CHENOPODIUM OIL: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Chenopodium oil is made from the chenopodium plant (Dysphania ambrosioides), which is also known as epazote. It grows in Central and South America.

Chenopodium oil contains high amounts of a toxic chemical called ascaridole. The amount of ascaridole found in the oil depends on the plant part used, the season, and where the plant was grown. Ascaridole is thought to paralyze roundworms, hookworms, and some tapeworms.

People use chenopodium oil for parasite infections in the intestine and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using chenopodium oil can also be unsafe. It has been linked with serious side effects, including death.

Don't confuse chenopodium oil, which is also called wormseed, with wormseed and wormwood. These are not the same.

Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for CHENOPODIUM OIL overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Chenopodium oil is unsafe. It contains the chemical ascaridole, which is toxic. Potential side effects include dizziness, skin irritation, vomiting, deafness, paralysis, liver damage, and death.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Chenopodium oil is unsafe when taken by mouth while pregnant or breast-feeding. It contains toxic chemicals.

Interactions

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Medications that increase sensitivity to sunlight (Photosensitizing drugs) interacts with CHENOPODIUM OIL
Some medications might make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Chenopodium oil might also make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Using these products together might increase the risk of sunburn, blistering, or rashes when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Be sure to wear sunblock and protective clothing when spending time in the sun.

Dosing

There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of chenopodium oil might be. It contains toxic chemicals that are unsafe. Speak with a healthcare provider before use.

View References

REFERENCES:

Cavalli, J. F., Tomi, F., Bernardini, A. F., and Casanova, J. Combined analysis of the essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides by GC, GC-MS and 13C-NMR spectroscopy: quantitative determination of ascaridole, a heat-sensitive compound. Phytochem.Anal. 2004;15(5):275-279. View abstract.

Giove Nakazawa, R. A. [Traditional medicine in the treatment of enteroparasitosis]. Rev.Gastroenterol.Peru 1996;16(3):197-202. View abstract.

Jardim, C. M., Jham, G. N., Dhingra, O. D., and Freire, M. M. Composition and antifungal activity of the essential oil of the Brazilian Chenopodium ambrosioides L. J Chem.Ecol. 2008;34(9):1213-1218. View abstract.

Johnson, M. A. and Croteau, R. Biosynthesis of ascaridole: iodide peroxidase-catalyzed synthesis of a monoterpene endoperoxide in soluble extracts of Chenopodium ambrosioides fruit. Arch Biochem.Biophys. 11-15-1984;235(1):254-266. View abstract.

Kishore, N., Mishra, A. K., and Chansouria, J. P. Fungitoxicity of essential oils against dermatophytes. Mycoses 1993;36(5-6):211-215. View abstract.

Kumar, R., Mishra, A. K., Dubey, N. K., and Tripathi, Y. B. Evaluation of Chenopodium ambrosioides oil as a potential source of antifungal, antiaflatoxigenic and antioxidant activity. Int J Food Microbiol. 4-10-2007;115(2):159-164. View abstract.

Monzote, L., Garcia, M., Montalvo, A. M., Scull, R., Miranda, M., and Abreu, J. In vitro activity of an essential oil against Leishmania donovani. Phytother.Res 2007;21(11):1055-1058. View abstract.

Monzote, L., Montalvo, A. M., Almanonni, S., Scull, R., Miranda, M., and Abreu, J. Activity of the essential oil from Chenopodium ambrosioides grown in Cuba against Leishmania amazonensis. Chemotherapy 2006;52(3):130-136. View abstract.

Monzote, L., Montalvo, A. M., Scull, R., Miranda, M., and Abreu, J. Activity, toxicity and analysis of resistance of essential oil from Chenopodium ambrosioides after intraperitoneal, oral and intralesional administration in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania amazonensis: a preliminary study. Biomed.Pharmacother. 2007;61(2-3):148-153. View abstract.

Cysne DN, Fortes TS, Reis AS, et al. Antimalarial potential of leaves of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. Parasitol Res. 2016 Nov;115(11):4327-4334. View abstract.

Ez-Zriouli R, ElYacoubi H, Imtara H, et al. Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities and Acute Toxicity of Cedrus atlantica, Chenopodium ambrosioides and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Essential Oils. Molecules 2023;28(7):2974. View abstract.

Patricio, F. J., Costa, G. C., Pereira, P. V., Aragao-Filho, W. C., Sousa, S. M., Frazao, J. B., Pereira, W. S., Maciel, M. C., Silva, L. A., Amaral, F. M., Rebelo, J. M., Guerra, R. N., Ribeiro, M. N., and Nascimento, F. R. Efficacy of the intralesional treatment with Chenopodium ambrosioides in the murine infection by Leishmania amazonensis. J Ethnopharmacol. 1-17-2008;115(2):313-319. View abstract.

Soares MH, Dias HJ, Vieira TM, et al. Chemical composition, antibacterial, schistosomicidal, and cytotoxic activities of the essential oil of Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants (Chenopodiaceae). Chem Biodivers. 2017 Aug;14(8). View abstract.

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