Thujone toxicity

Is thujone toxic?

Dangers of thujone

Thujone is a highly toxic principle, mainly affecting the brain and liver. The fatal dose in mice is stipulated at about 45 mg per kilo of weight.

In people, it is toxic by accumulation causing vomiting, seizures or epileptic episodes.

Applied on the skin causes dermatitis.

Thujone is toxic by accumulation

It is not advisable to consume plants with thujone usually.

Thujone must be avoided by children and women in pregnancy or breastfeeding

Children and pregnant women are more sensitive to its components and should not consume them. Breastfeeding women could provide this component to a baby though her milk.

Is thujone a legal substance?

Currently the legislation establishes maximum doses of thujone in beverages and foods prepared with plants containing this substance, so that all the products that are on the market have (or should) low levels of this component. Still, there are the following recommendations:

• The consumption of distillates such as absinthe is not recommended because of the toxic potential of alcohol and thujone.
• The  frequent consumption of plants that contain thujone , such as wormwood, is not recommended (although they are edible and can be used punctually, for example as a spice).
• Do not use essential oils from plants rich in thujone.

More information on thujone

Written by Vicente Martínez Centelles Founder of the web and director. Teacher of natural sciences, expert in plants, natural remedies and botanical photography.

14 June, 2019