to ensure that it will last as a travelling companion for a long time. Taken too strong and too often it will irritate the stomach and dangerously increase the action of the heart and arteries. Dose: I teaspoonful of the tops and leaves, cut small or granulated, to 1 cupful of boiling water; take in wineglassful amounts three or four times a day. Of the tincture, 5 – 30 drops three or four times a day, according to age and condition. Of the powder, 3 – 4 grains twice a day. Externally: The oil of Wormwood is an effective ingredient in liniment for sprains, bruises, lumbago, etc. Fomentations from the hot tea is excellent for application to rheumatism, swellings, sprains and local inflammations. Homoeopathic Clinical: Tincture of fresh root— Catalepsy, Chorea, Convulsions, Epilepsy, Hydrocephalus, Hysteria, Somnambulism, Worms. Russian Experience: Wormwood, known in Russia as Polin, is considered the most bitter plant in the world; 10,000 parts water to 1 part Wormwood will still have a bitter taste. It used to be thought that the bitter taste of Wormwood was supposedly due to the plant’ s absorption of bitter human sufferings and dissolution of mankind, therefore its properties would drive sickness from the body and restore peace and calmness to the soul( Similia Similibus Curantur). In the eighteenth century a toast to joy, happiness and pleasure was accompanied by a drop of Wormwood in a cup.
It is written by the most ancient that Wormwood had many healing properties. Today all we can do is to confirm this belief by our scientific, sophisticated ways, and tell you it contains absentine and anabsentin, Vitamin C and Volatile oil. Lonicerius wrote:“ The herb, leaves and flowers added to food and beverage is useful for the stomach, promotes bile, warms the body and expels poison.” Folk Medicine use the medicine straight or in compound with Sage, Mint, Sunflower leaves, etc., depending on conditions being treated. Nastoika( with vodka), tea, decoctions for indigestion, appetiser, gastritis, stomach ulcers, dysentery, TB of the lungs, liver and spleen conditions, kidney and bladder, headache, purifying poisoned blood, fever, bleeding etc. Decoction of 1 teaspoonful to 1 cupful of water, steeped and cooled, used as an enema, will kill intestinal worms. Externally: Many centuries ago Pliny wrote:“ If pedestrians keep some Wormwood on his body, especially the feet, he will not be tired.” Russians in the seventeenth century used the juice for wounds and foul ulcers.( Vishaya Schkolla, Moscow, 1963). Can be used as compresses and poultices for bruises, injuries or insect bites. Green bruised leaves for corns. Flowers and leaves scattered on the floor and furniture will discourage unwanted house insects( Bello-Russ. Academy of Science, Minsk, 1965). Clinically: Extract for spasm, bronchial asthma, rheumatism, eczema, burns( X-ray or otherwise)( Atlas, Moscow, 1963). India and Pakistan: Called Afsantin or Vilayati Afsantin, the plant is used much as in the U. S. A. and Russia. They use the whole herb but prefer the leaves, and consider the fresh plant more effective than the dried. As tonic, aromatic, anthelmintic. Uses: It is praised highly for round and tape worms; powder, from 10 – 60 grains. Small doses are used for dispersing the yellow bile of jaundice from the skin, and for liver and spleen conditions. A tonic for the stomach, digestive system, anaemia, female complaints, amenorrhoea, general debility, wasting diseases. A decoction as an enema for intestinal worms, which will kill them instantly. The oil is anthelmintic and they mix it with Olive oil, 1:8 proportion, and give it in 50 – 100 gram doses.