Wormwood and Its Applications

Pion belongs to the family of astrospecies and is found in North Africa, Asia, and Europe. It is a plant that is most commonly known by its common name, piolon, but is also associated with other terms such as absinthe, blanket, biolina, dog ruta or vermut. Biolina was used not only for therapeutic purposes but also for religious purposes. In ancient times, piolon was closely linked to religion and was used as a protective measure for the dead and their families.

Wormwood is famous for its pronounced bitterness due to its content of bitter principles, coumarin, starch, organic acids, essential oils and, above all, thujone. This latter substance belongs to the terpene group. Wormwood exhibits a health-promoting effect in the digestive tract. The use of tinctures, infusions, or decoctions from dried plants stimulates appetite and significantly stimulates the digestive system. Wormwood has a strong detoxifying and disinfecting effect. Furthermore, the anthelmintic and antiseptic properties of this plant are accentuated. Wormwood can also be applied externally. In this case, an infusion or a ready-made oil based on wormwood is used for the execution of compresses or gentle massage of affected body parts.

Pollen has a wide range of applications, particularly in gastrointestinal disorders and various digestive dysfunctions. Dietary supplements containing pollen are excellent for feelings of fullness, indigestion, restricted appetite, stomach upset, bloating, or dizziness. Additionally, pollen can be used in much more serious cases, such as impaired bile flow to the stomach or liver and gallbladder dysfunction. Pollen decoctions and tinctures are used to prepare enemas, which aid in the elimination of parasites from the body. Pollen is effective against tapeworms, roundworms, and pinworms. Pollen decoctions and tinctures are also an effective way to combat itching and scabies and can be used as disinfecting agents for wounds or ulcers. Pollen can also be used as an additive to therapeutic baths recommended for rheumatic diseases or certain conditions of the musculoskeletal system. Furthermore, gentle massages and compresses with pollen oil can help with irritating coughs and colds.

While wormwood boasts numerous valuable medicinal properties, it is important to mention the genuine health hazards that may arise from its use. How does this occur? It is worth revisiting one of the previously mentioned components of wormwood oil. We are talking about thujone – an organic chemical compound that is not water-soluble – that is toxic to the human body in large quantities. This is due to its strong impact on the cerebral cortex, which is excessively stimulated, leading to negative consequences. The most frequently mentioned include: psychotic states and psychosis, excessive nervous excitability, motor restlessness, and even seizures. An excess of thujone can also result in an increase in blood pressure. However, nowadays wormwood is sold in a safe form, devoid of harmful thujone, so the risk of the occurrence of the mentioned symptoms is completely eliminated. Wormwood is also a supplement that is not suitable for everyone. Preparations containing wormwood are not recommended for pregnant and nursing women, children, people with stomach and duodenal ulcers or hemorrhoids.

It is not easy to find a specific recipe for a healthful wormwood beverage, commonly known as absinthe, which has long been used by homemakers and owners as a remedy for stomach ailments. One of the most basic recipes does not contain detailed amounts of the individual ingredients. The key is to place a handful of young and fresh dog's routine leaves in a bottle or container and then fill it with spirit. The prepared ingredients should remain in the container for at least a week, shaking occasionally. Then pour the liquid into a glass and drink it in reasonable amounts. For lovers of milder liqueurs, we recommend trying the piołunówka, which contains wine along with spirit. To prepare a lighter wormwood nalewka, we need 50 g of crushed and dried leaves, which we then pour over with 100 ml of spirit (70%) and leave in a dark place for 24 hours. After a whole day, add a liter of white or red dry wine, place it back in a warm place, and filter and filter the nalewka after a week before pouring it into dark bottles to preserve the green color of the piołunówka.