Santonicum, Wormseed
Semen Sanctum, Semen Cinae, Semen Cynae, Semen Contra Vermes, Semen Lumbricorum
Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
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:
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
Dose:
Powder: 1–3 grams (up to 6 grams); often taken with Molasses for Worms
Preparation:
1. The Seed is steeped in vinegar (up to 5 days according to some sources), then dried for use. Vinegar moderates its heat while increasing its effectiveness against worms..
“Women use to give to Children troubled with the Worms, Worm-seed made up with Sugar, or mixed with Honey which is an excellent Medicine, because the Worms desiring sweet things, take in the Honey, and withal the Worm-seed, whereby they are destroyed. But because Worm-seed is very hot, it may be made temperate by infusing it two hours in Vinegar, and after mixing it with boyled Honey”. (The Practice of Physick, 1663)
2. Some used the Candied Seeds for Worms
Main Combinations:
1. Worms:
i. Wormseed prepared with Vinegar, powdered and made into an Electuary with Honey. This was commonly given to children.
ii. Wormseed with Southernwood
iii. Wormseed Wormseed with Cream of Tartar, Sugar (Saunders)
iv. Wormseed with Rhubarb, Oxymel of Squill
v. Wormseed with Tansy, Iron Sulphate (Geneva)
vi. Roundworm, Wormseed with Calamus
vii. Wormseed (2 parts), Rhubarb (1 part). (Picettario Clinico, Padua, 1825)
viii. Wormseed with Citron seed, Purslane seed and Peach kernel
ix. Wormseed with Gentian, Wormwood (Picettario Clinico, Padua, 1825)
x. Wormseed With Valerian, Walnut rind (Pharmacopoeia extemporanea, Augustin, 1822)
xi. Wormseed with Valerian and Jalap (½ scruple each) (Farmacopea Ferrarensis, 1825)
xii. Wormseed with Burnt Deer horn, Cannabis seed, Wormwood, Cardamon (as in Electuary Against Worms)
xiii. Wormseed with Senna, Coriander, burnt Deer horn (Dispensatorium Pharmaceuticum, 1777)
xiv. Wormseed, Jalap, Valerian (equal parts) form boluses with Oxymel of Squill. (Sobernheim, 1840)
xv. 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)
xvi. 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.
xvii. 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)
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