Silver Wormwood (Artemisia ludoviciana): Benefits, Dosage, Safety & Evidence

Frequently asked questions

How does Silver Wormwood work medicinally?

Silver Wormwood contains active compounds including camphor, cineole, and thujone that contribute to its antimicrobial properties. The essential oils, particularly cineole, have demonstrated antimicrobial activity against various pathogens. Thujone and artabsin provide bitter principles that may stimulate digestive secretions, while flavonoids offer antioxidant effects. The combination of these compounds produces the herb's traditional therapeutic actions. Evidence Level: B for mechanistic understanding based on constituent analysis.

Does Silver Wormwood interact with any medications?

Silver Wormwood may interact with anticonvulsant medications due to its thujone content, which can lower seizure threshold. It should not be combined with medications that affect GABA receptors or CNS depressants. The herb may interact with drugs metabolized by liver enzymes. Individuals taking blood thinners should exercise caution. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before combining Silver Wormwood with prescription medications. Evidence Level: C for theoretical interactions based on constituent properties.

What is the recommended dosage for Silver Wormwood tea?

The typical adult dosage for Silver Wormwood is 1-2 grams of dried herb prepared as a tea. Steep the dried herb in hot water for 10-15 minutes before straining. Due to thujone content, use should be limited to short durations, typically not exceeding 2-3 weeks of continuous use. Higher doses or prolonged use increase toxicity risk. Evidence Level: B for traditional dosage recommendations.

Is Silver Wormwood safe to take during pregnancy?

Silver Wormwood is unsafe during pregnancy and should be strictly avoided. The thujone content can stimulate uterine contractions and potentially cause miscarriage or fetal harm. Breastfeeding women should also avoid this herb, as thujone passes into breast milk. Women of childbearing age should use reliable contraception if taking this herb medicinally. Evidence Level: B for contraindication during pregnancy based on documented thujone toxicity.

What are the traditional uses of Silver Wormwood?

Silver Wormwood has been used traditionally by numerous Native American tribes including the Cheyenne, Navajo, and Cherokee for ceremonial and medicinal purposes. The Cheyenne use it as a purification sage in ceremonies, while the Navajo employ it medicinally for various ailments. Common traditional applications include smudging ceremonies for spiritual cleansing, treating digestive complaints, addressing respiratory conditions, and topical wound care. Evidence Level: Traditional use supported by ethnobotanical documentation.

Can people with epilepsy use Silver Wormwood safely?

People with epilepsy should not use Silver Wormwood. The thujone content can lower seizure threshold and potentially trigger seizures in susceptible individuals. This contraindication applies to all forms of the herb, including teas, tinctures, and ceremonial smudging when inhaled. Those with a history of seizure disorders or neurological conditions should avoid this herb entirely. Evidence Level: B for contraindication based on documented thujone neurotoxicity.

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

Artemisia ludoviciana, also known as silver wormwood or estafiate, is an aromatic medicinal plant used in traditional Mexican medicine for various therapeutic purposes [PMID:42104246, PMID:24892833].

Background

Artemisia ludoviciana is an aromatic plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, found in regions including Mexico and the Owyhee Mountains of Idaho [PMID:42104246, PMID:38543021].

Traditional uses

In Mexican traditional medicine, it is used to treat tuberculosis [PMID:35395382], diabetes [PMID:42104246, PMID:24892833], gastrointestinal disorders including diarrhea, dysentery, abdominal pain, vomiting, and stomach ache [PMID:26792321, PMID:22155473], as well as painful complaints [PMID:26792321] and intermittent fever [PMID:9419840].

Active compounds

Bioactive compounds include monoterpenoids (such as camphor and 1,8-cineole), sesquiterpenes (including davanone), flavonoids (such as eupatilin), phenolic compounds (including caffeoylquinic acids like chlorogenic acid and neochlorogenic acid), and tannins [PMID:42104246, PMID:38543021, PMID:34573037, PMID:18417176, PMID:34203927, PMID:41304599, PMID:41113574].

Mechanism of action

The plant's essential oil exhibits antinociceptive effects in animal models [PMID:26792321]. Extracts have demonstrated the ability to inhibit the reproduction of Plasmodium yoelii yoelii [PMID:9419840] and induce relaxant effects on isolated rat trachea and aorta [PMID:22155473].

Clinical evidence

Evidence DPain (Antinociception)

Essential oil decreased first and second phases of the formalin test in mice (ED50=25.9mg/kg) [PMID:26792321]

Evidence DDiabetes (Hypoglycemia)

Preclinical efficacy as a hypoglycemic/antihyperglycemic agent was evaluated using animal models [PMID:24892833]

Evidence DHelicobacter pylori

Aqueous extract showed in vitro anti-H. pylori activity (MIC = 250 μg/mL); isolated components estafiatin and eupatilin also exhibited activity [PMID:34203927]

Evidence DFasciola hepatica (Parasitism)

Ethyl acetate extracts showed high fasciolicidal efficiency (82-100%) in adult specimens and significant ovicidal activity [PMID:39453590, PMID:38148378, PMID:32835931]

Evidence DMalaria

Ethanolic extract inhibited parasite reproduction by up to 98.6% in a rodent model (P. yoelii yoelii) [PMID:9419840]

Evidence DProtozoal infections

Safety & adverse effects

No acute toxicity was induced in mice by the aqueous extract used for H. pylori studies [PMID:34203927].

Evidence summary

The current evidence is based entirely on preclinical studies, including in vitro assays and animal models (Level D). There are no human clinical trials or systematic reviews provided.

PubMed sources

1.PMID: 16400884 (2005) — Prairie sage, Artemisia ludoviciana. · Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology
2.PMID: 35395382 (2022) — Antimycobacterial, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities of Artemisialudoviciana. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
3.PMID: 34573037 (2021) — Antioxidant and Mitochondria-Targeted Activity of Caffeoylquinic-Acid-Rich Fractions of Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) and Silver Wormwood (Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.). · Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
4.PMID: 26792321 (2016) — Antinociceptive activity of the essential oil from Artemisia ludoviciana. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
5.PMID: 38543021 (2024) — The Essential Oil Compositions of Ambrosia acanthicarpa Hook., Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt., and Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby (Asteraceae) from the Owyhee Mountains of Idaho.

Silver Wormwood

Sources & Citations

Calculate a safe dose of Silver Wormwood

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Frequently asked questions

Summary

Background

Traditional uses

Active compounds

Mechanism of action

Clinical evidence

Safety & adverse effects

Evidence summary

PubMed sources

Government sources

Silver Wormwood

Sources & Citations

Calculate a safe dose of Silver Wormwood

Related Herbs

Waltheria Indica

Pot Marjoram

Trailing Arbutus

Frequently asked questions

Summary

Background

Traditional uses

Active compounds

Mechanism of action

Clinical evidence

Safety & adverse effects

Evidence summary

PubMed sources

Government sources