Chenopodium ambrosioides L.
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants [accepted name]
Synonyms: Ambrina ambrosioides (L.) Spach , Ambrina ambrosioides var. anthelmintica (L.) Moldenke , Ambrina anthelmintica (L.) Spach , Ambrina incisa Moq. , Ambrina parvula Phil. , Ambrina spathulata Moq. , Atriplex ambrosioides (L.) Crantz , Atriplex anthelmintica (L.) Crantz , Blitum ambrosioides (L.) Beck , Botrys ambrosioides (L.) Nieuwl. , Botrys anthelmintica (L.) Nieuwl. , Chenopodium album subsp. ambrosioides (L.) H.J.Coste & A.Reyn. , Chenopodium amboanum (Murr) Aellen , Chenopodium ambrosioides L. , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. angustifolium Moq. , Chenopodium ambrosioides f. angustifolium (Pav. ex Moq.) Aellen , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. angustifolium Sieber, in DC. , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. anthelminticum (L.) Aellen , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. costei Aellen , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. dentatum Fenzl , Chenopodium ambrosioides f. dentatum (Fenzl) Aellen , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. genuinum Willk. , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. integrifolium Fenzl , Chenopodium ambrosioides f. integrifolium (Fenzl) Aellen , Chenopodium ambrosioides f. minus (Murr) Aellen , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. oblanceolatum Speg. , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. obovata Speg. , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. obovatum (Moq.) Speg. , Chenopodium ambrosioides f. pinnatifidum (Willk.) Aellen , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. pinnatifidum Willk. , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. pubescens Makino , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. querciforme (Murr) Aellen , Chenopodium ambrosioides f. rotundatum Aellen , Chenopodium ambrosioides f. spathulatum Aellen , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. suffruticosum (Willd.) Graebn. , Chenopodium ambrosioides subsp. suffruticosum (Willd.) Thell. , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. suffruticosum (Willd.) Aellen , Chenopodium ambrosioides f. suffruticosum (Willd.) Aellen , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. typicum Speg. [Invalid] , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. typicum (Speg.) Aellen , Chenopodium ambrosioides var. vagans (Standl.) J.T.Howell , Chenopodium angustifolium Pav. ex Moq. , Chenopodium anthelminticum L. , Chenopodium anthelminticum var. glabratum Fenzl , Chenopodium anthelminticum var. hastatum Moq. , Chenopodium anthelminticum var. subhirsutum Fenzl , Chenopodium citriodorum Steud. , Chenopodium cuneifolium Vent. ex Moq. , Chenopodium integrifolium Vorosch. , Chenopodium integrifolium subsp. ramosissimum Aellen , Chenopodium integrifolium subsp. ramosissimum Worosh. ex Just , Chenopodium opulifolium subsp. amboanum Murr , Chenopodium querciforme Murr , Chenopodium querciforme var. minus Murr , Chenopodium sancta-maria Vell. , Chenopodium santamaria Vell. , Chenopodium spathulatum (Moq.) Sieber ex Moq. , Chenopodium spathulatum var. angustifolium Moq. , Chenopodium spathulatum var. platyphyllum Moq. , Chenopodium suffruticosum Willd. , Chenopodium suffruticosum subsp. remotum Vorosch. , Chenopodium vagans Standl. , Chenopodium variegatum Gouan , Dysphania anthelmintica (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants , Orthosporum ambrosioides (L.) Kostel. , Orthosporum anthelminticum Kostel. , Orthosporum suffruticosum Kostel. , Roubieva anthelmintica (L.) Hook. & Arn. , Teloxys ambrosioides (L.) W.A. Weber , Teloxys vagans (Standl.) W.A. Weber , Vulvaria ambrosioides (L.) Bubani, English Names: Sweet pig weed, Mexican tea, Epazote, American goosefoot, American wormseed, Baltimore wormseed, bitter weed, Californian spearmint (in New Zealand), demigod's food, epasote, herb sancti, Mariae, Indian wormweed, Jesuit's tea, Mexican goosefoot, mouse food, pazote, Spanish tea, West Indian goosefoot, worm bush, worm grass, wormseed, wormseed goosefoot, wormseed, oil plant, wormweed.
French names: Chénopodiacées, famille du chou gras (famille du chénopode), Thé du Mexique (m), abroisine, ambroisie (des jardins), ambroisie du Mexique, ambroisin, ansérine ambroisie, ansérine américaine, anserine fausse ambroisie, ansérine anthelmique, ansérine du Mexique, ansérine odorante, ansérine vermifuge, blite ambroisie, chénopode ambrosioïde, chénopode fausse ambroisie, herbe de SainteMarie, pied d'oie, thé de Silésia, thé des Jésuites, thé d'Espagne.
Malayalam: Kattayamodakam
Kannada: Kodu- vama
Sanskrit: Sugandh-vaastuuka, Kshetra-vaastuuka.
Siddha/Tamil: Kattasambadam.
Folk: Khatuaa.
Uses: Amoebicidal, analgesic, diuretic.
Chenopodium ambrosioides contains pharmacologically active principles and cases of poisoning have been recorded. Although widely used as a culinary herb in Mexico, its consumption could be hazardous. If eaten despite this warning, it should only be consumed in very limited quantities, and rarely.
The Creek Indians used C. ambrosioides as a spring tonic. In folk medicine Mexican tea was also used to treat asthma, malaria, and various nervous diseases, but its main use has been as a vermifuge. According to Morton the seed oil paralyses, but does not kill intestinal worms, which must be expelled by a purgative. The oil of Mexican tea is particularly effective in getting rid of hookworms, but is a dangerous remedy in the hands of laypeople, overdoses causing poisoning. Nevertheless it is widely used in the world as a vermifuge. Warnings have been recorded suggesting that Mexican tea has the potential for causing abortion . Morton notes that mild reactions to the oil are headache, dizziness and nausea, while more severe symptoms include vomiting (sometimes bloody), deafness, tingling of the extremities, and depression. Acute poisoning may be fatal. In western medicine the oil is now seldom used in pharmaceutical preparations because it has been replaced by synthetic anthelmintics . The plant continues to be employed medicinally in Asia for a variety of ailments . Morton provides an extensive list of home medicinal uses in Middle America. Duke lists numerous folk uses in various cultures around the world.
Touching Mexican tea may cause dermatitis and allergic reactions, and a case of vertigo from contact with essential oil released during harvest has been described. Fernald et al. recommended that Mexican tea not be consumed as a potherb. Chickens have died from eating the seeds, and while grazing animals usually avoid Mexican tea, it has caused fatalities in cows. [Culinary Herbs]
The leaf and aerial parts are traditionally prepared as an infusion or crushed to extract their juice which is administered orally for colic, diarrhea, stomach ache, intestinal parasites and gas.
Clinical Data: The leaf and plant extract have been investigated in human clinical trials for the following effects: antiparasitic and antiascariasis.
Preclinical Data: The following biological activities of this plant have been demonstrated in laboratory and preclinical studies using in vitro or animal models: in vivo: analgesic, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antiulcerogenic, sedative (plant extracts or constituents); anthelmintic, antifungal (essential oil).
In vitro: analgesic, antibacterial, antimalarial, insecticidal, sedative (plant extracts or constituents); antifungal (essential oil).
Plant Part Used: Leaves, fruits, entire plant and essential oil.
Traditional Preparation: The leaves or aerial parts are prepared as a tea by infusion or decoction and administered orally. For skin conditions, the crushed and heated leaves are applied externally to the affected area.
Traditional Uses: This plant is attributed strong, bitter properties. For intestinal parasites and other gastrointestinal disorders, the fresh juice of the leaves (zumo) can be combined with coconut (coco) milk and taken internally. This plant also has culinary uses as a condiment and is considered a medicinal food because of its anti-flatulent effects, especially when used as a flavoring agent in the preparation of beans (habichuelas). Spiritual applications of this herb can have health-related implications, especially for illnesses associated with spiritual origins, as the leaves are used for dispelling negative energy and evil spirits. In the Dominican Republic the leaves are used as an antiseptic for treating wounds or skin ulcers (llagas), and a tea of the leaves is used for treating asthma, colic, conjunctivitis and stomach ache. [ Dominican Medicinal Plants: A guide for health care providers]
Herb teas and infusions in postpartum depurants [Ethnomedicinal Plants Revitalization of Traditional Knowledge of Herbs]
Antispasmodic, pectoral, haemostatic, emmenagogue. Employed in treating nervous affections, particularly chorea. Dried herb—anthelmintic against round and hookworms. Ascaridole, an active constituent of the oil, is highly active against roundworms, hookworms and small, but not large, tapeworms. It is highly toxic and can cause serious side effects. The oil has been found useful in amoebic dysentery and intestinal infections (should be used with caution). Leaves contain kaempferol--rhamnoside and ambroside [ Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary]
The Creek Indians used C. ambrosioides as a spring tonic. In folk medicine Mexican tea was also used to treat asthma, malaria, and various nervous diseases, but its main use has been as a vermifuge. According to Morton the seed oil paralyses, but does not kill intestinal worms, which must be expelled by a purgative. The oil of Mexican tea is particularly effective in getting rid of hookworms, but is a dangerous remedy in the hands of laypeople, overdoses causing poisoning. Nevertheless it is widely used in the world as a vermifuge. Warnings have been recorded suggesting that Mexican tea has the potential for causing abortion . Morton notes that mild reactions to the oil are headache, dizziness and nausea, while more severe symptoms include vomiting (sometimes bloody), deafness, tingling of the extremities, and depression. Acute poisoning may be fatal. In western medicine the oil is now seldom used in pharmaceutical preparations because it has been replaced by synthetic anthelmintics . The plant continues to be employed medicinally in Asia for a variety of ailments . Morton provides an extensive list of home medicinal uses in Middle America. Duke lists numerous folk uses in various cultures around the world.
Touching Mexican tea may cause dermatitis and allergic reactions, and a case of vertigo from contact with essential oil released during harvest has been described. Fernald et al. recommended that Mexican tea not be consumed as a potherb. Chickens have died from eating the seeds, and while grazing animals usually avoid Mexican tea, it has caused fatalities in cows. [Culinary Herbs]
The leaf and aerial parts are traditionally prepared as an infusion or crushed to extract their juice which is administered orally for colic, diarrhea, stomach ache, intestinal parasites and gas.
Clinical Data: The leaf and plant extract have been investigated in human clinical trials for the following effects: antiparasitic and antiascariasis.
Preclinical Data: The following biological activities of this plant have been demonstrated in laboratory and preclinical studies using in vitro or animal models: in vivo: analgesic, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antiulcerogenic, sedative (plant extracts or constituents); anthelmintic, antifungal (essential oil).
In vitro: analgesic, antibacterial, antimalarial, insecticidal, sedative (plant extracts or constituents); antifungal (essential oil).
Plant Part Used: Leaves, fruits, entire plant and essential oil.
Traditional Preparation: The leaves or aerial parts are prepared as a tea by infusion or decoction and administered orally. For skin conditions, the crushed and heated leaves are applied externally to the affected area.
Traditional Uses: This plant is attributed strong, bitter properties. For intestinal parasites and other gastrointestinal disorders, the fresh juice of the leaves (zumo) can be combined with coconut (coco) milk and taken internally. This plant also has culinary uses as a condiment and is considered a medicinal food because of its anti-flatulent effects, especially when used as a flavoring agent in the preparation of beans (habichuelas). Spiritual applications of this herb can have health-related implications, especially for illnesses associated with spiritual origins, as the leaves are used for dispelling negative energy and evil spirits. In the Dominican Republic the leaves are used as an antiseptic for treating wounds or skin ulcers (llagas), and a tea of the leaves is used for treating asthma, colic, conjunctivitis and stomach ache. [ Dominican Medicinal Plants: A guide for health care providers]
Herb teas and infusions in postpartum depurants [Ethnomedicinal Plants Revitalization of Traditional Knowledge of Herbs]
Antispasmodic, pectoral, haemostatic, emmenagogue. Employed in treating nervous affections, particularly chorea. Dried herb—anthelmintic against round and hookworms. Ascaridole, an active constituent of the oil, is highly active against roundworms, hookworms and small, but not large, tapeworms. It is highly toxic and can cause serious side effects. The oil has been found useful in amoebic dysentery and intestinal infections (should be used with caution). Leaves contain kaempferol--rhamnoside and ambroside [ Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary]
116 Published articles of Chenopodium ambrosioides
