Wormseed Health Dictionary

Wormseed (Chenopodium ambrosioides). Plant Part Used: Leaf, aerial parts.Dominican Medicinal Uses: The leaf and aerial parts are traditionally prepared as an infusion or crushed to extract their juice which is administered orally for colic, diarrhea, stomach ache, intestinal parasites and gas.Safety: The leaves are widely consumed as a culinary seasoning in small amounts. Cases of contact dermatitis due to handling the plant have been reported. The leaves have shown relatively low toxicity in animal studies, and the seed oil and isolated constituents can be highly toxic.Contraindications: Avoid use of the oil in pregnancy (due to abortifacient effects) and young children (< 4 y). Internal use is contraindicated in the following conditions: gastro-intestinal inflammation (mucosal irritant), heart disease (cardiac depressive), liver disease (hepatotoxic) and kidney disease (renotoxic).Drug Interactions: Insufficient information identified in the available literature.Clinical Data: The leaf and plant extract have been investigated in human clinical trials for the following effects: antiparasitic and antiascariasis.Laboratory & Preclinical Data: The following biological activities of this plant have been demonstrated in laboratory and preclinical studies using in vitro or animal models: in vivo: analgesic, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antiulcerogenic, sedative (plant extracts or constituents); anthelmintic, antifungal (essential oil).In vitro: analgesic, antibacterial, antimalarial, insecticidal, sedative (plant extracts or constituents); antifungal (essential oil).* See entry for Apasote in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... apasote

Linn.

Family: Compositae; Asteraceae.

Habitat: The western Himalayas from Kashmir to Kumaon.

English: Wormseed, Santonica.

Ayurvedic: Chauhaara, Kirmaani Yavaani, Chuhaari Ajawaayin; not related to Ajawaayin.

Unani: Dirmanah, Kirmaalaa, Afsanteen-ul-bahar. (Dirmanah Turki is equated with A. stechmani- ana Besser.)

Folk: Kirmaani Ajawaayin, Kirmaani-owaa, Kirmaani-ajmo.

Action: Deobstructant, stomachic, anthelmintic (effective against roundworms), antifungal.

A decoction of the fresh plant is given in cases of intermittent and remittent fever.

A. maritima var. thomsoniana C. B. Clarke is a santonin-yielding var.; A. maritima var. fragrans (Willd.) Ledeb. is a non-santonin var.

Immature flowerheads and leaves contain santonin. Roots, stems and twigs are devoid of santonin. Santonin, a sesquiterpene lactone, is used for the treatment of ascaris and oxyuris infections. Large doses (0.3 g is adults and 0.06 in children) are toxic.

Beta-santonin is less anthelmintic in action than santonin; pseudosantonin is devoid of anthelmintic property.

Studies is albino mice revealed that santonin had no androgenic, estro- genic, antiestrogenic, progestational and antiprogestational effects.

Santonin is toxic at 60 mg in children; 200 mg in adults. (Francis Brinker.)

Dosage: Whole plant—3-6 g powder. (CCRAS.)... artemisia maritima

Linn.

Family: Chenopodiaceae.

Habitat: Native to West Indies and South America. Now distributed in South India, Bengal, Kashmir and Maharashtra in wet places with cultivated lands.

English: Indian Wormseed, Sweet Pigweed, Mexican Tea.

Ayurvedic: Sugandh-vaastuuka, Kshetra-vaastuuka.

Siddha/Tamil: Kattasambadam.

Folk: Khatuaa.

Action: Antispasmodic, pectoral, haemostatic, emmenagogue. Employed in treating nervous affections, particularly chorea. Dried herb—anthelmintic against round and hookworms.

Ascaridole, an active constituent of the oil, is highly active against round- worms, hookworms and small, but not large, tapeworms. It is highly toxic and can cause serious side effects.

The oil has been found useful in amoebic dysentery and intestinal infections (should be used with caution).

Leaves contain kaempferol-7-rham- noside and ambroside.

A decoction of the herb is given as an internal haemostatic and the infusion as an enema for intestinal ulceration. The infusion is sudorific and diuretic.

The oil exhibits antimicrobial and strong antifungal activity against human pathogenic fungi.... chenopodium ambrosioides

As a general rule herbs may be used for the relief of disease in dogs and pets generally, dosage depending upon the animal. Dosage for dogs, according to size of the animal, is approximately one-third that of an adult human dose.

All dog worming programmes should include Garlic, tablets or capsules for Toxocara canis, the common dog roundworm.

Alternatives: Wormseed powder in capsules. Pomegranate seeds. Quassia chips: 2 teaspoons steeped in cup Cider Vinegar; strain and add two teaspoons of the liquor to drinking water.

Epileptic seizures. Add one teaspoon Brewer’s yeast and quarter of a teaspoon powdered Skullcap or Vervain to feed, once or twice daily. General health maintenance: Garlic capsules, 1-2 daily. ... dogs

Volatile oils. Out of 250,000 flowering plants only 2,000 yield essential oils. Soluble in alcohol, colourless. Contained in plants, they are responsible for taste, aroma and medicinal action. Organic properties give the flower its scent. May be anti-bacterial, antispasmodic, sedative, expectorant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory. The smell of a flower roughly conveys the potency of its oil. An example is menthol in the mint family.

Oils used in Phytotherapy: Almond, English Chamomile, Aniseed, Bergamot, Black Pepper, Buchu, Camphor, Cedarwood, Cloves, Coriander, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender (French), Lavender (English), Lavender (Spanish), Lemon, Marjoram, Orange (sweet), Patchouli, Peppermint, Pine (Scots), Rosemary, Sage, Sandalwood, Thyme, Spearmint, St John’s Wort, Turpentine, Ylang Ylang.

Most oils are obtained by steam distillation. Being highly concentrated, internal use is by a few drops, diluted. About 30-40 are used medicinally; each having its own specific healing properties. Some are convenient as inhalants; a few drops on a tissue for relief of catarrh, colds, etc. Fragrant burners and electronic diffusers are available for vapour-inhalation. Bring to boil 2 pints water; allow to stand 3-4 minutes; sprinkle on the surface 5-10 drops Eucalyptus oil and with towel over head, inhale steam, 5-10 minutes.

Examples: (a) equal parts dilute oils of Thyme and Hypericum (acute middle ear inflammation) 3-4 drops injected into ear 2-3 times daily. (b) 10 drops oil Marjoram in bath water for cramp. Eucalyptus is a useful antibacterial; Cinnamon (anti-inflammatory), Juniper (urinary antiseptic), Orange blossom (anti- depressant), Lavender (sedative).

Essential oils should never be used neat, except as prescribed by a suitably qualified practitioner. While aromatherapists do not prescribe internally, Dr Paul Belaiche, one of France’s leading experts on essential oils, advises oral medication at a maximum daily dosage of 12 drops according to the oil. He advises drops on the tongue, on activated charcoal, in capsule form using a suitable excipient or vegetable oil, or mixed with a little honey. Anal injection has proved successful, (8-10 drops in 10ml vegetable oil) or suppositories made from 200-300mg (8-10 drops) essential oil to 2 grams of base per suppository. Oils should never be allowed to touch the eyes.

Capsules of Garlic oil may be inserted into the rectum for worms or prostate disorder. OR: 10 drops oil mixed with 10ml vegetable oil and injected with the aid of a pipette. Dilute oil of Thyme is used as a massage-rub for chest infections. Oil of Cloves is not only an antiseptic but an analgesic to assuage moderate dental pain. Volatile oils reflexly stimulate the medulla through the olfactory nerve, thus promoting appetite and flow of saliva. All stimulate production of white blood cells and thereby support the immune system.

Oils not used: Basil, Bitter Almonds, Boldo, Calamus, Horseradish, Mugwort, Mustard, Pennyroyal, Rue, Sassafras, Savin, Tansy, Thuja, Wormseed.

Oils not used in pregnancy: Bay, Buchu, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Cinnamon, Clove, Fennel, Hyssop, Juniper, Marjoram, Myrrh, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme. All other oils – half the normal amount.

Tea: 2-3 drops, selected oil, on teabag makes 3 cups tea.

Inhalant: 10 drops on tissue, or same amount in hot water to inhale steam.

Bath water: add: 10-15 drops.

Compress: 10-15 drops in half a cup (75ml) milk or water. Soak suitable material and apply.

Massage: 6 drops in two teaspoons ‘carrier’ vegetable oil (Almond, Peanut, Olive, etc).

Fragrant oils replace hospital smell.

Essential oil suppliers: Butterbur and Sage, 101 Highgrove Street, Reading RG1 5EJ. Also: Shirley Price Aromatherapy, Wesley House, Stockwell Road, Hinckley, Leics LE10 1RD. ... essential oils

Trematoda. Parasitic flatworms: (Fasciola hepatica) occurs mostly in sheep and in the freshwater snail. Larval forms of the latter encyst on water plants, commonly Watercress. On invasion into the human body, settles in the liver and bile duct.

Liquid Extract Butternut. 1:1 in 25 per cent alcohol BHP (1983), dose: 2-6ml, thrice daily.

Butternut. Powder, with few grains Cayenne. 750mg (three 00 capsules or half a teaspoon) thrice daily. Wormwood tea. 1-2 teaspoons to cup cold water steeped overnight. Consume on rising.

Molasses. Half a teaspoon Wormseed powder in a little molasses, night and morning, for 3 days, followed by laxative. For desperate cases.

Dandelion and Burdock, traditional drink. Freely. Diet. Strong Dandelion coffee. ... flukes

Ancylostomiasis. Infestation of the small intestine with tiny worms (Ancylostoma duodenale). Common in children from hot, damp earth in which larvae thrives. Worms enter feet via the skin and are borne to lungs and intestine. Prolonged infestation leads to anaemia and retarded development in children.

In the 1860s Thymol was the important medicine, but was later superceded by Chenopodium (oil of American Wormseed) as an anthelmintic for expulsion of hookworms.

Should be supervised by a practitioner.

Patient to receive a light meal at night followed next morning by the oil in a capsule: 6-8 years, 6 drops; 9-10 years, 8 drops; 11-16 years, 10-12 drops; over 16 years, 12-16 drops. Dose is repeated two hours later. Two hours afterwards, give Senna purgative. No food should be taken until after bowel movement. Repeat procedure after one week. Less drastic treatments are available, but for the intractible stubborn hookworm desperate measures are sometimes called for. ... hookworm

Peumus boldus

FAMILY: Monimiaceae

SYNONYMS: Boldu boldus, Boldoa fragrans, boldus, boldu.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: An evergreen shrub or small tree up to 6 metres high, with slender branches, sessile coarse leaves and bearing yellowish-green fruit; when dried the leaves turn a deep reddish-brown colour. The whole plant is aromatic.

DISTRIBUTION: Native to Chile; naturalized in the Mediterranean region. Some essential oil is produced in Nepal and Vietnam.

OTHER SPECIES: The Australian tree Monimia rotundifolia contains a similar oil, which has been used as a substitute. The oil of chenopodium or wormseed is also chemically related.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: The bark is used for tanning, the wood utilized in charcoal making and the fruit eaten by locals. In South America it has long been recognized as a valuable cure for gonorrhoea. In Western herbalism, the dried leaves are used for genito-urinary inflammation, gallstones, liver or gall bladder pain, cystitis and rheumatism. The dried leaves are current in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia as a specific for cholelithiasis with pain.

ACTIONS: Antiseptic, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, hepatic, sedative, tonic, urinary demulcent.

EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation of the leaves.

CHARACTERISTICS: A yellow liquid with a powerful spicy-camphoraceous, disagreeable odour.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Cymene, ascaridole, cineol, linalol.

SAFETY DATA: Extremely toxic. ‘The oil has powerful therapeutic effects, and it can be considered harmful to the human organism even when used in very small doses … should not be used in therapy, either internally or externally.’.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE None.

OTHER USES: Used in pharmaceuticals in minute amounts for its therapeutic properties.... boldo leaf