Chenopodium, also known as goosefoot, includes plants used for food and essential oils. Quinoa, a popular alternative to wheat, is a member of this genus. Chenopodium album is used for food in India and its stem can be used as a walking stick. Wormseed oil, made from American worm, is used as a homeopathic remedy for roundworm infestations in children, but can be toxic in large doses. Pollen from chenopodium plants can cause hay fever.
Chenopodium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants more commonly known as goosefoot. Plants in the genus chenopodium are grown for food crops and distilled for use as essential oils to treat ailments, such as intestinal worms in children. One plant of this genus that has grown in popularity in recent years is quinoa, which can be used as an alternative to wheat in making bread and other pastries because it is free of gluten, which affects celiac disease sufferers. Quinoa can also be used to produce a higher quality oil than corn oil.
A common use of chenopodium plants is as a food source. Chenopodium album is a weedy plant that grows abundantly in North India. There, its leaves are often used for soups and stuffed breads, while the seeds can be used to make fermented drinks. In India, the plant is known as bathua. The stem of this plant is extremely rigid and can be used as a walking stick.
Plants in this genus, especially what is known as American worm, are often cultivated for use in essential oils. Wormworm oil, often also listed as simply chenopodium oil, has a pungent odor that has been compared to turpentine. It has a terrible taste and a pale yellow color that darkens with age. It is given orally, in small amounts, as a homeopathic remedy to treat roundworm infestations in children. Used for this purpose, the oil is toxic to the worms, killing them and allowing the child to simply excrete them.
Wormseed oil is also toxic to humans in large doses, and should be administered with care and only when deemed medically necessary, as it can have both cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. Those considering using it should seek professional advice before taking the oil. This compound has been used as an expectorant, but it can easily fail in this role and become dangerous if too much is taken.
Additionally, the oil can act as a diuretic, causing increased urination if taken incorrectly. Despite its taste, odor, and toxicity, the oil is extremely versatile and is made in the United States. The largest area of commercial growth and oil creation is in central Maryland.
Pollen from several common chenopodium plants, including the aforementioned chenopodium album, which is also known as chicken foot pollen, has been cited as a common cause of hay fever. This is due to both their abundance and the ability of the seeds to remain in the soil for years. Many species in this genus are extremely hardy and are considered weeds due to both their proliferation and allergenic properties.
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