Phytotherapy

Wormwood

Artemisia absinthium

Mechanism

Wormwood herb (Artemisia absinthium) contains strongly bitter sesquiterpene lactones (including absinthin) as well as an essential oil with thujone. Via the bitter compounds, appetite and digestive secretion are traditionally stimulated; the EMA/HMPC lists wormwood as a traditional herbal remedy for temporary loss of appetite and mild gastrointestinal complaints, expressly only for short-term use. Safety-critical is the thujone: it modulates the GABA-controlled chloride channel and acts neurotoxically at higher doses (dose-dependently up to convulsions). The EMA limits thujone intake and recommends low-thujone chemotypes as well as a maximum application duration of around two weeks. Controlled equine studies are lacking.

Cautions

· Contains thujone (neurotoxic at higher doses) — use only short-term and at low dose
· Do NOT use during pregnancy and lactation
· Prefer low-thujone chemotypes; limit duration of use to a few weeks
· Not suitable for continuous administration

Sources

EMA/HMPC Absinthii herbaEMA/HMPC — Wermut-Assessment-Report (Artemisia absinthium L., herba), inkl. Thujon-Bewertung

PMID:23000274Lachenmeier & Uebelacker 2012 (Regul Toxicol Pharmacol) — Toxikologische Bewertung Thujon

ESCOPESCOP/Tradition — Absinthii herba als Bittermittel

Equiterna Score

51/100

limited

Science4.5/10

Practical experience6/10

Safety5/10

Overall score scale

high overall75–100solid55–74limited0–54

How the Equiterna Score is built

The Equiterna Score combines three dimensions into a value of 0-100: science (40%), practical experience (30%) and safety (30%). It is transparently derived from evidence level, attributed sources (PubMed/journals), legal classification and cautions. The FEI doping status is shown separately as a competition-law note and does not enter the score. Commissions and vendor relationships have no influence on the score. In addition, the editorial safety rating caps the result: it limits the safety dimension and the overall tier (orange: at most solid). For entries rated red, no score is calculated at all. The rating never raises anything — a green rating does not lift a calculated value.

An editorial assessment of the evidence and safety situation — not a healing claim and not an individual recommendation. It does not replace veterinary advice.

Dosageonly short-term and at low dose (low-thujone quality); limit duration of use, coordinate with a veterinarian

AMG statusComplementary feed

FEI statusNot listed

SafetyIncreased caution

Evidenceemerging

Frequently asked questions

Is Wormwood a feed or a veterinary medicine for horses?

Equiterna classes Wormwood as “Complementary feed”. Legal framework: Regulation (EU) 2019/6 / TAMG (DE/AT), Feed Regulation (EC) 767/2009.

Is Wormwood allowed at FEI competitions?

In the profile, Wormwood is listed with the FEI status “Not listed”. The current FEI list is authoritative, so please check its latest version.

Which dosage do the sources give for Wormwood?

Stated in the profile: only short-term and at low dose (low-thujone quality); limit duration of use, coordinate with a veterinarian. This is information from the literature, not an instruction for an individual horse.

Which sources are there for Wormwood?

The profile cites: EMA/HMPC Absinthii herba, PMID:23000274, and ESCOP.

Usage note

This content is for information and education. It does not replace veterinary diagnosis or treatment. If your horse shows signs of illness, consult a veterinarian.

“Nothing forced can ever be beautiful.”

Xenophon · On Horsemanship (c. 365 BC)

Equiterna is an intermediary platform for equine knowledge, marketplace and tools — not a veterinary-medicines dealer, veterinary practice or pharmacy. Compound information is source-attributed (PubMed, specialist journals, NRC/GfE, EU regulations) and free of healing claims. Legal framework: Regulation (EU) 2019/6 / TAMG (DE/AT), Feed Regulation (EC) 767/2009, FEI Prohibited Substances List, HWG.

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