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Chenopodium ambrosioides
Chenopodium ambrosioides
Traditional anthelmintic used throughout Mesoamerica and South America
How does Chenopodium ambrosioides kill intestinal parasites?
Chenopodium ambrosioides works primarily through ascaridole, a monoterpene peroxide that paralyzes intestinal worms by disrupting their neuromuscular function. This paralysis prevents the parasites from maintaining their position in the digestive tract, allowing them to be expelled naturally. Additional compounds like p-cymene and limonene may enhance this anthelmintic activity. The herb has been used traditionally throughout Mesoamerica and South America for this purpose. Evidence level: C (based on pharmacological studies and traditional use).
Is epazote safe to take during pregnancy?
No, Chenopodium ambrosioides is unsafe during pregnancy and is strongly contraindicated. The ascaridole content can stimulate uterine contractions and has been associated with miscarriage risk. Traditional use records indicate it was historically used to induce menstruation. Pregnant women, those attempting to conceive, and breastfeeding mothers should avoid both medicinal doses and concentrated forms of this herb. Evidence level: C (traditional contraindication supported by pharmacological evidence).
What is the recommended dosage of epazote tea for parasites?
Traditional adult dosage is one teaspoon of fresh herb steeped in one cup of hot water, taken twice daily for short-term use only, typically 2-3 days maximum. Extended use is not recommended due to potential neurotoxicity. Dried herb preparations may require slightly higher amounts. This herb should never be given to children under two years of age. Evidence level: C (traditional use guidelines).
Does epazote interact with any medications?
Limited clinical data exists on drug interactions for Chenopodium ambrosioides. However, due to ascaridole's potential hepatotoxicity, caution is warranted when combining with liver-metabolized medications or other hepatotoxic substances. The herb may theoretically interact with anticoagulants due to effects on bleeding parameters. Patients taking prescription medications should consult a qualified healthcare provider before use. Evidence level: C (theoretical interactions based on constituent analysis).
What are the side effects of Chenopodium ambrosioides?
At recommended doses, mild nausea may occur. However, high doses or concentrated essential oil can cause serious neurotoxicity, including dizziness, seizures, and in severe cases, death. Liver toxicity has been documented from essential oil use. The therapeutic window between effective and toxic doses is narrow. Contraindications include pregnancy, children under two, and kidney disease. The whole herb tea is safer than isolated essential oil preparations. Evidence level: C (case reports and traditional knowledge).
What is epazote used for in herbal medicine?
Chenopodium ambrosioides, known as epazote or wormseed, is primarily used as an anthelmintic to expel intestinal parasites including roundworms and hookworms. It also serves as a digestive aid and carminative to reduce flatulence, which explains its culinary use with beans. Throughout Latin America, it has been used for centuries both as medicine and as a cooking herb. Evidence level: C (well-documented traditional use with limited clinical trials).
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Chenopodium ambrosioides (also known as epazote or Dysphania ambrosioides) is a medicinal plant native to the Americas used traditionally for its anthelmintic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties [PMID:40647909, PMID:38883026, PMID:34299918].
Background
Chenopodium ambrosioides is a perennial herb from the tropics of the Americas, belonging to the Chenopodiaceae family [PMID:40828868, PMID:38883026]. It is utilized as a dietary condiment and in traditional medicine [PMID:34299918, PMID:40828868].
Traditional uses
Historically employed in traditional Latin American medicine for treating headaches, abdominal discomfort, joint issues, respiratory disorders, lice, and warts [PMID:40647909, PMID:38947765]. It is also used as an anthelmintic for intestinal worms [PMID:3906906], as well as an emmenagogue and abortifacient in Spanish and Mexican populations of New Mexico [PMID:232204].
Active compounds
Bioactive components include ascaridol (a terpene and endoperoxidase) [PMID:3906906, PMID:2217117], kaempferitrin [PMID:38850960], polyol monoterpenes [PMID:28399680], and various phenolic compounds, alcohols, acids, terpenes, and steroids [PMID:39569936]. Other identified compounds include carvacrol, phytol, squalene, and vitamin E [PMID:30502468].
Mechanism of action
Kaempferitrin may target specific pathways against liver cancer [PMID:38850960]. The plant's essential oil can induce apoptosis in human liver cell line L02 via the endogenous mitochondrial pathway [PMID:34299918]. Leaf extracts have demonstrated endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effects on the rat aorta, which are inhibited by atropine and tetraethylammonium [PMID:30738772].
Clinical evidence
Evidence BAscariasis
Decoctions containing up to 300 mg of dry plant material per kg body weight were traditionally used and regarded as effective, though doses up to 6000 mg/kg of powdered plant showed no significant effect on adults of Necator, Trichuris, or Ascaris in specific field trials [PMID:3906906]
Evidence DBone Loss (Osteoporosis/Periodontitis)
Extracts demonstrated bone protective effects in rat models of periodontitis [PMID:38544779] and prevented bone loss in ovariectomized rats, resulting in significantly larger cortical bone [PMID:26735052].
Evidence DMalaria (Plasmodium falciparum)
Ascaridole is a potent inhibitor of plasmodial growth in vitro [PMID:2217117], and crude hydroalcoholic leaf extract showed plasmodicidal potential in P. falciparum cultures and BALB/c mice [PMID:27492200].
Evidence BBone Repair
A double-blind randomized study in rats indicated that an aqueous extract influenced the bone repair process [PMID:28742256].
Safety & adverse effects
The plant can cause serious or fatal intoxications, particularly in infants and children, leading to neurological, digestive, hepatic, or renal complications [PMID:38883026]. A fatal case was reported in a four-year-old girl following high-dose infusions for fever [PMID:38883026]. Essential oils have shown cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction in human normal liver cells (L02) in vitro [PMID:34299918].
Pregnancy & lactation
Used traditionally as emmenagogues and abortifacients by Spanish and Mexican descendants in New Mexico [PMID:232204].
Evidence summary
Evidence is primarily based on preclinical animal models (rats, mice, fish) and in vitro studies, with limited historical clinical field trial data. Most findings are supportive of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities, but safety concerns regarding toxicity in children are significant.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 38850960 (2024) — Potential anti-liver cancer targets and mechanisms of kaempferitrin based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification. · Computers in biology and medicine
2.PMID: 32442827 (2020) — Oxidative stability in raw, cooked, and frozen ground beef using Epazote (Chenopodium ambrosioides L.). · Meat science
3.PMID: 40647909 (2025) — Essential Oils and Extracts from Epazote (Dysphania ambrosioides): A Phytochemical Treasure with Multiple Applications. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4.PMID: 28399680 (2017) — Polyol monoterpenes isolated from Chenopodium ambrosioides. · Natural product research
5.PMID: 232204 (1979) — Plants used as abortifacients and emmenagogues by Spanish New Mexicans. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 38544779 (2024) — Chenopodium Ambrosioides Linn Mitigates Bone Loss in Rats with Periodontitis. · Journal of dentistry (Shiraz, Iran)
7.PMID: 38947765 (2024) — Comprehensive phytochemical and toxicological analysis of Chenopodium ambrosioides (L.) fractions. · Open life sciences
8.PMID: 40828868 (2025) — A chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation of the tetraploid herb "epazote" (Dysphania ambrosioides). · G3 (Bethesda, Md.)
9.PMID: 35890019 (2022) — In Vitro Analysis of Extracts of Plant Used in Mexican Traditional Medicine, Which Are Useful to Combat Clostridioides difficile Infection. · Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
10.PMID: 34299918 (2021) — Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis Induced by Chenopodium ambrosioides L. Essential Oil in Human Normal Liver Cell Line L02 via the Endogenous Mitochondrial Pathway Rather Than the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress. · International journal of environmental research and public health
11.PMID: 30738772 (2019) — Chenopodium ambrosioides induces an endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat isolated aorta. · Journal of integrative medicine
12.PMID: 38883026 (2024) — A Fatal Case Report of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (M'khinza) Intoxication. · Cureus
13.PMID: 38139971 (2023) — Generation of PVP Membranes Using Extracts/Phenolic Fraction of Dysphania ambrosioides, Opuntia ficus-indica, and Tradescantia pallida. · Polymers
14.PMID: 39569936 (2024) — Chemical Composition and Analgesic and Antidiabetic Activity of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. · Cell biochemistry and function
15.PMID: 24779135 (2013) — Microwave-assisted extraction of essential oils from herbs. · The Journal of microwave power and electromagnetic energy : a publication of the International Microwave Power Institute
16.PMID: 26735052 (2015) — Chenopodium ambrosioides L. extract prevents bone loss. · Acta cirurgica brasileira
17.PMID: 28742256 (2017) — Effect of Chenopodium ambrosioides on the healing process of the in vivo bone tissue. · Microscopy research and technique
18.PMID: 32741424 (2020) — Effect of essential oils on Leishmania amazonensis: a systematic review. · Parasitology
19.PMID: 33513904 (2021) — Plant Extracts Obtained with Green Solvents as Natural Antioxidants in Fresh Meat Products. · Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
20.PMID: 3906906 (1985) — Studies on the traditional herbal anthelmintic Chenopodium ambrosioides L.: ethnopharmacological evaluation and clinical field trials. · Social science & medicine (1982)
21.PMID: 37442049 (2023) — Transcriptomic, epigenomic and physiological comparisons reveal key factors for different manganese tolerances in three Chenopodium ambrosioides L. populations. · Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
22.PMID: 27492200 (2016) — Antimalarial potential of leaves of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. · Parasitology research
23.PMID: 2217117 (1990) — The effect of ascaridole on the in vitro development of Plasmodium falciparum. · Parasitology research
24.PMID: 30727408 (2012) — First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Erysiphe betae on the Invasive Weed Dysphania ambrosioides in Korea. · Plant disease
25.PMID: 18679750 (2008) — Composition and antifungal activity of the essential oil of the Brazilian Chenopodium ambrosioides L. · Journal of chemical ecology
26.PMID: 30502468 (2019) — Antioxidant, intestinal immune status and anti-inflammatory potential of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. in fish: In vitro and in vivo studies. · Fish & shellfish immunology