Herbals: Parasites

Artemisia Absinthium - Wormwood

Habitat and Cultivation: Native to Eurasia and North Africa, grows in wet places and rocky screes, frost tender and does not survive prolonged drought.

Parts Used: Leaves and flowering tops

Phytochemistry: essential oil, sesquiterpene lactones, terpenoids, triterpenoids, flavonoid glycosides, hydroxycoumarins, polyacetylenes, tannins, resins, choline and organic acids.

Nutritional Content: Vitamins- B complex and C. Mineral- manganese, calcium, sodium, potassium and silicon

Actions: antihelmintic, bitter tonic, ant parasitic, anti-inflammatory, stomachic, choleretic, antimicrobial

Indications: malabsorption, parasites, gastric complaints, flatulence, indigestion, bile dysfunction, nausea, worm infestation.

Contraindications: Pregnancy and lactation, hyperacidity, Short term use only and not in excessive doses.

Herb/Drug Interactions: Anti-seizure medications (please speak to your practitioner) Some medications used to prevent seizures include phenobarbital, primidone (Mysoline), valproic acid (Depakene), gabapentin (Neurontin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and others.

Euphorbia Hirta - Euphorbia

Habitat and Cultivation: Native to several tropical countries, India and North Australia. It is widespread and troublesome weed of crop lands and open disturbed wastelands.

Parts Used: Harvested during flowering

Phytochemistry: Flavanoids, triterpenes, sterols, polyphenols, shikimic, hentriacontane and melissic acid, choline, small quantity of alkaloids.

Nutritional Content: Vitamins- C. Mineral- Calcium, copper and iron.

Actions: expectorant, antiprotozoal, spasmolytic, anthelmintic, anti-asthmatic, antispasmodic, bronchodilator, expectorant

Indications: intestinal worms, bowel disorders, spasms, viral fever, URTI, Amoebiasis

Contraindications: caution in pregnancy and lactation

Herb/Drug Interactions: No Known

Juglans Nigra - Black Walnut Hulls

Habitat and Cultivation: native to eastern and north America and Europe. Grows in rich woodlands, often planted for timber

Parts Used: leaves bark and fruit husks.

Phytochemistry: naphthoquinones, tannins, ellagic acid, volatile oils, flavonoids.

Nutritional Content: Vitamins: B12, Minerals: manganese, magnesium, silica, calcium, phosphorus, iron and potassium

Actions: antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-parasitic, laxative, alterative, vermifuge, antihelmintic, cholagogue

Indications: parasites infection, viral infections, fungal infections, eczema, ulcers, worm infestation

Contraindications: Pregnancy and lactation

Herb/Drug Interactions: Due to the high tannin content take away (2 hours) from other oral medications

Berberis Vulgaris - Barberry

Habitat and Cultivation: originally from Europe, barberry was introduced to other countries to provide stock proof hedges. Best planted as a hedge, more berries are produced in poor conditions, frost resistant, drought tender.

Parts Used: the root, bark and stem are used in western herbal medicine, and the berries and leaves are used in various countries.

Phytochemistry: alkaloids, chelidonic acid, tannins, wax, resins

Actions: antimicrobial, cholagogue, choleretic, mild laxative, bitter tonic, anti-parasitic, anthelmintic

Indications: peptic ulcer, parasites, gallbladder inflammation, intestinal dyspepsia, digestive dysfunction (bile production and release), haemorrhoids, enlarged liver. Bacterial/ viral overgrowth, reduces parasitic/bacterial enterotoxins

Contraindications: Pregnancy and lactation

Herb/Drug Interactions: Drugs which displace the protein binding of bilirubin.

Artemisia Annua - Qing Hao

Habitat and Cultivation: Artemisia annua is an annual herb native in Asia, especially in China. The name of the plant is qinghao. Naturally the plant is pollinated by insects and by the wind

Parts Used: The dried aerial parts collected before the flowers are in full bloom without the lignified stem

Phytochemistry: sesquiterpenes, lactone, essential oils, flavanoids

Actions: anti-parasitic, digestive, bitter tonic, antiviral, antibacterial, antimalarial

Indications: increase bile flow, parasites, bacterial infections, viral infections, Biofilm disrupter, malaria

Contraindications: Pregnancy and Lactation