The wormwood essential oil is mostly extracted from the leaves, twigs and flowering tops of the herbaceous and aromatic shrub botanically known as Artemisia absinthium, through a steam distillation process.

Its use actually dates back to prehistoric times, where it was first mentioned in the Bible and in the first century writings of Greece and Rome. There, the wormwood herb was said to treat various ailments, such as sore feet. Wormwood was also used by Hippocrates, who was the ancient Greek physician and the father of western medicine.

When used properly, you can surely reap the benefits of wormwood essential oil and combat many diseases and illnesses with this essential oil! Its sharp, woody and herbaceous aroma that is akin to chamomile blue infusion and its bluish-green mixture is one that you can invest in to reap benefits! Read on to find out more about the positive effects of the wormwood essential oil!

Wormwood Essential Oil Benefits:

1. Treat Menstrual Problems

Its possible property of stimulating discharges makes wormwood essential oil an emenagogue. It stimulates menstrual discharges and helps to open obstructed menstruation. This is very beneficial from the point of view of health since obstructed menstruation can give rise to some health problems in women. The emmenagogue property of Wormwood Essential Oil helps get rid of problems like headaches, abdominal cramps and ache, nausea, fatigue, lack of appetite, and make periods more regular.

2. Promotes the Health of the Digestive System

Being a cholagogue, it can stimulate the production and secretion of bile and other digestive juices into the stomach. This facilitates digestion, which means that this oil can be used for digestive purposes, but only in extremely low doses.

3. Gets Rid of Worms and Parasites

The wormwood herb is extremely beneficial in killing various intestinal worms and parasites that are lurking in your body. For example, it is able to eliminate pinworms and roundworms, which are worm infections that mainly affect the human intestines. These intestinal worms are dangerous because it can cause a myriad of other health problems such as cough, abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea, blood in the stool and even the presence of worms in vomit or stool.

Therefore, it is important to treat these intestinal worms and parasites. Wormwood essential oil can be used to treat such problems as its high degree of toxicity is able to kill off such parasites in the first place. As such, it facilitates the proper absorption of nutrients into the body.

4. Able to Fight off Fevers

Wormwood essential oil contains toxic components such as alpha thujone and beta thujone which actually makes it very potent in killing off infections as they inhibit the growth and spread of bacteria. This thus makes the oil a powerful immune shield to protect your body from harmful microbes. Also, they are able to speed up healing times for those suffering from fevers, making this oil an effective febrifuge.

 5. Can Potentially Combat Cancer Cells

Artemisinin in wormwood can also potentially combat and kill off breast-cancer cells, similar to how this herbal drug can be used to kill malaria-causing bacteria. As such, wormwood can be used as a potential and natural cancer treatment. There have been promising results on the studies and experiments done on the effects of wormwood on cancer cells. One of which includes the 2012 study carried out by bioengineers Henry Lai and Narendra Singh of the University of Washington, Seattle.

6. Helps Combat Stress and Depression

Wormwood oil contains narcotic compounds. Before you are alarmed, fret not because these narcotic compounds in the oil actually help to pacify anxiety, tension and feelings of nervousness. It can also be useful in managing stress and bouts of insomnia because the oil can induce feelings of calm and relaxation to your nerves to promote restful sleep. This thus helps to prevent nervous afflictions and depression.

7. Can Kill off Various Bacteria

Various studies have shown that the essential oil of wormwood actually helps to kill off a variety of bacteria as it contains antimicrobial and antifungal constituents. For example, a 2006 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed that wormwood oil can combat a broad spectrum of bacteria, including salmonella and E.coli.

It also demonstrates antifungal activities as it is seen to combat various types of fungal infections. A 2005 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry yet again found that wormwood prevented the growth of the 11 tested fungi and also showed antioxidant properties during the research.

8. Serves as a Tonic for the Body

Wormwood oil is also a tonic, meaning that it improves the digestion system greatly as it facilitates the proper and regular absorption of nutrients into the body. It also tones up the circulatory systems to ensure proper blood flow and fortifies the excretory system as it regulates detoxification processes.

Not only that, the oil can also help to tone the endocrine system and promotes hormonal balance and enzymes. It strengthens the nervous system and provides a tremendous boost to the immune system, thus preventing your body from getting infections and diseases easily.