Contents:
Common Names | Parts Usually Used | Plant(s) & Culture | Where Found | Medicinal Properties | Biochemical Information
Uses | Formulas or Dosages | How Sold | Warning | Resource Links
Scientific Names
- Artemisia herba-alba
- Artemisia aethiopica
- Artemisia aragonensis
- Artemisia lippii
- Artemisia ontina
- Seriphidium herba-alba
Common Names
- White Wormwood
- Desert Wormwood
- Armoise Herbe-Blanche (French)
- Armoise Blanche (French)
- Shīeḥ (Arabic: الشيح)
- La’anah (Hebrew: לענה)
- Chih
- Thym des Steppes
Parts Usually Used
The aerial parts (stems and leaves), bark, and roots.
Back to Top
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Artemisia herba-alba is a chamaeophyte shrub that grows to 20-40 cm (8-16 in) tall. The leaves are strongly aromatic and covered with fine glandular hairs that reflect sunlight, giving the plant a grayish appearance. The leaves of sterile shoots are grey, petiolate, and ovate to orbicular in outline, while the leaves of flowering stems are much smaller and more abundant in winter. The flowering heads are sessile, oblong and tapering at the base. The plant flowers from September to December, producing 2-5 yellowish hermaphrodite flowers per head.
Back to Top
Where Found
Native to:
- Mediterranean regions
- Northern Africa (Saharan Maghreb)
- Western Asia (Arabian Peninsula)
- Southwestern Europe
The plant grows commonly on dry steppes and prefers arid environments.
Back to Top
Medicinal Properties
- Antiseptic
- Antispasmodic
- Vermifuge
- Antibacterial
- Antidiabetic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Analgesic
- Antimicrobial
- Haemostatic
- Cytotoxic against cancer cells
- Hypoglycemic
Biochemical Information
Major active compounds include:
- Essential oils:
- 1,8-cineole
- α/β-thujone
- Terpinen-4-ol
- Camphor
- Borneol
- Davanone
- Chrysanthenone
- Cis-chrysanthenol
- Santolina alcohol
- Yomogi alcohol
- Sesquiterpene lactones:
- Eudesmanolides
- Germacranolides
- Flavonoids:
- Patuletin
- Hispidulin
- Cirsilineol
- Isovitexin
- Schaftoside
- Isoschaftoside
Uses
Traditional medicinal uses include:
- Treatment of enteritis and intestinal disturbances
- Relief from stomach pain and anxiety
- Management of diabetes mellitus
- Treatment of bronchitis and common cold
- Management of parasitic infections
- Treatment of neuralgias
- Relief from diarrhea
- Management of arterial hypertension
The plant is also used as fodder for grazing animals, particularly sheep and cattle in Algerian steppes.
Back to Top
Formulas or Dosages
Due to limited research, there isn’t enough reliable information to determine appropriate dosages. Natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Follow relevant directions on product labels and consult healthcare professionals before using.
Back to Top
How Sold
- Herbal teas
- Aqueous extracts
- Essential oils
- Dried herb preparations
Warning
- Side effects may include low blood pressure and low heart rate
- Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding
- May interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery – stop taking at least 2 weeks before scheduled surgery
- May interact with diabetes medications – monitor blood sugar levels closely if taking together
- Limited research on long-term safety
- Consult healthcare provider before use
Resource Links
Artemisia Herba-Alba Shows Promise in Battling Colorectal Cancer
Wikipedia – Artemisia herba-alba
WebMD – Artemisia Herba-Alba – Uses, Side Effects, and More
ScienceDirect – Artemisia Herba-Alba
