Chenopodium Oil

Last Editorial Review: 6/11/2021
Other Name(s):

Aceite de Paico, Aceite de Quenopodio, Ansérine, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Chenopodium anthelminticum, Epazote, Épazote, Fausse Ambroisie, Huile d'Ansérine, Huile de Chénopode, Jesuit Tea, Mexican Tea, Thé du Mexique.

Overview

Chenopodium is an herb. Oil made from this herb is used as medicine. Authorities disagree on whether chenopodium oil is the oil of fresh, flowering, and fruiting parts of the plant or seed oil.

Despite serious safety concerns, people take chenopodium oil to kill roundworms and hookworms in the intestine.

How does it work?

Chenopodium oil appears to work by paralyzing worms in the intestine.

QUESTION

Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See Answer

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

  • Treating intestinal worms.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of chenopodium oil for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Side Effects

Chenopodium oil is UNSAFE.

Chenopodium oil contains the chemical ascaridole, which is very toxic. It can irritate the skin, mouth, throat, and lining of the stomach and intestines. It can also cause vomiting, headache, dizziness, kidney and liver damage, temporary deafness, convulsions, paralysis, and death. Chenopodium oil can explode if heated or mixed with acids.

SLIDESHOW

Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See Slideshow

Special Precautions & Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's UNSAFE for anyone, especially pregnant or breast-feeding women, to take chenopodium oil. It contains poisonous chemicals.

Interactions


Medications that increase sensitivity to sunlight (Photosensitizing drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Some medications can increase sensitivity to sunlight. Chenopodium oil might also increase your sensitivity to sunlight. Taking chenopodium oil along with medications that increase sensitivity to sunlight could increase the chances of sunburn, blistering or rashes on areas of skin exposed to sunlight. Be sure to wear sunblock and protective clothing when spending time in the sun.

Some drugs that cause photosensitivity include amitriptyline (Elavil), Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), norfloxacin (Noroxin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), ofloxacin (Floxin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), gatifloxacin (Tequin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Septra), tetracycline, methoxsalen (8-methoxypsoralen, 8-MOP, Oxsoralen), and Trioxsalen (Trisoralen).

Dosing

The appropriate dose of chenopodium oil depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for chenopodium oil. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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References

Ahmed, A. A. Highly oxygenated monoterpenes from Chenopodium ambrosioides. J Nat.Prod. 2000;63(7):989-991. View abstract.

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.

Cruz, G. V., Pereira, P. V., Patricio, F. J., Costa, G. C., Sousa, S. M., Frazao, J. B., Aragao-Filho, W. C., Maciel, M. C., Silva, L. A., Amaral, F. M., Barroqueiro, E. S., Guerra, R. N., and Nascimento, F. R. Increase of cellular recruitment, phagocytosis ability and nitric oxide production induced by hydroalcoholic extract from Chenopodium ambrosioides leaves. J Ethnopharmacol. 4-20-2007;111(1):148-154. View abstract.

De Almeida, M. A., Domingues, L. F., Almeida, G. N., Simas, M. M., Botura, M. B., Da Cruz, A. C., Da Silva, A. V., Menezes, T. P., and Batatinha, M. J. [Effects of aqueous extracts of Mentha piperita L. and Chenopodium ambrosioides L. leaves in infective larvae cultures of gastrointestinal nematodes of goats]. Rev.Bras.Parasitol.Vet. 2007;16(1):57-59. View abstract.

Efferth, T., Olbrich, A., Sauerbrey, A., Ross, D. D., Gebhart, E., and Neugebauer, M. Activity of ascaridol from the anthelmintic herb Chenopodium anthelminticum L. against sensitive and multidrug-resistant tumor cells. Anticancer Res 2002;22(6C):4221-4224. View abstract.

Gadano, A. B., Gurni, A. A., and Carballo, M. A. Argentine folk medicine: genotoxic effects of Chenopodiaceae family. J Ethnopharmacol. 1-16-2006;103(2):246-251. View abstract.

Gadano, A., Gurni, A., Lopez, P., Ferraro, G., and Carballo, M. In vitro genotoxic evaluation of the medicinal plant Chenopodium ambrosioides L. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;81(1):11-16. View abstract.

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

Hmamouchi, M., Lahlou, M., and Agoumi, A. Molluscicidal activity of some Moroccan medicinal plants. Fitoterapia 2000;71(3):308-314. 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.

Kiuchi, F., Itano, Y., Uchiyama, N., Honda, G., Tsubouchi, A., Nakajima-Shimada, J., and Aoki, T. Monoterpene hydroperoxides with trypanocidal activity from Chenopodium ambrosioides. J Nat.Prod. 2002;65(4):509-512. View abstract.

Kliks, M. M. Studies on the traditional herbal anthelmintic Chenopodium ambrosioides L.: ethnopharmacological evaluation and clinical field trials. Soc Sci Med 1985;21(8):879-886. 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.

LaFever, R. E. and Croteau, R. Hydride shifts in the biosynthesis of the p-menthane monoterpenes alpha-terpinene, gamma-terpinene, and beta-phellandrene. Arch Biochem.Biophys. 1993;301(2):361-366. View abstract.

Lall, N. and Meyer, J. J. In vitro inhibition of drug-resistant and drug-sensitive strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by ethnobotanically selected South African plants. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999;66(3):347-354. View abstract.

MacDonald, D., VanCrey, K., Harrison, P., Rangachari, P. K., Rosenfeld, J., Warren, C., and Sorger, G. Ascaridole-less infusions of Chenopodium ambrosioides contain a nematocide(s) that is(are) not toxic to mammalian smooth muscle. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004;92(2-3):215-221. 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.

Nascimento, F. R., Cruz, G. V., Pereira, P. V., Maciel, M. C., Silva, L. A., Azevedo, A. P., Barroqueiro, E. S., and Guerra, R. N. Ascitic and solid Ehrlich tumor inhibition by Chenopodium ambrosioides L. treatment. Life Sci 4-25-2006;78(22):2650-2653. View abstract.

Okuyama, E., Umeyama, K., Saito, Y., Yamazaki, M., and Satake, M. Ascaridole as a pharmacologically active principle of "Paico," a medicinal Peruvian plant. Chem.Pharm Bull.(Tokyo) 1993;41(7):1309-1311. View abstract.

Park, I. K., Choi, K. S., Kim, D. H., Choi, I. H., Kim, L. S., Bak, W. C., Choi, J. W., and Shin, S. C. Fumigant activity of plant essential oils and components from horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), anise (Pimpinella anisum) and garlic (Allium sativum) oils against Lycoriella ingenua (Diptera: Sciaridae). Pest.Manag.Sci 2006;62(8):723-728. 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.

Ruffa, M. J., Ferraro, G., Wagner, M. L., Calcagno, M. L., Campos, R. H., and Cavallaro, L. Cytotoxic effect of Argentine medicinal plant extracts on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;79(3):335-339. View abstract.

Sowemimo, A. A., Fakoya, F. A., Awopetu, I., Omobuwajo, O. R., and Adesanya, S. A. Toxicity and mutagenic activity of some selected Nigerian plants. J Ethnopharmacol. 9-25-2007;113(3):427-432. View abstract.