Herb Profile

Artemisia Absinthium

Artemisia absinthium

Artemisia Absinthium (Artemisia absinthium) carries a Grade C rating — limited evidence.

Last reviewed: 3 sources citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·C Limited

Use extra caution Thujone containing wormwood can cause seizures/neurotoxicity at high doses; avoid in pregnancy, breastfeeding, seizure disorders, children, and with alcohol, sedatives, or other CNS active drugs. Details

Evidence
Limited Evidence
Typical onset
Varies by prep
Safety rating
High caution
Best for
Sleep, Cognitive function, Inflammatory signaling
Avoid / review if
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Without Clinician Supervision, Known Allergy To The Plant/Family, Seizure Disorder Or Sedative/Alcohol Use
Artemisia Absinthium monograph visual
Generated profile category visual

At a glance

From this profile's structured data
Evidence
Grade C
Safety
Thujone-containing wormwood can cause seizures/neurotoxicity at high doses; avoid in pregnancy, breastfeeding, seizure disorders, children, and with alcohol, sedatives, or other CNS-active drugs.
Profile context
sleep
Next steps

Continue reading

Safety

Safety & Cautions

Thujone containing wormwood can cause seizures/neurotoxicity at high doses; avoid in pregnancy, breastfeeding, seizure disorders, children, and with alcohol, sedatives, or other CNS active drugs.

High caution

Caution level: High. Multiple caution categories apply, or the record uses avoid/contraindication language.

  • Interaction-AwareMedication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding CautionPregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.
Detailed safety fields

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications

  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Without Clinician Supervision
  • Known Allergy To The Plant/Family
  • Seizure Disorder Or Sedative/Alcohol Use
  • Potential Interaction Concern With Sedatives/CNS Depressants
  • Use Clinician Review For High Dose Extracts Or Chronic Use.

Safety classifications

  • Interaction-Aware: Medication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution: Pregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.

Full safety note

  • Thujone containing wormwood can cause seizures/neurotoxicity at high doses; avoid in pregnancy, breastfeeding, seizure disorders, children, and with alcohol, sedatives, or other CNS active drugs.

Safety labels

  • Interaction-Aware
  • Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution

Evidence-based safety

Caution when combined

Severity and certainty are shown separately. A high-priority caution can still be theoretical: these pairings are screened from shared contraindication mechanisms and are not automatically documented clinical interactions. Provenance identifies the source fields that produced each flag; it does not upgrade the certainty of the pairwise claim.

Evidence

Evidence Summary

Evidence lens

Read as directional context, not settled clinical proof.

LimitedLimited Evidence

Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals

Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mappedInflammatory Signaling Modulation · Neurotransmitter Modulation

Research maturity: Emerging researchLong Term Human Evidence May Be Limited.

Safety boundary: Safety note availableThujone containing wormwood can cause seizures/neurotoxicity at high doses; avoid in pregnancy, breastfeeding, seizure disorders, children, and with alcohol, sedatives, or other CNS active drugs.

This profile cites 3 human studies.

Study design details
Evidence Grade

Grade C: Limited Evidence

Evaluation of methodological rigor, population reach, and evidence alignment.

Design Match
Meta-analysis
Risk of Bias
Low
Consistency
Not assessed
Strongest recorded design is a meta-analysis, drawn from 2 recorded studies, 1 in people.
How evidence grades work

Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.

Strong
Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
Moderate
Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
Preliminary / Mixed
Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
Traditional / Theoretical
Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (3)1 human evidence source · 0 human trials · Participant totals not consistently reported · Consistency not yet classifiable

Filter by study class

Showing 3 of 3 studies.

What the evidence actually shows

This table contains 3 structured sources, including 1 human evidence source; 0 are human trials. A reliable participant total cannot be calculated because sample size is not consistently structured in the cited sources. Source-to-conclusion relationships are not classified in this structured set, so consistency is not yet classifiable.

Profile-wide evidence grade: see the profile grade above · Confidence: not separately assigned

What would change our conclusion?

Larger, well-controlled human trials using comparable populations, doses, preparations, and clinically meaningful outcomes could materially strengthen or weaken this conclusion. Replication in a different population or a high-quality synthesis resolving current disagreement could also materially change confidence.

StudyDesignNDoseDurationPopulationOutcomeResult & magnitudeSource

Effects of Artemisia absinthium on broiler chicken coccidiosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Hezil N et al. · Avian Pathol · 2024

Background
Meta-analysis

Statistically combines results from multiple eligible studies; confidence still depends on the quality, consistency, and directness of those studies.

PubMed

Absinthe--a review

Lachenmeier DW et al. · Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr · 2006

Background
Narrative review

Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review.

PubMed

Species-Specific Plant-Derived Nanoparticle Characteristics

Viršilė A et al. · Plants (Basel) · 2022

Background
Other / unclear

The study design is not yet classified clearly enough to infer its place in the evidence hierarchy.

PubMed

Dosing & Timing

No standardized dose
Preparation specific; use standardized product label for Aromatic herb/spice forms and essential oils differ greatly and require source backed dosage review before therapeutic claims.
How Artemisia Absinthium works

Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.

Mechanism Pathway — How Artemisia Absinthium Works

How Artemisia Absinthium WorksArtemisia Absinthium acts on biological target pathways via anti inflammatory, leading to sleep quality.Artemisia AbsinthiumBiological TargetBiological pathwayAnti InflammatorySleep Quality ↑Onset + depthNeurotransmitterModulation
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & biological pathways

Preclinical pathways. Proposed mechanisms from in vitro and animal research; these do not confirm clinical outcomes in humans.

  • Inflammatory Signaling Modulation
  • Neurotransmitter Modulation

Active Compounds

Key constituents studied in Artemisia Absinthium, with full pharmacology and safety profiles.

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Explore botanicals with similar chemistry, effects, or safety considerations in the Botanical Activity Atlas.

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Compare & Sourcing

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Review available sources for Artemisia Absinthium

Independent database mapping — evaluated separately from safety and efficacy scores.

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Safety first · Harm reduction

This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.

Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.

Editorial Review

Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.

Editorial Standards →

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Botanical profile context

How to interpret Artemisia Absinthium

Artemisia Absinthium herb profile with evidence context, key research topics, source notes, safety context, and references presented in an evidence-first… Use this herb profile as a starting point for evidence review, not as a recommendation to start a new supplement. Botanical products can vary by plant part, extract ratio, standardization, dose, and contaminant testing, so two labels with the same common name may not behave the same way.

When reviewing Artemisia Absinthium, compare the traditional-use context against the human evidence, mechanism notes, and safety cautions. Pay special attention to pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver or kidney disease, blood-pressure effects, sedation, stimulation, anticoagulant use, antidepressants, and any prescription medication overlap.

For product decisions, prefer transparent labels, named extracts, clear serving sizes, and third-party quality testing. Avoid treating a long list of possible mechanisms as proof that an herb will solve a specific condition.