Wormwood
Specifically for Lyme Disease
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Why it works for Lyme Disease:
There is laboratory (in-vitro) evidence that certain Artemisia (wormwood) preparations — especially Artemisia annua / its compound artemisinin — can kill or inhibit Borrelia burgdorferi (the Lyme spirochete) in test tubes, but there are currently no high-quality clinical trials showing that wormwood cures Lyme disease in humans. Use of wormwood/ artemisinin for Lyme is therefore experimental, largely driven by herbalist protocols and lab findings, and carries safety risks (especially depending on species and preparation).
Laboratory (in-vitro) activity: Multiple in-vitro studies have found that extracts of Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood) and artemisinin/related compounds show activity against Borrelia burgdorferi including forms considered “persisters” in stationary phase culture. A widely reported laboratory evaluation (Johns Hopkins + collaborators) tested many botanicals and found Artemisia among plants with activity against stationary-phase B. burgdorferi. Frontiers bioRxiv
Artemisinin = active antimalarial sesquiterpene: Artemisia annua produces artemisinin, a well-characterized antiparasitic (antimalarial) compound. Because artemisinin and whole-plant extracts have broad biological effects (antiparasitic, some antibacterial/anti-inflammatory in lab models), researchers tested them against Borrelia. The chemistry and pharmacology of artemisinin are well documented. RSC Publishing ScienceDirect
Why this doesn’t equal proven human benefit: Lab (in-vitro) killing does not automatically translate to safe, effective human treatment — differences in absorption, achievable blood/tissue levels, metabolism, and host effects mean clinical trials are required before declaring an herbal cure. Current human clinical guidelines for Lyme disease do not endorse wormwood/ Artemisia as a proven therapy. Frontiers IDSA
How to use for Lyme Disease:
Which species: People discussing “wormwood” for tick-borne illness often mean two different species:
- Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood) — source of artemisinin; typically used where babesiosis/ blood parasites are suspected or for “antiparasitic” effect.
- Artemisia absinthium (common wormwood) — traditional uses (digestive bitters) but contains thujone, which is neurotoxic at high doses; A. absinthium is not the same as A. annua. Distinguish species before using anything. ScienceDirect WebMD
Typical community / Buhner-style patterns (examples from herbalist sources):
- Artemisia annua / artemisinin products are often used in pulsed regimens (e.g., “4 days on, 3 days off” or similar cycles) or in multi-herb combinations as part of the Buhner protocol or other naturopathic regimens (these protocols are intended to target coinfections such as Babesia). These are empirically derived from practitioner experience — they are not controlled clinical dosing schedules proven in trials. Apex Botanicals Rise Above Lyme
Formulations people use: capsules/tablets of artemisinin or whole-leaf A. annua extracts; some use hot-water infusions (teas) or tinctures — but potency varies widely and many commercial products are inconsistent. There are standardized artemisinin pharmaceuticals used for malaria, but those are formulated and dosed for that indication, not Lyme. ScienceDirect WHO Extranet
What reputable medical sources say: Major Lyme treatment guidelines (IDSA/AAN/ACR) and mainstream infectious-disease bodies do not list wormwood/ Artemisia as established therapy for Lyme; antibiotics remain the evidence-based treatments. If someone is considering herbal adjunctive therapy, they should only do so under close medical supervision (to monitor interactions, liver tests, pregnancy status, etc.). IDSA
Scientific Evidence for Lyme Disease:
In-vitro / preclinical studies (most of the “proof” to date):
- Evaluation of Natural and Botanical Medicines for Activity Against B. burgdorferi — Frontiers in Medicine (2020). This lab study tested multiple botanicals and found several had activity against B. burgdorferi in vitro; Artemisia annua/artemisinin showed activity. (laboratory evidence only). Frontiers bioRxiv
- Additional lab studies and reviews of Artemisia extracts showing antimicrobial/antiparasitic activity and interest in artemisinin’s non-malaria uses. See reviews on Artemisia pharmacology and hot-water extract activity. ScienceDirect RSC Publishing
Clinical trials in humans for Lyme: There are no robust randomized controlled trials showing wormwood or artemisinin cures Lyme disease. Existing supportive material for herbal protocols is primarily observational, experiential, or based on lab work. Systematic/clinical guidance for Lyme continues to center on antibiotics with clinical trials in that space; herbal protocols have not displaced or matched the standard-of-care evidence base. IM Journal IDSA
Reports that mention human use but limited evidence: Reviews of herbal supplements for persistent Lyme list Artemisia as having in-vitro activity and sometimes being used clinically by integrative practitioners — but they also note limited human clinical data and call for controlled studies. IM Journal
Specific Warnings for Lyme Disease:
Species and compound differences — thujone vs artemisinin: Artemisia absinthium (common wormwood) contains thujone, which is associated with neurotoxicity, seizures and kidney injury when concentrated (essential oil). Many countries regulate thujone content in food/alcoholic products. Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood) is the source of artemisinin and is pharmacologically different — but both require caution. WebMD European Medicines Agency (EMA)
Neurological and seizure risk (mainly thujone / essential oil exposure): Cases of severe toxicity have been linked to oil of wormwood ingestion and to high thujone exposures; avoid essential oils or high-dose A. absinthium products unless supervised by a clinician. CocktailSafeScienceDirect
Liver toxicity reports (artemisinin products): There are case reports and regulatory advisories of liver injury temporally associated with artemisinin-containing supplements; monitoring liver function tests is commonly advised by clinicians if patients take artemisinin extracts. The New Zealand Ministry of Health and regulatory agencies have issued warnings in the past. CancerChoices CDC
Pregnancy and reproductive cautions: Animal studies reported reproductive and embryo/fetal toxicity with some artemisinin derivatives. WHO guidance and other pregnancy reviews recommend caution — ACTs (artemisinin-based combination therapies) are standard for malaria in later pregnancy but have been more cautiously studied in the first trimester. If pregnant or trying to conceive, avoid unsupervised use of artemisinin/herbal products. World Health Organization NDM
Drug interactions and monitoring: Artemisinin can interact with other drugs and may affect liver enzymes; combined use with prescribed antibiotics, anticoagulants, or other medications requires medical oversight. Also, herbal products vary in potency/contaminants, so product quality is a serious safety consideration. WHO Extranet CANCERactive
Regulatory guidance: European Medicines Agency has produced statements assessing thujone risk in herbal products and the uncertainties around risk assessment. Regulatory bodies often limit thujone content in commercial products. European Medicines Agency (EMA)
General Information (All Ailments)
What It Is
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a bitter herb traditionally used in European, Middle Eastern, and Asian herbal medicine. The aerial parts (above-ground plant material) are typically used in tinctures, teas, capsules, or extracts. It is chemically rich; of particular interest is thujone, a neuroactive monoterpene, along with flavonoids and other terpenoids.
How It Works
Wormwood appears to act through several mechanisms that are relevant to health use:
• Antimicrobial / antiparasitic action — Constituents, including thujone and sesquiterpene lactones, have been shown in vitro to inhibit or damage certain parasites (e.g., helminths) and microbes.
• Bitter-reflex effects on digestion — Extremely bitter compounds stimulate taste receptors on the tongue that trigger vagal reflexes and downstream increases in gastric secretions, bile flow, and motility — indirectly aiding digestion and appetite in some contexts.
• Anti-inflammatory / antioxidant signaling — Some polyphenols and terpenoids show anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in preclinical models; relevance to humans depends on dose, preparation, and context.
• CNS interaction — Thujone is GABA-A antagonistic at sufficient doses (i.e., it can stimulate neuronal firing rather than suppressing it), which explains both some historic stimulant claims and the seizure risk at higher exposures.
Why It’s Important
Wormwood has persisted in traditional usage because it fills niches where conventional options are either unavailable or undesirable:
• Support in parasitic infections — Most of the interest is in its role in traditional parasite protocols (including combination botanicals such as “Artemisia-based” blends).
• Appetite and digestive signaling — Bitter herbs like wormwood are used clinically in herbal practice to support appetite and digestive function in individuals with hypochlorhydria, anorexia of illness, or sluggish motility.
• Bridge between folk medicine and modern pharmacognosy — Artemisia species helped inform modern antimalarial drug development (although this claim belongs primarily to A. annua, not A. absinthium). Wormwood illustrates how plant chemistry seeded pharmacologic insight.
Considerations
Use is not risk-neutral. Key constraints:
• Thujone dose matters — At high doses thujone can provoke neurotoxicity (tremors, seizures) and is regulated in foods and liqueurs. Supplements vary widely.
• Pregnancy and lactation avoidance — Traditionally and in modern guidance, wormwood is contraindicated because of uterine-stimulant and potential teratogenic concerns.
• Liver considerations — Case reports exist of hepatotoxicity in herbal absinthium preparations; risk is influenced by product purity, dose, and co-medications. Avoid with pre-existing liver disease or hepatotoxic drugs without professional supervision.
• Autoimmune / GI condition nuance — Bitter stimulation and immune-active constituents may aggravate some autoimmune or inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions; not universally benign.
• Drug interactions — Possible interaction via CNS activity (GABA-A antagonism), anticonvulsants, and theoretical CYP effects; care is advised with neuroactive drugs.
• Quality & identity — Artemisia species are often confused or substituted; potency, thujone content, and contamination vary by manufacturer and extraction method.
Helps with these conditions
Wormwood is most effective for general wellness support with emerging research . The effectiveness varies by condition based on clinical evidence and user experiences.
Detailed Information by Condition
Crohn's Disease
Wormwood has been studied for its potential benefits in treating Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic inflammation...
Lyme Disease
There is laboratory (in-vitro) evidence that certain Artemisia (wormwood) preparations — especially Artemisia annua / its compound artemisinin — can k...
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Helps With These Conditions
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