Wormwood Essential OilBotanical Nomenclature: Artemisia absinthium Wormwood essential oil is, by nearly every popular aromatherapy author, placed on lists of "hazardous" essential oils. And much of wormwood's reputation is well deserved. Until the early part of the 20th century, wormwood leaves and flowers were used to make an alcoholic spirit called absinthe. But, citing scientific studies on the potential psychoactive compounds in absinthe, most European countries and the United States had banned the sale of this highly popular spirit well before the 1920s.
Psychological AromatherapyToday, most popular aromatherapy authors list wormwood as a "toxic" essential oil. Because of this, wormwood is not often used in casual aromatherapy.Traditional Uses for Wormwood OilWormwood's Commission E monograph lists the herb, but not the essential oil, as a remedy for loss of appetite, dyspepsia and certain gall bladder issues.In some areas, wormwood herb was also used at one time to treat certain parasitic infections. Today, the volatile oil made from the herb is considered toxic and is not generally recommended for use. No surprising, aromatherapy author Salvatore Battaglia assigns no therapeutic actions to wormwood oil.
Serious Medical Studies on Wormwood OilIn preparation for this article, we could find no medical studies on the potential medical uses for wormwood essential oil.Safety IssuesWhether wormwood's thujone content was really responsible for widespread addiction, increased crime and other undesirable behaviors or not is a matter of great debate. What scientists do know is that thujone is a potent chemical capable of causing seizures.References: Battaglia, S. (2005). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy Padosch, S., Lachenmeier, D., Kröner, L. (2006). Absinthism: a fictitious 19th century syndrome with present impact. Leave Wormwood Essential Oil & return to Essential Oils Directory page.
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