Wormwood is widely used in folk medicine.
Most often, wormwood is used for treatment, since it contains a large concentration of biologically active substances.
The composition of this herb is so diverse that it can act as a medicine and poison, so the contraindications of wormwood should be studied no less carefully than its beneficial properties.
Useful and harmful substances in the composition of wormwood, their properties
Wormwood beneficial properties are largely determined by its unique composition, making it a "cure for a hundred diseases." What substances contained in it are responsible for this title?
The essential oil of the seeds of bitter wormwood has collected substances that are very effective against various ailments. Its components are terpenes (pinene, cadinene, bisabolone, chamazulen, thujone, selinene).
Terpenes are volatile substances, hydrocarbons, thanks to which a person hears the smell of any essential oil, including wormwood oil. They are valuable in that the products of their decay in the human body are necessary components of the synthesis of steroid hormones, bile acids, vitamins E, D, K and many enzymes.
Chamazulen has an anti-inflammatory effect on the human body. When acting on affected areas of the skin, it anesthetizes, removes itching. Effective in trophic lesions of the skin and mucous membranes, as it contributes to the growth of connective tissue and epithelium.
The active substance capillin contained in wormwood was discovered not so long ago. It effectively fights pathogenic and fungal flora. Japanese pharmacists use it as an active antibiotic.
Flavonoids are present in the composition of wormwood. One of them is artemethine, which has an anti-inflammatory and antifungal effect. This component is part of antihistamine herbal remedies. He also establishes the functions of the digestive tract.
Phytoncides of bitter wormwood have a calming effect on the nervous system. They also work well after exercise, when you need to relax the muscles.
Wormwood saponins increase the adaptive abilities of the body. They affect protein synthesis, which makes an anabolic effect.
Adds wormwood beneficial properties the content of alkaloids. Acting at the cellular level, they are antispasmodics, painkillers and sedatives. They have a choleretic and expectorant effect. Alkaloids are involved in the synthesis of certain steroid hormones and are stimulants of the central nervous system.
Wormwood is saturated with many more substances that have a healing effect. Among them: malic and succinic acids, ascorbic acid and beta-carotene, tannins and mineral salts.
The poisonous substance indicated in contraindications for wormwood is thujone, which is part of the essential oil of the plant. This is a narcotic substance that acts on the central nervous system. Side effects include dizziness, headache, sometimes hallucinations, vomiting.
Useful properties of wormwood for various diseases
Decoctions, cold and hot water infusions, alcohol tinctures, ointments, a plant ground into powder - wormwood medicines can be of any kind. Depending on the location of the "sore spot", only one of the species or several at once is used.
Due to its high amount of bitterness, wormwood is an excellent digestive stimulant. At the same time, appetite improves and excretory processes are established.
Wormwood infusions are used to treat gastritis with low acidity. The infusion irritates the lining of the stomach, causing the production of more gastric juice. The production of pancreatic enzymes is also stimulated. As a result, pain and heaviness in the stomach pass, appetite improves.
In almost all liver diseases, all forms of wormwood medicine for internal use have established themselves as fast-acting and effective traditional medicine. When taking warm and cold infusions, the outflow of bile is normalized and its composition improves. Spasm and inflammation are removed, both in the gallbladder and its ducts. This property is very useful for cholecystitis during periods of exacerbation.
Violations of the liver itself are also eliminated with wormwood. With hepatitis, hepatosis and other liver diseases, along with dieting, the patient's quality of life rises to normal.
The pancreas is also treatable with wormwood. Enhanced secretion prevents stagnation and relieves inflammation and swelling. So pancreatitis is cured and the condition improves with diabetes.
Wormwood is one of the most effective antihistamines. Drink hot wormwood infusion on an empty stomach, starting with a teaspoon and reaching half a glass (for adults). Such a tool can also be used for the prevention of helminthiases.
Infusion, broth, and wormwood powder is used for intestinal diseases. These include: colitis, polyps in the rectum and hemorrhoids. Relieving inflammation and exerting a bactericidal effect, wormwood components relieve pain. With hemorrhoids, an ointment of wormwood is prepared, which helps to defeat this ailment within 2-3 days.
Diseases that also respond to wormwood treatment:
• internal and external fungal diseases;
• infertility, ovarian dysfunction, fibroids;
• infectious diseases of the external genitalia;
• depression, chronic fatigue syndrome and insomnia;
• epilepsy;
• arthritis, arthrosis, rheumatism and gout;
• skin diseases, in which there are violations of the integrity of the skin, lichen, eczema, etc.
Useful properties of wormwood when losing weight
Wormwood has a very important property for weight loss - it establishes the digestive processes and metabolism, acting at the cellular level. The consequence of this effect is the acceleration of metabolism, which leads to weight loss.
One of the most effective means to lose extra pounds is wormwood oil. To do this, take about 0.1 liters of high-quality olive oil, which is poured with dry wormwood grass. The infused mixture for 10 days is filtered and taken in a tablespoon half an hour before each meal. Together with the oil, they take an infusion of wormwood - a dessert spoon of dry chopped grass in a glass.
Of course, this tool will not work without sports and proper nutrition, but in the complex it will significantly accelerate weight loss and improve the body.
Contraindications to the use of wormwood
Diseases and conditions in which the contraindications of wormwood significantly exceed its beneficial properties:
• pregnancy and lactation;
• tendency to bleeding;
• gastritis with high acidity;
• acute pancreatitis;
• stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer;
• allergy;
• thrombophlebitis and anemia.
Since the plant contains not only useful substances, but also poisons, wormwood is contraindicated for use longer than a month. For the same reason, all dosages of medication should be strictly observed.
You can not inhale the aroma of essential oil of wormwood for more than seven minutes. Baths with a decoction or infusion of wormwood should not be hotter than 38 degrees Celsius. In case of wormwood poisoning, you need to rinse the stomach and consult a doctor.
