Chenopodium ambrosioides, var. Anthelminticum, Linne'. (A volatile oil distilled with steam from the fresh,  overground parts of the flowering and fruiting plant yielding not less than 65 p.c. ascaridol (CHO).

Habitat.  W. Indies, C. And S. America, waste places, roadsides; naturalized in United  States, Europe, Africa; cultivated in Maryland for the oil.

Syn.  American (Wild) Wormseed, Stinking Weed, Goosefoot, Jerusalem (Jesuit) Tea,  Jerusalem Oak (Jak), Fructus Chenopodii Anthelmintici; Ol. Chenopod., Oil of American  Wormseed; Fr. Anserine Vermifuge (plante fleurie), Essence de Chenopode  anthelmintique; Ger. Amerikanischer Wurmsamen, Wurmsamenol, Chenopodiumol.

Che-no-po'di-um.  L. See etymology, above, of Chenopodisceae.

Am-bro-si-oi'des.  L. Fr. Gr. A, priv., not, +  ..., mortal, + ..., like -- i.e., resembling  that which is immortal, once thought to effect that condition when taken.

An-thel-min'ti-cum.  L. Fr. Gr. ..., against, + ..., a worm i.e., worm antagonizer or  destroyer.

Plant

Annual or perennial, .6-1.6 M. (2-5 degrees) high; stem angular, furrowed, branched; leaves toothed, yellowish-green, gland-dotted on under surface; flowers July-Sept., greenish-yellow, dense leafy spikes.  Fruit, 2 Mm. 1/12') thick, size of pin's head, depressed-globular, greenish-gray, integuments friable, containing a lenticular, obtusely edged, glossy, black seed; odor peculiar, terebinthinate; taste bitter, pungent.  All parts of the plant have this disagreeable odor and same medicinal properties when dry and fresh; grows best in rubbish, along fences, in village streets, vacant lots, and should be collected in October.

Constituents

Volatile oil 3-3.5 p.c., from fresh herb .5 -1 p.c.

Oleum Chenopodii. Oil of Chenopodium. -- This volatile oil, obtained by distilling with water or superheated steam, is a colorless, pale yellowish liquid, peculiar, disagreeable odor, bitte      burning taste, soluble in 70 p.c. alcohol (8), sp. gr. 0.967,      levorotatory; contains a terpene-- pinene, C10H16, and       a liquid oxygenated portion (C10H16O2), ascaridol.      Should be kept cool, dark, in well-stoppered, amber-     colored bottles.  Dose, mij-10 (.13-.6 cc.).

  PREPARATIONS.--(Unoff.).  FRUIT: Fluidextract, mxv-     30 (1-2 cc.).  Decoction (water or milk), 3j-2 (30-60) cc.).       FRESH PLANT: Expressed Juice, 3ij-4 (8-15 cc.), ter die.

Chenopodium ambrosioides var. anthelminticum. Chenopodium ambrosioides.

Properties

Anthelmintic, vermifuge, round worms (Ascaris lumbricoides).

Uses

While mainly for worms, it has also been used in itermittents, hysteria, chorea, nervous affections, tenia. May give the powder incorporated with molasses or syrup, but the oil is more popular, being well taken on sugar by children. Should be given twice daily for several days on empty stomach, if possible, and follow with a dose of castor oil. Fruit, U.S.P. 1820-1890.

Allied Plants

1. Chenopodium ambrosioi'des, Herba Botryos Mexicanae, Mexican Tea. The fruit, U.S.P. 1890 Europe, Asia. This resembles very closely the preceding plant, the latter being, however, more strongly aromatic, leaves more deeply toothed, the lower ones often nearly pinnatifid, spikes more elongated, usually leafless; fruit of both alike .C. Bo'trys, Jerusalem Oak (Feather Geranium); Europe, Asia. Strongly aromatic; catarrh, asthma. C. Bo'nus Henri'cus, Good King Henry; Taste saline, mucilaginous. C. Al'bum, Pig Weed (Lamb's Quarters); taste mucilaginous, saline. C. Vulva'ria, Fetid Goosefoot; Europe; plant has fish-brint odor, due to trimethylamine.