Wormseed oil is extracted from the entire herb, especially the seed or fruits, by a process called steam distillation from Chenopodium ambrosioides of the Chenopodiaceae family, an herb found throughout South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the United States.
| Wormseed oil Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Wormseed oil |
| Scientific Name: | Chenopodium Ambrosioides |
| Origin | Eastern America |
| Colors | Colorless to yellow colored liquid |
| Taste | Bitter and burning taste |
Wormseed oil which is also known as Chenopodium oil is a volatile oil obtained by the steam distillation from the fresh flowering and fruiting plants of Chenopodium ambrosioides of the variety anthelmintic of the family Chenopodiaceae. The oil is not present in the roots. It is also known as American Wormseed oil, Mexican tea, chenopodium, and chenopods. The plant is very common in Eastern and Central USA. It is widely cultivated in Caribbean islands, Europe, Maryland, Mexico, and Canada. In India, it is found in the states of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and in Karnataka.
Wormseed is an annual or perennial herb that grows up to a height of five feet and has a straight stem, which is slightly woody at the bottom and has a potent smell. The leaves of wormseed appear alternately on the erect stem and are roughly toothed and shaped like a lance. The herb produces thick spines of minute green-hued flowers during the period between August and November at the leaf axils. The wormseed fruit is perfectly enclosed in the calyx, obtusely angled, the seed smooth and shining, the embryo forming about three-quarters of a ring around the mealy albumen. The whole herb has a strong, peculiar, somewhat aromatic odor, which is due to the presence of volatile oil and is retained on drying. The leaves have been used in place of tea in Mexico.
History of Wormseed Plant
For centuries, the Maya of Central America used Wormseed to expel worms, and hence its name. By the middle of the 18th century, the plant’s medicinal use was firmly established in the eastern US for the treatment of worms, especially in children.
The Catawaba peoples of the US used the plant for poultices to detoxify snake bites and other poisonings.
Although the Arrach has long been used as a medicine in Europe, Northern Africa, and the Caucasus to relieve menstrual cramps and promote menstruation, its distinctive unpleasant smell often prevents any danger of continued or long-term use. Its name comes from the Nahuatl word for skunk (épatl). Zorilla is the Spanish word for a skunk.
Used as both a food and a remedy, the plant was used by the Aztecs, who developed very classy and refined uses to flavor many of their dishes with the herb. Today, it remains a staple in Mexican cooking, spiking a pot of beans with its tangy flavor.
Medicinally, the Aztecs used the plant to treat asthma and dysentery. Mexicans consider it the first line of defense against intestinal parasites (particularly roundworms and hookworms), administering it to adults and children alike, as well as to animals. A tea is used for menstrual cramps, fever, and chills.
Traditional uses and benefits of Wormseed oil
- Wormseed oil is used for rheumatism of the joints and treats skin conditions like eczema.
- It is used in medicines formulated to rid children of roundworms, tapeworms, and other parasites any parasite of the intestinal tract, though it is not as effective against tapeworms.
- Wormseed oil has been recommended for the treatment of malaria, chorea, hysteria, and other nervous diseases.
- It is also used to treat nervousness, anxiety, and depression.
- It is a valuable anthelmintic for roundworms (Ascaris) especially.
- It is used for expelling worms like hookworms and dwarf tapeworms. It is not active against large tapeworms
- It is used against intestinal amoebae.
- It is used in veterinary practice also.
Wormseed and Fungus
Research has repeatedly shown that wormseed is effective against fungus. Wormseed contains a compound called ascaridoles, which is believed to be the most toxic to fungus. [1] At least two separate studies performed at India’s Banaras Hindu University evaluated botanical essential oils for activity against funguses that cause skin infections. Wormseed oil was repeatedly confirmed effective at reducing the proliferation of fungus that causes skin infections in guinea pigs. [2] [3] Additional research at the same university evaluated the efficacy of wormseed oil to control the growth of fungus on stored foods. Not surprisingly, it was found to completely inhibit the proliferation of fungus in an eco-friendly manner. [4]
Wormseed To Repel Pests
DEET is an ingredient in many bug sprays and mosquito repellants. It’s effective but it’s also toxic. Wormseed oil, however, is one of many essential oils that have been examined as a natural alternative to DEET. [5] The odor that wormseed emits is an effective repellent against many insects, some people even plant it in their garden to act as an organic, chemical-free pest deterrent.
Snails can be another garden pest and, in some regions, even spread diseases like schistosomiasis, an intestinal infection caused by a worm. In fact, in Brazil, schistosomiasis is called “snail fever.” Wormseed extract has also been identified as an effective method to dealing with schistosomiasis-transmitting snails. [6] Additionally, China Agricultural University in Beijing has reported that wormseed is toxic to German cockroaches. [7]
Wormseed and Intestinal Invaders
According to the Department of Anthropology at the University of Missouri-Columbia, wormseed is popular in Dominican culture to address intestinal invaders. [8] A 72-patient Peruvian study evaluated the efficacy of wormseed against harmful organisms. The patients were given extracts from the leaves and their stools were analyzed before and eight days after consumption. Harmful organism toxicity was observed in more than half the subjects. [9]
Additionally, while many people prefer to keep their own bodies free of harmful organisms, it’s also important for livestock farmers to keep their animals free of invaders. When researchers in Brazil evaluated the efficacy of a menthol and wormseed combination on goats with roundworms, they found that the substance was able to reduce the larvae population by more than 95%. [10]
Other Facts
- In the past, it was actually used in alcoholic drinks such as Absinthe (now banned) to add to its taste and intoxication.
- It is grown as an ornamental plant.
Precautions
- Large doses can cause nervous afflictions, convulsions, restlessness, impulsive behavior, and even death.
- Prolonged use can result in permanent damage to the brain and the nervous system, even resulting in insanity.
- Higher dosages may result in skin irritation, redness, eruptions in sensitive skin, and dermatitis.
- It is advisable to restrict the use of this oil on children as they have sensitive skin.
- Wormseed oil should not be ingested for any type of treatment, even in small amounts, due to its potential toxicity.
- Wormseed oil is toxic to the liver and kidneys and even a small amount can cause fatal poisoning.
- Wormseed oil should not be used in aromatherapy and the oil may explode when heated or treated with acids.
- Wormseed oil should be avoided during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
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