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 American Wormseedupdated 12/11/2007 Origin of ChenopodiumAmerican Wormseed (Chenopodium ambrosioides) is the sole source of the alkaloid chemical substance known as Chenopodium. The species is found throughout South America, up through Mexico, and along the eastern United States as far north as New England. Also known as Herba Sancti Mariae, Mexican Tea, Jerusalem Oak, and pigweed, the plant produces a bitter taste and foul odor which may have led to curiosity about its potential healing properties. To explain further, a biomedically useful plant will often exhibit unusually powerful characteristics such as taste, smell, or especially touch (in the case of stinging plants). The leaves are sometimes brewed as a beverage (hence, "Mexican Tea") with the intent of providing a laxative effect and to aid in repelling harmful organisms from the body. In fact, "wormseed" received its name from the ancient Maya of Central America whom identified it with their intestinal enemies. From that region, the plant was gradually carried north into the American colonies and beyond. Native peoples extracted these ingredients from the seeds in the form of Chenopodium, historically used as an anthelmintic to purge predatory organisms from the body. Noting this application of the plant, a German pharmacist first successfully extracted the true Chenopodium oil in 1895.
Thereafter, the medicinal extract was officially listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia for more than 100 years. The oil is obtained by crushing fresh leaves and especially the fruits of the plant and it yields many substances considered quite useful in alternative health technology. Description and Ingredients of the American Wormseed PlantThe leaves are clustered about slender stems and the plant can grow anywhere from two to five feet tall at maturity. The bladder-like, seed-bearing fruit is well enclosed within the calyx. The calyx is the collective sepal structure of an angiosperm (flowering plant). It is within these tiny greenish-yellow fruit that we find the seeds which produce the useful chemical properties Ascaridole, Safrole, and Choline. AscaridoleWell known as a vermifuge (expellant), Ascaridole works with your body’s natural defenses to discourage infestation by many varieties of harmful organisms. Depending upon the initial purity of the source and the processing method, Ascaridole makes up somewhere between 60 to 80% of the oil utilized from American Wormseed fruit. Ascaridole displays activity as a hydroperoxide (essentially, a concentrated bleach) against harmful organisms seeking to invade the body and feed upon its nutritional resources. SafroleSafrole is a potent terpenoid possessing a varied history regarding its medicinal potential. Although Safrole has been banned by the FDA as a stand-alone extract, it is still found in small quantities in many herbs and spices such as basil, rosemary, dill, cinnamon, witch hazel, and of course American Wormseed. Traditionally, Safrole was used as a flavoring agent in the production of Sassafras Root Beer. CholineCholine is being researched as a possible promoter of liver and gallbladder function and it may play a role in helping the mind stave off memory loss as well. Although not a true B-vitamin, Choline is linked to them structurally (as acetylcholine) and works with folate and methionine within the body to support cell regeneration and excretion and in neurotransmitter growth. Choline also aids in fetal development and this may explain its presence in high levels in human breastmilk. Other Benefits of American Wormseed
The plant exudes a particularly offensive odor and this repels many types of insects if you place the species in your home garden or among the outdoor shrubbery. Wormseed thus has a well-deserved reputation as a natural insecticide. The authors of multiple, sponsored research studies have made the assumption this herb is likewise toxic for human ingestion. Often however, these reports are misleading because (when you review the actual, underlying statistics) you will often find the plant must be consumed in large, even ridiculous quantities before any danger is probable. The same can be said of many common substances, such as table salt, aspirin, or even water! In Chinese medicine, Wormseed has been utilized for many years to aid in reducing joint inflammation and for clearing up some types of skin blemishes. As mentioned above, many native cultures of the past and present have successfully used Wormseed to help alleviate a variety of negative health conditions. So why not follow the advice of these peoples whom without a doubt lived much closer to the Earth than you or I and also demonstrated far greater mastery of its medicinal lore? In other words, why not learn from these wise herbalists and take advantage of nature’s gifts for our health? Why Take American Wormseed?American Wormseed is a key ingredient of Paratrex® and it works to establish an environment in the body that is inhospitable to potential invaders. These harmful organisms are attracted to unhealthy, toxin-ridden digestive systems weakened by years of dietary neglect. Paratrex® helps you restore or achieve an optimal intestinal state wherein valuable nutrients can be efficiently absorbed by the body. Plus, it can help promote the body’s natural defense functions for expelling foreign particles, unwanted invaders, and other toxins. Don’t surrender your health! Try a natural health supplement like Paratrex® to help you resist the threat of hostile organisms! 
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