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wormwood [2025/11/13 10:02] – [Medicinal Compounds] Humphrey Boa-Gartwormwood [2025/11/18 09:21] (current) – [Wormwood & Mugwort Catalog] Humphrey Boa-Gart
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-====== Wormwood Catalog ======+====== Wormwood & Mugwort ======
  
 **Wormwood** is a family of herbaceous perennials & annuals of the **Artemisia** genus, which also includes the **Mugworts**. They are primarily grown for their [[wormwood#absinthin|absinthin]] and [[wormwood#thujone|thujone]] content. **Wormwood** is a family of herbaceous perennials & annuals of the **Artemisia** genus, which also includes the **Mugworts**. They are primarily grown for their [[wormwood#absinthin|absinthin]] and [[wormwood#thujone|thujone]] content.
  
-The most well-known cultivars are [[wormwood:common|A. absinthium]] //(**Common Wormwood**, used for the commercial production of absinthe)// and [[wormwood:white|A. herba-alba]] //(**White Wormwood**, or **Biblical Wormwood**)//. Many wormwood & mugwort cultivars are prized across the world by various local & indigenous communities for their medicinal properties.+Two of the most well-known cultivars are [[wormwood:common|A. absinthium]] //(**Common Wormwood**, used for the commercial production of absinthe)// and [[wormwood:white|A. herba-alba]] //(**White Wormwood**, or **Biblical Wormwood**)//. Many wormwood & mugwort cultivars are valued across the world for their medicinal properties.
  
 ===== Wormwood Cultivars in Catalog: ===== ===== Wormwood Cultivars in Catalog: =====
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-===== Culinary Use =====+===== Range & Cultivation =====
  
 {{wst>expand}} {{wst>expand}}
  
  
-===== Medicinal Compounds =====+===== Culinary Use =====
  
-Wormwood & mugwort has been prized by medical practitioners & folk witches for millenia. Anecdotal evidence suggests these plants have anti-inflammatory, antifungal, neuroprotective, insecticidal, antimicrobial, antidepressant and hallucinogenic properties. Wormwood has also historically been used to treat malaria & parasitic infestations, and more recently conditions such as diabetes and Crohn's disease.+Some of the most bitter cultivars //(in particular [[wormwood:common|A. absinthium]])// are used in the production of alcohol - specifically absinthe. However, it can be added at many stages of a distillation or infusion process.
  
-Modern science has isolated much of these medicinal qualities to multiple chemical compounds, which occur in wildly-varying amounts across wormwood & mugwort cultivars:+ 
 +===== Medicinal Use ===== 
 + 
 +In traditional folk medicine, wormwood and mugwort are both brewed as part of a tea. As most cultivars are very bitter, many prefer to use other herbs such as mint to mask the flavor. The oils are also sometimes used to make anti-inflammatory salves & poultices for topical use on the skin. 
 + 
 +Wormwood can be [[diy:drying|dried]] and smoked as well. Again, as many cultivars are bitter, most prefer to mix it with other herbs as part of a [[diy:smoking-blends|smoking blend]], rather than smoked straight. It pairs extremely well with a wooden or corn-cob tobacco pipe! 
 + 
 +Different cultivars will have varying medicinal effects, depending on their chemical composition. //(See Below: [[wormwood#terpenes-other-compounds|Terpenes & Other Compounds]])// 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Terpenes & Other Compounds ===== 
 + 
 +Wormwood & mugwort have been prized by medical practitioners & folk witches for millenia. Anecdotal evidence suggests these plants have anti-inflammatory, antifungal, neuroprotective, insecticidal, antimicrobial and antidepressant properties. Recreationally they are known for their mild hallucinogenic, mood-altering and dream-enhancing effects. They have also historically been used to treat ulcers, muenstral cramps, malaria & parasitic infestations, and more recently conditions such as diabetes and Crohn's. 
 + 
 +Modern science has isolated many of these qualities to multiple chemical compounds, which occur in wildly-varying amounts across wormwood & mugwort cultivars:
  
  
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 Absinthin is extremely bitter, and it is why wormwood is used as a culinary bittering agent, most notably in the alcoholic drinks [[wp>Absinthe]] and [[wp>Vermouth]]. It exhibits strong **anti-inflammatory** properties, and seems to potentiate the medicinal properties of the other compounds in wormwood as well. Absinthin is extremely bitter, and it is why wormwood is used as a culinary bittering agent, most notably in the alcoholic drinks [[wp>Absinthe]] and [[wp>Vermouth]]. It exhibits strong **anti-inflammatory** properties, and seems to potentiate the medicinal properties of the other compounds in wormwood as well.
 +
 +
 +==== Artemisia Ketone ====
 +
 +**Artemisia Ketone** is an irregular monoterpene ketone that acts on the GABA<sub>A</sub> receptor. It is thought to be partially responsible for the dream-enhancing effects of some of the mugworts. It occurs only in [[wormwood:common|A. vulgaris]], [[wormwood:korean|A. princeps]] and [[sagebrush:great-basin|Great Basin Sagebrush]].
 +
  
  
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 **Artemisinin** is a sesquiterpene lactone that only occurs in [[wormwood:sweet|A. annua]] //(or **Sweet Wormwood**)//. It is primarily used for the treatment of malaria, and holds antiparasitic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory & immunomodulatory properties as well. For centuries, the Chinese have brewed //A. annua// as a tea for its medical properties.  **Artemisinin** is a sesquiterpene lactone that only occurs in [[wormwood:sweet|A. annua]] //(or **Sweet Wormwood**)//. It is primarily used for the treatment of malaria, and holds antiparasitic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory & immunomodulatory properties as well. For centuries, the Chinese have brewed //A. annua// as a tea for its medical properties. 
 +
 +
 +==== Camphor ====
 +
 +{{wst>expand}}
  
  
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 **Nobilin** is a sesquiterpene lactone found in [[wormwood:white|A. herba-alba]] //(or **white wormwood**)//. It is thought to be responsible for a good chunk of white wormwood's healing properties, as Middle Eastern & Maghrebi cultures have used it as a medicinal tea called for centuries. It is known especially as an herbal remedy for diabetes, but exhibits anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antimicrobial properties as well. **Nobilin** is a sesquiterpene lactone found in [[wormwood:white|A. herba-alba]] //(or **white wormwood**)//. It is thought to be responsible for a good chunk of white wormwood's healing properties, as Middle Eastern & Maghrebi cultures have used it as a medicinal tea called for centuries. It is known especially as an herbal remedy for diabetes, but exhibits anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antimicrobial properties as well.
 +
 +
 +==== Piperitone ====
 +
 +**Piperitone** is a monoterpene ketone found primarily in [[wormwood:southern|A. abrotanum]], and to a lesser extent [[wormwood:roman|A. pontica]]. It is a mild CNS stimulant with anti-inflammatory properties.
  
  
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 ==== Thujone ==== ==== Thujone ====
  
-**Thujone** is a monoterpene compound that occurs primarily as one of two stereoisomers: **α-thujone** and **β-thujone**. It is a GABA<sub>A</sub> receptor antagonist, and is known to act on the 5-HT3 and α7 nicotinic receptors as well. While it occurs throughout most of the //Artemisia// genus //(and even in other plants such as [[salvia:sage|common sage]])//, it occurs in especially high concentrations in [[wormwood:white|A. herba-alba]] and [[wormwood:common|A. absinthium]]. It can be found in lighter concentrations in [[wormwood:mugwort|A. vulgaris]] and [[wormwood:roman|A. pontica]], and not-insignificant amounts can be found in [[wormwood:chinese|A. argyi]] and [[wormwood:korean|A. princeps]] as well.+**Thujone** is a monoterpene compound that occurs primarily as one of two stereoisomers: **α-thujone** and **β-thujone**. It is a GABA<sub>A</sub> receptor antagonist, and is known to act on the 5-HT3 and α7 nicotinic receptors as well. While it occurs throughout much of the //Artemisia// genus //(and even in other plants such as [[salvia:sage|common sage]])//, it occurs in especially high concentrations in [[wormwood:white|A. herba-alba]] and [[wormwood:common|A. absinthium]]. It can be found in lighter concentrations in [[wormwood:mugwort|A. vulgaris]] and [[wormwood:roman|A. pontica]], and not-insignificant amounts can be found in [[wormwood:chinese|A. argyi]] and [[wormwood:korean|A. princeps]] as well.
  
 It has long-thought to be the primary compound responsible for Wormwood's mild hallucinogenic properties. Like many psychoactive compounds, thujone has not seen much study in 21st century western medicine. Given thujone's ability to potentiate other drugs, it is likely acting in concert with various other compounds that occur within Wormwood cultivars. It has long-thought to be the primary compound responsible for Wormwood's mild hallucinogenic properties. Like many psychoactive compounds, thujone has not seen much study in 21st century western medicine. Given thujone's ability to potentiate other drugs, it is likely acting in concert with various other compounds that occur within Wormwood cultivars.
  
-Other than its use as an entheogen, thujone has no medicinal value. Most "medicinal" wormwood plants are cultivars with no thujone, such as [[wormwood:sweet|A. annua]] or [[wormwood:southern|A. abrotanum]]. Other cultivars prized by traditional Asian medicine //(such [[wormwood:chinese|A. argyi]] & [[wormwood:korean|A. princeps]])// also have comparatively low amounts of thujone. This is because **thujone is toxic in large amounts**, where it acts as a lethal convulsant. While it's LD50 in humans is unknown, it hovers around 45 mg/kg in mice. A quick survey of wormwood & thujone overdoses returns tales of people consuming mammoth amounts of absinthe or concentrated essential oil from the wormwood plant. It can be safely smoked or consumed in moderation.+Other than its psychoactive uses, thujone has no medicinal value. Most "medicinal" wormwood plants are cultivars with no thujone, such as [[wormwood:sweet|A. annua]] or [[wormwood:southern|A. abrotanum]]. Other cultivars prized by traditional Asian medicine //(such [[wormwood:chinese|A. argyi]] & [[wormwood:korean|A. princeps]])// also have comparatively low amounts of thujone. This is because **thujone is toxic in large amounts**, where it acts as a lethal convulsant. While it's LD50 in humans is unknown, it hovers around 45 mg/kg in mice. A quick survey of wormwood & thujone overdoses returns tales of people consuming mammoth amounts of absinthe or concentrated essential oil from the wormwood plant. It can be safely smoked or consumed in moderation. 
 + 
 +Some //A. absinthium// & //A. herba-alba// cultivars also contain **(Z)-epoxyocimene**, which is a direct biosynthetic precursor AND amplifier of β-thujone. Balkan-sourced //A. absinthium// seems to have the most.
  
  
 +===== External Links =====
  
 +  * [[erowid>chemicals/absinthe|Absinthe Vault on Erowid]]
 +  * [[erowid>herbs/mugwort|Mugwort Vault on Erowid]]
 +  * [[erowid>plants/wormwood|Wormwood Vault on Erowid]]
 +  * [[https://www.wormwoodsociety.org|The Wormwood Society]]
  
  
 {{tag>Catalogs}} {{tag>Catalogs}}