Santonicum, Wormseed

Semen Sanctum, Semen Cinae, Semen Cynae, Semen Contra Vermes, Semen Lumbricorum
 Picture
Picture Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

Picture Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

Picture Waldstein, F. de Paula Adam von, Kitaibel, P., Descriptiones et icones plantarum rariorum Hungariae (1799-1802)

Botanical name:


Artemisia santonicum

Parts used:


Seed
Traditionally, three types supplied the market: 1. Aleppo; 2. East Indian; 3. Barberry

Temperature & Taste:


Warm, dry. Bitter, Pungent, Aromatic

Classifications:


3Q. ANTHELMINTIC

Uses:


1. Kills Worms:
-principally used for all types of Worms and Parasites

2. Resists Poison:
-used in Antidotes
-used for Fever, incl. Intermittent Fever


Preparation:


1. Steeped in vinegar (up to 5 days according to some sources), then dried for use.
2. Some used the Candied Seeds for Worms

Dose:


Powder: 1–3 grams (up to 6 grams); often taken with Molasses for Worms

Main Combinations:


1. Worms:
i. Wormseed with Southernwood
ii. Wormseed Wormseed with Cream of Tartar, Sugar (Saunders)
iii. Wormseed with Rhubarb, Oxymel of Squill
iv. Wormseed with Tansy, Iron Sulphate (Geneva)
v. Roundworm, Wormseed with Calamus
vi. Wormseed (2 parts), Rhubarb (1 part). (Picettario Clinico, Padua, 1825)
vii. Wormseed with Citron seed, Purslane seed and Peach kernel
viii. Wormseed with Gentian, Wormwood (Picettario Clinico, Padua, 1825)
ix. Wormseed With Valerian, Walnut rind (Pharmacopoeia extemporanea, Augustin, 1822)
x. Wormseed with Valerian and Jalap (½ scruple each) (Farmacopea Ferrarensis, 1825)
xi. Wormseed with Burnt Deer horn, Cannabis seed, Wormwood, Cardamon (as in Electuary Against Worms)
xii. Wormseed with Senna, Coriander, burnt Deer horn (Dispensatorium Pharmaceuticum, 1777)
xiii. Wormseed, Jalap, Valerian (equal parts) form boluses with Oxymel of Squill. (Sobernheim, 1840)
xiv. Wormseed (½ oz.), Jalap (1 dram), Valerian (1 ½ drams), Cream of Tartar (2 drams), Oxymel of Squill (6 drams), with Simple Syrup, form an Electuary. Dose: 1 teaspoonful every 2–3 hours. (Hufeland)
xv. Wormseed with Tansy (1 dram each), Black Sulphide of Mercury, Jalap (1 ½ drams each), Cinnamon (1 dram), sugar dissolved in Rose water and boiled to the thickness of a syrup (3 ½ oz) and form into boluses of 1 dram.
xvi. Worms in children, Wormseed (2 drams), Cocoa powder (½ oz.), with a sufficient amount of the mucilage of Gum Tragacanth, form 30 troches. Dose: 4–5 pieces every 3 hours. (Sobernheim, 1840)

Major Formulas:


Orvietan Antidote
Electuary Against Worms

Cautions:


1. Toxic in overdose
2. Avoid during Pregnancy
3. Side effects can occur with therapeutic doses and may include convulsions, kidney irritation and visual disturbance.

Toxicity:


10 grams can cause deadly poisoning (Duke). Santonin is toxic at 60mg in children and 200mg in adults.

Main Preparations used:


Prepared seed, Seed confection was rarely used.

1. Infusion of Santonicum:
i. Santonicum seed (2 drams), Water or Wine (3 oz.). Infuse, strain. Dose: a spoonful, 3–4 times daily. (Niemann)