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Chenopodium ambrosioides - L.

Common Name Mexican Tea
Family Chenopodiaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards The essential oil in the seed and flowering plant is highly toxic. In excess it can cause dizziness, vomiting, convulsions and even death[222, 238]. The plant can also cause dermatitis or other allergic reactions[222]. The leaves and seeds of all members of this genus are more or less edible. However, many of the species in this genus contain saponins, though usually in quantities too small to do any harm. Although toxic, saponins are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down to a large extent in the cooking process. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K]. The plants also contain some oxalic acid, which in large quantities can lock up some of the nutrients in the food. However, even considering this, they are very nutritious vegetables in reasonable quantities. Cooking the plant will reduce its content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[238].
Habitats Mainly found on dry wasteland and cultivated ground[204, 268].
Range Tropical America. Naturalized in S. Europe[50].
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Chenopodium ambrosioides Mexican Tea


Chenopodium ambrosioides Mexican Tea
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Summary

Chenopodium ambrosioides L. is a synonym of Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants. This plant is now known as Dysphania ambrosioides.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Chenopodium ambrosioides is a ANNUAL/PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.7 m (2ft 4in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Seed
Edible Uses: Tea

Leaves - cooked[2]. The tender leaves are sometimes used as a potherb[183]. Used as a condiment in soups etc[46, 61, 105], they are said to reduce flatulence if eaten with beans[183]. The leaves have a rank taste due to the presence of resinous dots and sticky hairs[85]. The raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities, see the notes above on toxicity. Seed - cooked[105, 161]. The seed is small and fiddly, it should be soaked in water overnight and thoroughly rinsed before it is used in order to remove any saponins. An infusion of the leaves is a tea substitute[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Analgesic  Antiasthmatic  Antifungal  Carminative  Dysentery  Stomachic  Vermifuge

Mexican tea is a Central American herb that has been used for centuries to expel parasitic worms from the body[254]. The whole plant is analgesic, antiasthmatic, carminative, stomachic and vermifuge[1, 4, 21, 57, 145, 147, 171]. An infusion can be used as a digestive remedy, being taken to settle a wide range of problems such colic and stomach pains[254]. Externally, it has been used as a wash for haemorrhoids, as a poultice to detoxify snake bites and other poisons and is thought to have wound-healing properties[254]. Use with caution and preferably under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[21, 238]. This remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women[238]. See also the notes above on toxicity. Until fairly recently, this was one of the most commonly used vermifuges, though it has now been largely replaced by synthetic drugs[222]. The seed, or an essential oil expressed from the seed, was used[213]. It is very effective against most parasites, including the amoeba that causes dysentery, but is less effective against tapeworm[213, 238]. Fasting should not precede its use and there have occasionally been cases of poisoning caused by this treatment[213]. The oil is used externally to treat athlete's foot and insect bites[238]. One report says that it is an essential oil that is utilised[240]. This is obtained from the seed or the flowering stems, it is at its highest concentration in the flowering stems before seed is set, these contain around 0.7% essential oil of which almost 50% is the active vermifuge ascaridol[240]. The essential oil is of similar quality from plants cultivated in warm climates and those in cool climates[240]. The leaves are added in small quantities as a flavouring for various cooked bean dishes because their carminative activity can reduce flatulence[222].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye  Insecticide

The plant is used as a fumigant against mosquitoes and is also added to fertilizers to inhibit insect larvae[238]. Gold/green dyes can be obtained from the whole plant[168].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils but disliking shade[1, 200]. It prefers a moderately fertile soil[200]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.2 to 8.3. Plants are annuals or short-lived perennials[238]. They are not very hardy when grown outdoors in Britain and so are best grown as an annual[238]. Plants have often self-sown freely in our Cornish trial grounds, but the seed often germinates in the autumn and then does not manage to survive the winter[238]. This species is sometimes grown as a medicinal and culinary plant, especially in its native Mexico. The sub-species C. ambrosioides anthelminticum is more active medicinally and is the form most often cultivated for its vermicidal activity[238]. The bruised leaves emit an unpleasant foetid odour[245]. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is fleshy. Thick or swollen - fibrous or tap root [2-1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - whilst it can be sown in situ in mid to late spring, we have had better results by sowing the seed in a cold frame in early spring. Put a few seeds in each pot and thin to the best plant if necessary. Germination rates are usually very good and the seedlings should appear within a few days of sowing the seed. Plant out in late spring, after the last expected frosts.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

American wormseed; bluebush; Indian goosefoot; Jerusalem-tea; Mexican tea; Spanish-tea; wormseed. Spanish: apazote; aposote; biengranada; epazote; hierba hormiguera; huacatay; paico; pasote; pazote; pichan; pichen. French: ambroisie du Mexique; botrice; chenopode ambroisine; feuilles à vers; herbe à puces; herbe à vers; thé du Mexique; vermifuge. Chinese: tu jing jie. Bahamas: Jerusalem parsley. Brazil: ambrósia; ambrósia-do-México; anserina-vermífuga; ereva-mata-pulga; erva-das-lombrigas; erva-de-bicho; erva-de-Santa-Maria; erva-formigueira; mastruço; menstruço. Central America: epazote. Dominican Republic: chénopode; semen contra; semin contra. Haiti: simón contegras. Jamaica: bitter weed; hedge mustard; semicontract. Lesser Antilles: boldo; semen contra; worm bush; wormwood.

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Native to Mexico, and Central and South America. It has been actively introduced to be used as a culinary and aromatic herb, tea, and food commodity and currently can be found naturalized in Europe, the United States, the West Indies, Africa, Australia, Pacific Islands and Asia [1d].

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Dysphania ambrosioides is one of the most successful herbs colonizing both disturbed and agricultural areas in almost all continents. It is included in the Global Compendium of Weeds where it is listed as a noxious weed in the United States, Central and South America, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe (Randall, 2012). This species is considered invasive in a wide range of environments including areas in Australia, islands in the Pacific Ocean, Spain, Italy, Greece, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and South Africa [1d].

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

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Chenopodium acuminatum Annual0.6 -  LMHNM201
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Chenopodium muraleNettleleaf GoosefootAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM201
Chenopodium nuttalliaeHuauzontle, Nuttall's goosefootAnnual0.6 0-0  LMHNM401
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Chenopodium polyspermumAll-Seed, Manyseed goosefootAnnual0.9 0-0  LMHNM201
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Chenopodium quinoaQuinoa, Goosefoot, Pigweed, Inca WheatAnnual1.5 10-12 FLMHNM502
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

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Botanical References

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Links / References

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Readers comment

Lianik Borlasca   Thu Feb 19 02:29:55 2004

this plant also is named espazote and apazote in Central America. Is native from El salvador.

pradeep   Sat May 21 08:24:07 2005

Link: www.google.com chemicals obtained from chinepodium

MIGUEL ALEXANDRE DE ARAUJO NETO   Fri Sep 7 2007

Chenopodium ambrosioides is very common in Brazil. Apart from the properties mentioned in this page, that plant is also believed to promote, or help, broken bone recovery. To achieve this, fresh leaves are grounded and mixed with hot milk and honey. The resulting mixture is drunk twice a day for as long as necessary to help mend a broken bone. I cannot confirm whether this use is common elsewhere.

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