rather unusual but healthy condiment. In large quantities, it will be harmful, but in small dosages it can be found in meat and fish dishes. In minimal quantities, the herb gives the products an original tart taste, and, in addition, facilitates the rapid digestion of heavy foods.

Wormwood greens are used in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages - pepper vodka and chartreuse. Wormwood absinthe is very famous, despite the fact that it is currently officially prohibited to produce it in Europe.

Wormwood harm and side effects

The medicinal plant causes harm mainly in case of an overdose. It is impossible to violate the volumes of use of funds recommended in folk recipes, otherwise the effect of the herb will be destructive.

In addition, wormwood is harmful if consumed for too long.You can use the herb for no longer than a month in a row, if dangerous compounds in the composition of wormwood accumulate in the body, this will lead to intoxication, renal failure and nervous disorders.

Contraindications to the use of wormwood

In order for wormwood not to harm health, you need to know about its strict contraindications. They are:

• pregnancy and lactation;
• age under 14;
• allergy to components in the herb;
• anemia and a tendency to form blood clots;
• internal bleeding and diseases of the stomach and intestines in the acute phase;
• gastritis with decreased gastric acid secretion;
• severe nervous and mental disorders.

Collection, preparation and storage of wormwood

The timing of harvesting depends on what part of the plant you want to get. Leaves are best harvested in June, the stems along with the leaves are cut a month later - in July.

A useful plant is dried in the standard way - in an open place in the shade for a week. The dried grass is crushed and put into paper bags or cloth bags. Dry grass has a shelf life of 2 years in dry conditions - excess moisture damages wormwood.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of wormwood depend on the caution of use. The medicinal herb cannot be taken in large dosages, and for some people it is completely contraindicated. But when you follow the recipes, the plant will only benefit and contribute to improving well-being.

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