| Published Scientific Papers on Thujone |
Steroid-sparing effect of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) in Crohn’s disease:
A double-blind placebo-controlled study
by B. Omera, S. Krebsb, H. Omerc, T.O. Noord
Phytomedicine Volume 14, Issues 2-3, 19 February 2007, Pages 87-95
A double-blind placebo-controlled study
by B. Omera, S. Krebsb, H. Omerc, T.O. Noord
Phytomedicine Volume 14, Issues 2-3, 19 February 2007, Pages 87-95
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An interesting study which showed no significant side effects from long term use of wormwood oil.
Abstract
In this double-blind study carried out at five sites in Germany, 40 patients suffering from Crohn's disease receiving a stable daily dose
of steroids at an equivalent of 40 mg or less of prednisone for at least 3 weeks were administered a herbal blend containing
wormwood herb (3×500 mg/day) or a placebo for 10 weeks. Besides steroids, 5-aminosalicylates, if dose remained constant for at
least 4 weeks prior to entering the trial and/or azathioprine, stable dose for at least 8 weeks, or methotrexate, stable dose for at least 6
weeks, were permitted as concomitant medications. The recruited 40 patients – 20 in each treatment group, were evaluated with the
help of a Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) questionnaire, an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), the 21-item
Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and an 8-item Visual Analogue Scale (VA-Scale) in 2-week intervals during the first 10 study
weeks, and then at week 12, 16 and 20, which were the trial-medication free observation periods. The initial stable dose of steroids
was maintained until week 2, after that a defined tapering schedule was started so that at the start of week 10 all the patients were free
of steroids. At the end of week 10 the trial medication was also discontinued. The concomitant medications were maintained at the
same dose levels till the end of the observation period that was the end of week 20.
There was a steady improvement in CD symptoms in 18 patients (90%) who received wormwood in spite of tapering of steroids as
shown by CDA-Index, IBDQ, HAMD, and VAS. After 8 weeks of treatment with wormwood there was almost complete remission of
symptoms in 13 (65%) patients in this group as compared to none in the placebo group. This remission persisted till the end of the
observation period that was week 20, and the addition of steroids was not necessary. In two (10%) patients did the re-starting of
corticoids become necessary? On the other hand, the CD conditions of the patients who received the placebo deteriorated after the
tapering of steroids, and re-starting steroids became necessary in 16 (80%) patients in this group after week 10. These results strongly
suggest that wormwood has a steroid sparing effect. The improvements in HAMD scores indicate that wormwood also has an effect on
the mood and quality of life of CD patients, which is not achieved by other standard medications.
Abstract
In this double-blind study carried out at five sites in Germany, 40 patients suffering from Crohn's disease receiving a stable daily dose
of steroids at an equivalent of 40 mg or less of prednisone for at least 3 weeks were administered a herbal blend containing
wormwood herb (3×500 mg/day) or a placebo for 10 weeks. Besides steroids, 5-aminosalicylates, if dose remained constant for at
least 4 weeks prior to entering the trial and/or azathioprine, stable dose for at least 8 weeks, or methotrexate, stable dose for at least 6
weeks, were permitted as concomitant medications. The recruited 40 patients – 20 in each treatment group, were evaluated with the
help of a Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) questionnaire, an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), the 21-item
Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and an 8-item Visual Analogue Scale (VA-Scale) in 2-week intervals during the first 10 study
weeks, and then at week 12, 16 and 20, which were the trial-medication free observation periods. The initial stable dose of steroids
was maintained until week 2, after that a defined tapering schedule was started so that at the start of week 10 all the patients were free
of steroids. At the end of week 10 the trial medication was also discontinued. The concomitant medications were maintained at the
same dose levels till the end of the observation period that was the end of week 20.
There was a steady improvement in CD symptoms in 18 patients (90%) who received wormwood in spite of tapering of steroids as
shown by CDA-Index, IBDQ, HAMD, and VAS. After 8 weeks of treatment with wormwood there was almost complete remission of
symptoms in 13 (65%) patients in this group as compared to none in the placebo group. This remission persisted till the end of the
observation period that was week 20, and the addition of steroids was not necessary. In two (10%) patients did the re-starting of
corticoids become necessary? On the other hand, the CD conditions of the patients who received the placebo deteriorated after the
tapering of steroids, and re-starting steroids became necessary in 16 (80%) patients in this group after week 10. These results strongly
suggest that wormwood has a steroid sparing effect. The improvements in HAMD scores indicate that wormwood also has an effect on
the mood and quality of life of CD patients, which is not achieved by other standard medications.