Wormwood Study & Crohn's

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Someone was kind enough to post this for me on the Lymenet forum.

Dan Bergman

1: Phytomedicine. 2007 Feb;14(2-3):87-95.

Steroid-sparing effect of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) in Crohn's disease: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.


Omer B, Krebs S, Omer H, Noor TO.
Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.

In this double-blind study carried out at five sites in Germany, 40 patients suffering from Crohn's disease receiving a stable daily dose of steroids at an equivalent of 40 mg or less of prednisone for at least 3 weeks were administered a herbal blend containing wormwood herb (3 x 500 mg/day) or a placebo for 10 weeks. Besides steroids, 5-aminosalicylates, if dose remained constant for at least 4 weeks prior to entering the trial and/or azathioprine, stable dose for at least 8 weeks, or methotrexate, stable dose for at least 6 weeks, were permitted as concomitant medications. The recruited 40 patients - 20 in each treatment group, were evaluated with the help of a Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) questionnaire, an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), the 21-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and an 8-item Visual Analogue Scale (VA-Scale) in 2-week intervals during the first 10 study weeks, and then at week 12, 16 and 20, which were the trial-medication free observation periods.

The initial stable dose of steroids was maintained until week 2, after that a defined tapering schedule was started so that at the start of week 10 all the patients were free of steroids.


At the end of week 10 the trial medication was also discontinued. The concomitant medications were maintained at the same dose levels till the end of the observation period that was the end of week 20.


There was a steady improvement in CD symptoms in 18 patients (90%) who received wormwood in spite of tapering of steroids as shown by CDA-Index, IBDQ, HAMD, and VAS.


After 8 weeks of treatment with wormwood there was almost complete remission of symptoms in 13 (65%) patients in this group as compared to none in the placebo group. This remission persisted till the end of the observation period that was week 20, and the addition of steroids was not necessary.


In two (10%) patients did the re-starting of corticoids become necessary? On the other hand, the CD conditions of the patients who received the placebo deteriorated after the tapering of steroids, and re-starting steroids became necessary in 16 (80%) patients in this group after week 10.


These results strongly suggest that wormwood has a steroid sparing effect. The improvements in HAMD scores indicate that wormwood also has an effect on the mood and quality of life of CD patients, which is not achieved by other standard medications.

PMID: 17240130
 
So, all I want for Christmas is some wormwood seeds. Hey, wasn't there a song about the wormwood flower? Or was that the wildwood weed by Jim Stafford?
 
Thats awesome. Thanks so much for sharing. I'm about to fly to Germany right now at 1 am to get some wormwood.
 
Actually, wormwood is spread thruoughout North America. grows wild, and lists as a common, noxious weed. Was originally thought to be a hallucigenic AND very addictive. One of the reasons behind them banning absinthe in america. I understand that 'they' have changed their opinion on it, at least one can buy a bottle of absinthe in Canada now from liquor store. I don't know how much, if any, wormwood it contains anymore. wouldn't it be ironic that we 'crohnies', who are typically told to avoid alcohol, could be 'cured' by regularly drinking some instead. I guess one could go the 'safer' route, buy it (wormwood) from a nutrition centre. But, how does one figure the dosage? BTW, seems like I forgot what little manners my grandma taught me. thanks for sharing the info. Very interesting!
 
I know zero about wormwood so make sure you do some in depth research about it before using it. I am just going to file it under my "for future reference" file.

If I am remembering correctly, wormwood is used sometimes for killing parasites in the intestinal tract, so I am guessing it is some potent stuff. One to be careful with.

Dan Bergman
 
Well, I believe the term wormwood stems from it's early use to treat worms (or to kill worms in folks).. and that too much could turn you into worm food. As for the absinthe, apparently in this part of the world, it can be bought at any liquor store. I just may buy a bottle, and try taking a wee dram every now and then.
(oh, the sacrifices one must make in the course of scientific advancement, sigh)
 
THough i dont think the absinthe you can buy in shops has any wormwood in it any more. Seeing as the wormwood was the active halucingen in it. The original lsd was based on chemicals found in worm wood seeds.
THis was pointless knowledge 436.
 
I wouldn't be so quick to judge. I think it would be better if every member here who is of legal drinking age acquired some absinthe, and we put it to a test. A nice uncontrolled experiment. figure, even if it dont' work, we'll all feel better.
 
Absinthe Expensive but I'd still be tempted. Looking around, it looks like most still have the wormwood extract (and one place has a real expensive bottle that actually has a piece of wormwood in the bottle) and they just make sure people know the risks when they buy it. Still, I'm sure it's illegal to get in some places...no doubt where I live. :/

But I find it amusing what they say in their FAQs about it:

"In the US, thujone is still banned, but as a food rather than a drug. You aren't allowed to distill or commercially make absinthe, but you can legally own a bottle and even make your own as long as it isn't distilled. And don't worry; we don't think the Feds will shoot a stun grenade through your window for placing a little online order."
 
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