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DANGERS OF REMEDIES WITH EPAZOTE OR MEXICAN TEA
What is epazote?
Epazote, Mexican tea or wormseed (Dysphania ambrosioides = Chenopodium ambrosioides) is a medicinal plant used mainly as a remedy against parasites and intestinal worms that affect both humans and domestic animals.
At the beginning of the 20th century, epazote was a fairly widespread remedy against intestinal parasites, which has been replaced by other less toxic herbs.
The flowers and fruits of epazote are the medicinal part used, with anthelmintic, vermifuge, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and abortifacient properties.
The leaves of the plant are edible.
What toxic components does epazote have?
The toxicity of epazote is mainly due to three factors:
- Toxic components in the essential oil (1% in the seeds and up to 0.5% in the whole plant). The essential oil of epazote, present throughout the plant (although more abundant in the seeds), has toxic components, including its active ingredient ascaridol (64% of the essential oil) and safrole.
- The margin between the therapeutic dose and the toxic dose is very narrow.
- Differences in composition between crops: It has been found that the concentration of active ingredients can vary greatly between different plants, so the toxic dose can vary depending on the plant.
What symptoms does epazote poisoning cause?
Epazote infusions are a very widespread remedy to fight parasites, and there have been many cases of poisoning, mainly in children, since the toxic dose is lower for them than for an adult:
Because children weigh less, they can be poisoned with less quantity of the plant. For this reason, epazote is not a recommended remedy for children.
Symptoms of epazote infusion poisoning are:
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting, nausea, dizziness
- Very high doses may affect kidney function, heart, liver and nervous system.
It is best to go to a doctor so that he/she can determine the type and amount of medication to be applied in each situation.
Epazote in pregnancy
Epazote infusions are not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding because they can cause problems during pregnancy. In the past, epazote had been used as an abortive plant.
The plant should also not be administered to children, who are at greater risk of poisoning in small doses.
Epazote or Mexican tea oil
Epazote oil is very toxic and is prohibited as a remedy for internal use.
In the past, epazote oil (chenopodium oil) was recommended as a remedy against intestinal worms, at a rate of 1 drop per year of age of the person (Source: Font i Quer). However, in all sources this remedy is not recommended due to its dangerous toxic potential.
Epazote oil has caused the death of some people.
More information on epazote or Mexican tea
