Tincture
Wormwood tincture
Wormwood is bitter in a way that pulls the face together. That is not a flaw, it is the whole point. The bitter compounds wake the digestion, and the plant has been used against intestinal worms for so long that it carries it in its English name.
This is one of the strongest plants in the whole apothecary, and it must be treated accordingly. Small amounts, short periods, and never as something you simply drink because it is healthy.
Ingredients
- Dried wormwood leaves and flowering tops
- 40% vodka, enough to cover
- A clean jar with a tight lid
Equipment
- Jar with lid
- Cloth or coffee filter
- Dark dropper bottle
Method
- 1
Pick leaves and flowering tops from July to September, on a dry day.
- 2
Dry them somewhere dark and airy until brittle.
- 3
Fill the jar one third with the dried herb. No more, it is strong.
- 4
Cover with vodka, at least 2 cm above. Seal tightly.
- 5
Steep in the dark for 4 weeks, shaking regularly. Strain through cloth and store in a dark dropper bottle.
Dosage
10-15 drops in a little water, at most 3 times daily, and no longer than 2-4 weeks at a stretch.
Then take at least a month off. Wormwood is not something you take continuously.
Shelf life
2-3 years, dark and cool
Safety
Wormwood contains thujone, which is toxic in larger amounts. Keep to the dose, and never take it longer than directed.
Not during pregnancy. Wormwood can bring on contractions and has traditionally been used for exactly that. Not while breastfeeding either.
Not with epilepsy. Thujone can lower the seizure threshold.
Not for children.
If you have kidney or liver disease, or take regular medication, ask your doctor first.
Suspected parasites belong with a doctor, so you know what you are treating. A stool sample is quick and unpleasant for two minutes, and then you know.
How the herbs work
Wormwood is one of the most bitter plants we have, and the bitterness is the effect itself. The bitter compounds set bile and digestive enzymes going, and the plant has traditionally been used to make the gut an unpleasant place for intestinal worms.
It also contains thujone, which is both what makes it strong and what makes it dangerous in large amounts. Hence the small doses and the short courses.
The content here is general knowledge and folk herbal lore, not medical treatment. In illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding or alongside medication: always talk to your doctor first.