Chenopodium ambrosioides

Chenopodium ambrosioides
Family:Chenopodium ambrosioides; Analgesic; Antiasthmatic; Antifungal; Carminative; Stomachic; Vermifuge.
Common name:Mexican Tea
Mexican tea is a Central American herb that has been used for centuries to expel parasitic worms from the body. The whole plant is analgesic antiasthmatic carminative stomachic and vermifuge. An infusion can be used as a digestive remedy being taken to settle a wide range of problems such colic and stomach pains. Externally it has been used as a wash for haemorrhoids as a poultice to detoxify snake bites and other poisons and is thought to have wound-healing properties. Use with caution and preferably under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. This remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women. See also the notes above on toxicity. Until fairly recently this was one of the most commonly used vermifuges though it has now been largely replaced by synthetic drugs. The seed or an essential oil expressed from the seed was used. It is very effective against most parasites including the amoeba that causes dysentery but is less effective against tapeworm. Fasting should not precede its use and there have occasionally been cases of poisoning caused by this treatment. The oil is used externally to treat athlete's foot and insect bites. One report says that it is an essential oil that is utilised. This is obtained from the seed or the flowering stems it is at its highest concentration in the flowering stems before seed is set these contain around 0.7% essential oil of which almost 50% is the active vermifuge ascaridol. The essential oil is of similar quality from plants cultivated in warm climates and those in cool climates. The leaves are added in small quantities as a flavouring for various cooked bean dishes because their carminative activity can reduce flatulence.

Herbal Database

01.01.2005 02:12 []