Evidence supporting the use of: American Wormseed
For the health condition: Parasites (general)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

American Wormseed (Dysphania ambrosioides, formerly Chenopodium ambrosioides) has a long history of traditional use as an anthelmintic, particularly among Native American and later colonial populations in North and South America. The seeds and essential oil, known as chenopodium oil, were commonly administered to expel intestinal parasites, especially roundworms and hookworms. The traditional usage is well-documented in ethnobotanical literature and early pharmacopoeias. The plant’s efficacy is attributed to compounds such as ascaridole, which is toxic to many intestinal worms. However, scientific validation is limited: while some early 20th-century clinical reports and animal studies noted effectiveness, the oil’s toxicity—especially to the liver and nervous system—led to its decline in favor, and safer, more effective anthelmintics are now available. Modern research on humans is scarce, and regulatory authorities do not recognize it as a safe or effective treatment. Despite the strong historical precedent, its medical use is now considered obsolete due to significant safety concerns and lack of robust contemporary clinical evidence.

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