9 Properties of Wormwood for Liver Health

September 28, 2018
Wormwood is very powerful. This is why you should turn to a specialist to monitor your treatment with this plant to avoid complications. Also, you should never take it for more than 3 months.

Wormwood is a medicinal plant that’s not widely known. However, you should definitely consider using this plant as a natural remedy to keep your liver healthy, since the properties of wormwood can be extremelly beneficial.

Taking care of this organ is essential to guarantee a good quality of life and prevent diseases.

In this article, we’ll share 9 wormwood properties to improve liver function and your overall health.

The liver

The liver is the largest organ in the body and it’s located under the diaphragm, mostly on the right side. It fulfills several vital functions in our body. These include:

  • Detoxifying and filtering toxins: It collects and rids the body of toxins that enter the body through food, pollution, drugs, tobacco, etc.
  • Digestion: It metabolizes carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids by the secretion of bile.
  • Storing vitamins: The liver stores vitamins A, D, E, and K and glycogen.

The gallbladder, which stores the bile, is next to the liver. Therefore, the liver and gallbladder work together.

Take a look at this article: Fight Fatty Liver With These Incredible Natural Remedies

Wormwood

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a medicinal plant native to Latin America that also grows in Africa and Europe. People knew of its properties since ancient times, since it was used for lead poisoning cases, for example.

  • You can take it as an infusion made of its leaves and flowers and you can also find it as a powder.
  • It has a strong bitter taste.

Curiously, moxas, a kind of cigarettes that are used in traditional Chinese medicine to apply heat to the body, are made with wormwood.

In addition, absinthe, the famous alcoholic beverage, is also made with wormwood.

Hepatic properties of wormwood

1. It increases the secretion of bile juices

Doctor explaining liver function.

First of all, taking wormwood reduces gallbladder inflammation and increases the secretion of bile juices.

Naturally, this impacts all of its functions positively.

2. It clears the liver

Next, taking wormwood infusions for short periods of time clears the liver and gallbladder and promotes their good functioning.

3. It eliminates toxins

Since wormwood clears the liver, it also helps rid the body of toxins more easily.

The liver keeps the blood clean of toxic substances that come from external sources, as well as those our own bodies make.

If this isn’t done properly, you may suffer from many disorders and chronic and degenerative diseases.

4. It improves digestion

A man with good digestion.

In addition, the liver participates in digestion and the metabolism of nutrients.

If it doesn’t work properly, you can suffer from digestive disorders such as heavy feeling, heartburn, gas, appetite disorders, etc.

5. It reduces blood sugar levels

High blood sugar levels can harm the pancreas, liver, and your overall health. Therefore, this plant is very effective in preventing diabetes and also insulin resistance, a very common but not widely known disorder.

Glucose control is essential to prevent obesity, cholesterol, and high triglyceride levels.

6. It treats liver failure

To treat liver failure with wormwood, you have to do it under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

Read: 7 Medicinal Infusions to Treat Diabetes Naturally

7. IT relieves biliary colic

Woman with biliary colic.

Believe it or not, this plant is also very useful for fighting painful biliary colic, which happens when stones obstruct the ducts.

8. It fights jaundice

In addition, this herb is a good remedy to treat jaundice. This disorder is characterized by a yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes due to a bilirubin increase in the blood.

This problem is always caused by a liver deficiency.

9. It helps fight other disorders

IN addition, taking wormwood can also relieve and improve other liver-related health problems, including:

  • Vision problems
  • Itchy skin
  • Halitosis or bad breath
  • Lack of appetite
  • Some types of migraine

Warnings

Wormwood is a plant with very powerful healing properties. This is why you shouldn’t overdo it and take it only for up to three months.

If you take too much wormwood, it can affect your brain or liver or cause muscle spasms.

Discover the Surprising Health Benefits of Wormwood
Discover the Surprising Health Benefits of Wormwood
Wormwood is a sour medicinal plant that stands out because of its digestive, anti-inflammatory, and toning properties, in addition to many more. It's important to know that, despite its flavor, the benefits of wormwood for your health are countless. Read more »

  • Lachenmeier, D. W. (2010). Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.)-A curious plant with both neurotoxic and neuroprotective properties? Journal of Ethnopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2010.05.062

  • Judžentiene, A. (2015). Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) oils. In Essential Oils in Food Preservation, Flavor and Safety. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-416641-7.00097-3

  • Gilani, A. U. H., & Janbaz, K. H. (1995). Preventive and curative effects of Artemisia absinthium on acetaminophen and CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. General Pharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-3623(94)00194-R

Interesting Articles