Wormwood: Discover How This Herb Is Offering Hope In The Fight Against Alzheimers

Over 100 years ago, a strong alcoholic drink called absinthe was extremely popular among French intellectuals and artists. Many believed that the drinks stimulant properties helped boost creativity.

However, this attribute is questionable given that the drink can cause memory and behavioural problems when drunk in large amounts it is rumoured that Vincent van Goghs fondness for absinthe may have contributed to the loss of his ear and eventual death. It is far more likely that any brain-boosting benefits were a direct result of a herb called wormwood (artemisia absinthium) an ingredient that was commonly added to flavour the drink.

Wormwood is renowned for its distinct bitter taste, which is why the ancient Romans gave it the name absinthium derived from the word absinthial, meaning bitter. It seems fitting, given the herbs brain-boosting properties, that some people believe that the name wormwood comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word wermode meaning mind preserver.

The plant is a rich source of essential oils including azulenes, sesquiterpene lactones and absinthin which are largely responsible for its memory-boosting benefits, in addition to its ability to alleviate muscle pain and inflammation. It also has strong antiseptic properties.

Recently, researchers have uncovered additional beneficial chemicals present in the leaves and stem of the plant, such as cineole, chamazulene, nuciferol, and caryophyllene. They have been found to have therapeutic actions including an ability to help fight fungal infections, like thrush and ringworm. They also act as powerful antioxidants that can assist in the elimination of harmful toxins from the body (J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Mar 9;53(5):1408-1416).

How wormwood could help your brain stay sharper for longer

It is mainly wormwoods memory-boosting properties and ability to enhance learning that has been the focus of the majority of research involving the plant.

In 2000, UK researchers from the Medicinal Plant Research Centre, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, conducted a study to evaluate whether there was indeed any basis to these claims.

The researchers took wormwood extracts and mixed them with human brain cells. They found that the extracts were able to bind to the outside membrane of certain brain cells responsible for memory and learning (J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Feb;69(2):105-14).

This finding is important because it shows that wormwood has the ability to identify and home in on those brain cells that are involved in memory. It then stimulates these cells to function at peak capacity, which improves memory.

Helps prevent your brain cells from being destroyed or damaged

In another study, scientists from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, in Japan, studied over 20 medicinal plants (including wormwood and other herbs like ginseng and damiana) for their ability to stimulate the brain and in particular nerve growth factors.

Normally, your brain cells need the help of special chemicals called nerve growth factors in order to grow and develop. Without these your brain cells are doomed to malfunction and die. So, it is important that there are enough of these beneficial chemicals present in your body.

When the Japanese researchers studied the plants they found that wormwood extract in particular was able to stimulate the bodys own production of nerve growth factors thereby encouraging normal brain cell function.

Based on these findings, the researchers claim that wormwood extract may be useful in fighting serious age-related brain disorders like Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease (Li Y, Ohizumi Y. Yakugaku Zasshi. 2004 Jul;124(7):417-24).

Wormwood boosts levels of a brain chemical that is often deficient in Alzheimers sufferers

The Japanese researchers claim is supported by new research findings released only a few weeks ago, which suggest that wormwood may indeed have a beneficial action on serious age-related brain disorders like Alzheimers.

Danish scientists from the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, in Copenhagen, reported that wormwood extract has the ability to stimulate a specific brain chemical.

In patients with Alzheimers disease, a chemical called GABA becomes deficient and this has been found to contribute to memory loss, which is characteristic of the disease. But extracts of wormwood have the ability to boost the production of GABA in the brain and so have an overall positive effect on memory (Ethnopharmacol. 2005;97(1):145-9).

Wormwoods beneficial actions arent confined to your brain alone

• Antibacterial - Recently scientists have discovered that wormwood has a strong action against common infectious bacteria (Biomed Environ Sci. 2004 Dec;17(4):492-8). For example, it has been found to help fight an infectious bacterium called Helicobacter pylori, which is implicated in causing stomach ulcers (FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2005 Feb 1;43(2):295-300).

  This is good news, as doctors routinely treat stomach ulcers with antibiotics, which arent always effective against Helicobacter pylori. Plus they can cause unpleasant side-effects such as thrush, nausea and diarrhoea.

• Immunity. Normally, your immune system is kept in peak condition by your thymus gland, which is located in your upper chest. However, ageing causes the thymus gland to wither.

  Fortunately, wormwood is able to stimulate your thymus gland and prevent it from deteriorating (Biotechnol Lett. 2005 Feb;27(4):253-7). This encourages your immune system to work at peak capacity and reduces your risk of becoming ill.

What to take for best results

The recommended dosage for wormwood is two capsules taken three times a day after meals, or as otherwise directed on the product label.

Contraindications: Wormwood can cause mild stomach upset but this is extremely unusual when it is taken at the recommended dose. There are no known contraindications, although it should not be taken during pregnancy.