Epazote
Dysphania ambrosioides
Herbs & Roots. Latin American & Amazon.
Also called Mexican tea, Wormseed, Paico, Goosefoot
Spanish: Epazote
Toxic oil; avoid as medicineA strong-smelling herb from Mexico and Central America, used in beans and soups and once used as a worm remedy.
Did you know? Epazote's Nahuatl name is often translated as 'skunk sweat,' a nod to its very strong smell.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Parasites & worms. Long used as a worm remedy. The oil is toxic, and modern human trials are missing, so it is not a safe home remedy for worms.Traditional proof
- Digestion & gut health. Cooks add it to beans to ease gas. No good trials test this claim.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Mexican and Central American cooks use epazote with beans and corn dishes. Folk healers used its oil and tea to expel worms, a use now considered unsafe.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Anti-parasite, Carminative. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Added fresh or dried to beans, soups, quesadillas and sauces, in small amounts. Teas and oils for worms are not safe, and no safe medicine dose is known.
Food and tea.
Where to get it
Native to tropical America and grown as a garden herb from Mexico to South America. Sold fresh or dried in Latin American markets and some specialty stores.
Be careful
The essential oil contains ascaridole, a toxic compound. Poisonings, including deaths, have been reported with the oil and with large doses. Avoid the oil, large amounts and medicine use, especially in pregnancy.
Avoid if: pregnancy; children under 12; liver disease; kidney disease; epilepsy.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Used together in Mexican bean dishes and salsas.
- Works well together
A common base for Mexican bean and soup recipes.
- Works well together
A frequent partner in Mexican bean and sauce dishes.
The honest take
In food amounts, epazote is a flavorful Mexican herb. Its worm and gas uses come from tradition, and the oil once used for worms is toxic. Do not use epazote oil or strong teas as a remedy.