Sea Wormwood: Artemisia maritima: Uses, Ingredients, Dose, Side Effects

ChauharChauhara- Artemisia maritima is a herb mentioned in the Ayurvedic pharmacopeia for the treatment of pain, swelling, pinworms, alopecia, indigestion, fever and difficulty in micturition.
Latin Name- Artemisia maritima Linn.
Family- Asteraceae (Bhringaraja kula)

Vernacular names

Chouhara – Names in different languages:
Hindi name- Kirmani, Ajawain (not the same as ajwayin- Trachyspermum ammi)
English name- Worm seed, Sea wormwood, Old Woman
Gujarathi Name- Chuhari, Karmani ajama
Marathi Name- Kirmani ova
Persian Name- Dirmana

Sanskrit synonyms

Sanskrit Synonyms of Chauhara:
Jantu Nashana- Kills the worms
Chauhara is a small herb growing to a height of 3-4 feet in the western Himalayan range. Flowers are seen in clusters, in the months of May and June.

Classical categorization

Kaiyyadeva Nighantu- Oushadhi varga

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Artemisia
Species: A. maritima

Properties, part used, dosage

Artemisia maritima medicinal properties:
Rasa (Taste) – Katu (Pungent), Tikta (Bitter)
Guna (Qualities) – Laghu (Light for digestion), Ruksha (Dry in nature), Teekshna (Hot)
Vipaka – Katu (Undergoes Pungent taste after digestion)
Veerya (Potency) – Ushna (Hot)
Prabhava (Special action) – Krimighna (Kills the intestinal worms)
Karma (Actions) – Kaphavata shamaka (reduces vitiated kapha and vata dosha)

Part used- Panchanga (whole plant)
Dosage-
Powder of dried plant -3 to 6 g
Starch extract- 100 mg to 125 mg

Chemical constituents

Artemisia maritima chemical constituents:
The immature flowers and leaves contain santonin whereas the other parts of the plant is devoid of santonin. It is to be noted that santonin can be toxic at 60 mg for children and at 200 mg for adults.

Uses

Uses of Sea wormwood:

• The paste of the leaves and bark of Chauhara is prepared and applied over the area affected with swelling and pain.
• The oil prepared from the leaves and bark of Artemisia maritima is applied externally over the fresh wounds to heal it.
• The dried plant of Chauhara is burnt and the ash is collected. This ash is mixed with coconut oil or sesame oil and made into paste and applied over the scalp region in cases of alopecia as treatment.
• The fresh juice (10-15ml) or decoction (25-30 ml) from the bark of the plant is given during best time to treat cases of pinworm and intestinal worm. The procedure is repeated after 1 week for better results.
• The decoction of the bark and leaves of Artemisia maritima is given in a dose of 20-25 ml to treat cases of asthma and fever.
• The cold infusion or decoction from the bark and roots of Chauhara plant is given to treat cases of burning micturition, dysmenorrhea and fever due to indigestion.

Sanskrit verse

Ayurvedic usage:
Vrushya – aphrodisiac, improves vigor
Deepana – improves digestion strength
Tridoshashamana, Tridoshahara – Balances all the three Doshas
Krumihara – useful in worm infestation, infected wounds

Side effects

Side effects of Chauhara:
Large doses of the herb Chauhara can be toxic to humans. Hence care should be taken during the administration of this herb. Headache, nausea, diarrhea, loss of consciousness, irregular heartbeat and mild tremors of the limbs can be observed in cases of over dosage of the herb.

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Author:
Dr.B.K.Prashanth M.D (Ayu), Ph.D
E mail: drprashanthbk@gmail.com

Systemic action

Analgesic, Anti inflammatory, Wound healing properties. Oil is used for wound healing purposes. For external application all the 5 parts of the plant are useful. Its bhasma mixed with its oil is used in Alopecia conditions for hair growth.
Digestive System – Carminative, facilitate normal movement of doshas, Liver stimulant, Anti helminthic, Especially indicated in Gandupada krimi and Tantu krimi). Overdose can cause diarrhea. Indicated in Loss of digestive fire, Abdominal distension, Ascites etc. Helminthiasis treatment administering medication during nighttime, which results in the expulsion of worms from the body through bowel movements the next day.
Excretory system – Increases urine production, (Indicated in Dysuria – Amlamutra, Lalamutra, Harita mutra)
Respiratory system – Anti asthmatic, Helps the expulsion of Vitiated kapha
Reproductive system – Aphrodisiac, Indicated in Oligomenorrhea
Tapakrama – Antipyretic, Sitaprasamana (Relieve cold)
Satmikarana – It has a scraping action on the body tissue, indicated in Obesity and related disorders.