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What is Wormwood Tea?

Laura Evans
Laura Evans

Wormwood, or Artemisia absinthium, is a perennial plant from the daisy family. Wormwood, which is also called absinth, has a bitter flavor and is used in making bitters and vermouth. It can also be used to make wormwood tea, which is used to treat gastric pain and indigestion, stimulate the appetite, and protect the liver.

Wormwood has a long history. Ancient Egyptians, Syrians, Greeks, and Romans knew of this herb. The bible mentions wormwood as marking the ground where the serpent slithered as the snake left the Garden of Eden. The bible also mentions wormwood in the Revelations of St. John. More recently, wormwood was an essential ingredient in absinthe.

Wormwood tea helps treat gastric pain and indigestion.
Wormwood tea helps treat gastric pain and indigestion.

Absinthe was first used as a medication when the liquor was developed France in the late 18th century. By the 1830s, absinthe as a liquor had crossed the oceans and landed in New Orleans. Legend has it that artists such as Ernest Hemingway and Vincent Van Gogh touted the creative benefits of drinking absinthe. In 1912, absinthe was banned in the United States. This liquor had more to it than just a high percentage of alcohol and was thought to cause madness.

At one point in time, wormwood was an essential ingredient in absinthe.
At one point in time, wormwood was an essential ingredient in absinthe.

Wormwood has a high content of thujone, which is structurally similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the ingredient that gives marijuana users their high. Drinking absinthe can lead to having altered senses. Animals that have been given high dosages of thujone under laboratory conditions have gone into convulsions, with some eventually dying. The absinthe that is legally sold today in the United States does not have any thujone content.

Tea made from wormwood is used to aid digestion.
Tea made from wormwood is used to aid digestion.

While the thought of thujone may give pause, drinking wormwood tea may have benefits beyond helping with gastric problems. For example, wormwood tea is carminative, meaning it helps the body deal with flatulence. In addition, drinking wormwood tea has anthelmintic properties, meaning it helps the body rid itself of worms. This tea also has febrifuge properties to help to body fight fevers.

The Bible mentions wormwood as marking the ground where the serpent slithered as the snake left the Garden of Eden.
The Bible mentions wormwood as marking the ground where the serpent slithered as the snake left the Garden of Eden.

Wormwood tea can be made by adding one teaspoon of dried wormwood to one cup of boiling water and letting the mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes before drinking. Alternatively, 10 to 20 drops of wormwood tincture can be added to one cup of water. Some tea drinkers add maple syrup or honey to help counteract the bitter taste. The tea should be taken three times a day, 10 to 15 minutes before a meal.

Wormwood tea should not be used for a long period of time as the thujone in the tea can prove toxic. Most suggest that the tea should not be consumed for more than three to four weeks. Drinking too much wormwood tea over a prolonged period of time can lead to insomnia, dizziness, and vomiting as well as trembling, convulsions, and seizures. Women who are pregnant or are breast feeding should not drink wormwood tea. People should consult their physicians before using wormwood to make sure that the wormwood will not interact negatively with other drugs or herbs that they may be taking.

Discussion Comments

serenesurface

Those who cannot bear the flavor of wormwood, mix it with another mild, herbal tea!

When I drink wormwood tea, I don't prepare it with just wormwood. I prepare it with a mild, good tasting herbal tea like chamomile or mint. And I always add some honey or sweetener. It tastes much better that way and I still get the benefits of the wormwood tea.

I also urge everyone to do their own share of research on wormwood. There are lots of conflicting opinions out there about this herb. And I think everyone needs to know the risks and benefits for themselves before trying it.

ZipLine

@SarahGen-- Wormwood tea is certainly not something that everyone can drink. It does have a very strong, bitter tea.

But it has many great benefits and I think that the benefits are worth it. I don't drink wormwood tea on a regular basis and I certainly wouldn't recommend doing so. But it's great for problems like stomach bugs or intestinal parasites.

I developed an intestinal infection after a trip abroad, possibly from some yummy tasting street food. I wanted to try a herbal remedy before seeing the doctor for prescription medication. My aunt recommended wormwood tea and I tried it. I admit, it was difficult to drink it, but when I noticed that I felt much better afterward, I continued to drink it for a few weeks. My symptoms have completely disappeared now and I know that wormwood tea got rid of the parasites.

SarahGen

I'm not sure how anyone can rink wormwood tea. It tastes awful, just awful! I had a sip of this and knew that I wouldn't be able to drink it again.

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    • Wormwood tea helps treat gastric pain and indigestion.
      By: NataliTerr
      Wormwood tea helps treat gastric pain and indigestion.
    • At one point in time, wormwood was an essential ingredient in absinthe.
      By: Jesse Kunerth
      At one point in time, wormwood was an essential ingredient in absinthe.
    • Tea made from wormwood is used to aid digestion.
      By: Mark Herreid
      Tea made from wormwood is used to aid digestion.
    • The Bible mentions wormwood as marking the ground where the serpent slithered as the snake left the Garden of Eden.
      By: manaemedia
      The Bible mentions wormwood as marking the ground where the serpent slithered as the snake left the Garden of Eden.