Wormwood, Black Walnut and Clove: An Australian Buyer's Guide
Wormwood, Black Walnut and Clove: An Australian Buyer's Guide
By Charlie Tran, founder of Health and Heal Supplements. Charlie has spent seven years sourcing and selling health supplements to Australian customers. Last updated September 2026.
Wormwood, black walnut and clove are almost always sold together, and if you have been comparing products in Australia you will have noticed they come in capsules, softgels and liquid drops, at wildly different strengths, sometimes as a three-ingredient blend and sometimes as part of a twenty-ingredient formula. This guide explains what each ingredient is, why they are combined, and how to work out which format and strength actually suits you.
The three core ingredients
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
A silvery-leaved perennial herb native to Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia, and now naturalised across much of the world including parts of Australia. It belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae, alongside chamomile and echinacea. Wormwood is one of the most bitter plants used in herbalism, which is why it has historically featured in digestive bitters and aperitifs. Its leaves and flowering tops are the parts used in supplements.
Black walnut (Juglans nigra)
A large hardwood tree native to eastern North America. The green outer husk of the nut, rather than the nut itself, is the part used in botanical preparations. The husk is rich in tannins and naturally contains juglone, the compound responsible for the dark staining it leaves on skin and cloth.
Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)
The dried unopened flower bud of a tropical evergreen native to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. Familiar as a kitchen spice, clove is also one of the most concentrated natural sources of eugenol, the aromatic compound that gives it its characteristic scent and warmth.
Why are they sold together?
The three-ingredient pairing comes from traditional Western herbal practice, where the combination has been used together for generations. The convention has carried through into modern supplement formulation, which is why you will rarely find one of the three sold alone. Most Australian products follow the same pattern: wormwood leaf, black walnut hull and clove bud, in varying ratios.
Beyond the core three, many formulas add supporting botanicals. Garlic, pumpkin seed, oregano and papaya leaf are common additions, and it is these that turn a three-ingredient blend into a "18-in-1" or "20-in-1" product.
Three ingredients or twenty? How to choose
More ingredients is not automatically better, and the trade-off is real:
- Three-ingredient blends put the full dose into wormwood, black walnut and clove. If those are what you want, a simpler formula gives you more of them per serving.
- Multi-ingredient formulas spread the same capsule across many botanicals. You get broader coverage, but each individual ingredient is present at a lower amount.
Neither is superior. Decide which you want first, then compare products within that group rather than across both.
Capsules, softgels or liquid drops?
| Feature | Capsules | Softgels | Liquid drops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contains | Dry powdered herb or extract | Oil-based preparation | Liquid extract |
| Dose control | Fixed per capsule | Fixed per softgel | Adjustable drop by drop |
| Taste | None | None | Distinctly bitter |
| Swallowing | Standard capsule size | Usually smaller, easier | No swallowing required |
| Servings per bottle | Typically 30 to 120 | Typically 60 to 240 | Typically 30 |
| Suits you if | You want a simple fixed daily serving | You find capsules hard to swallow | You want to start low and adjust |
In practice most people choose drops for one of two reasons: they want to begin with a smaller serving and work up, or they dislike swallowing capsules. Wormwood is genuinely bitter in liquid form, so if taste matters to you, capsules or softgels are the easier option. Drops can be diluted in water or juice to soften this.
Reading the label: what actually matters
Products in this category vary more than almost any other botanical supplement. Worth checking before you buy:
- Which part of the plant. Black walnut hull and black walnut leaf are different. Wormwood leaf is standard. The label should name the part explicitly.
- Milligrams per serving, not per bottle. A 600mg blend across three ingredients is not the same as 600mg of each. Check whether the figure is total or per ingredient.
- Servings per container versus capsule count. A 240-softgel bottle at four per serving is 60 servings, not 240. Price per serving is the only fair comparison.
- Extract ratio or standardisation. A stated ratio tells you the concentration. "Proprietary blend" with no breakdown does not.
- GMP manufacturing and batch testing. Both should be stated plainly rather than implied.
- Australian stock. Local dispatch avoids international shipping delays and customs holds on botanical products.
Our range
We stock this family in every format, so you can pick on preference rather than availability.
Capsules
- Wormwood, Black Walnut & Clove Capsules 600mg — the straightforward three-ingredient blend, 60 capsules.
- Wormwood, Black Walnut, Pumpkin Seed & Clove Capsules — 18-ingredient formula with garlic and oregano, 120 capsules.
- The same formula as a 3 Pack Bundle — 360 capsules.
- Liposomal Wormwood, Black Walnut & Clove — liposomal preparation.
Softgels
- Solo Tree 18-in-1 Botanical Softgels — 240 softgels.
- The same formula as a 3 Pack Bundle — 720 softgels.
Liquid drops
- Acential Labs Black Walnut, Wormwood, Clove & Garlic Drops — 20-in-1 blend, 60mL.
- OneBotanicl Sweet Wormwood Drops — note this is Artemisia annua, the different species described in the FAQ below, 60mL.
Dispatch is from our Melbourne and Adelaide locations, with free standard shipping on orders over $69 AUD.
How to take them
Take as directed on the product label. Capsules and softgels are usually taken with water and food. Drops can be taken directly or diluted in water or juice. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose, and take consistently as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
Consult a healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medication, or managing a health condition. Wormwood is a member of the Asteraceae family, so if you have a known allergy to plants in that family — ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold or daisy — speak to your doctor or pharmacist first. Black walnut is derived from a tree nut and should be avoided if you have a nut allergy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between wormwood and sweet wormwood?
Artemisia absinthium (wormwood) and Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood) are different species in the same genus. Products in this category use Artemisia absinthium. Check the botanical name on the label if you are unsure which you are buying.
Is black walnut safe if I have a nut allergy?
Black walnut is a tree nut. If you have a known nut allergy, do not use these products without speaking to your doctor first.
Capsules or drops — which is stronger?
Neither format is inherently stronger. Strength depends on the milligrams per serving and the extract ratio, which you compare on the label. Format is a question of preference and dose control, not potency.
What does "18-in-1" or "20-in-1" mean?
It refers to the number of botanical ingredients in the formula. It says nothing about the amount of any one of them, so compare the per-serving figures rather than the headline number.
How long does a bottle last?
Divide the capsule, softgel or millilitre count by the serving size on the label. A 240-softgel bottle at four per serving lasts 60 days; a 60-capsule bottle at two per serving lasts 30.
Do you ship Australia-wide?
Yes. We dispatch from Melbourne and Adelaide to all states and territories, with free standard shipping on orders over $69 AUD.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use. These products are complementary medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary. Seek professional advice if you have a medical condition or are taking other medicines.