White Wormwood

Parts Usually Used

The aerial parts (stems and leaves), bark, and roots.

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.

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.

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

In traditional medicine, practitioners employed the plant for digestive complaints, including enteritis, intestinal disturbances, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Herbalists also administered it historically in attempts to manage arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bronchitis, the common cold, and neuralgias. Beyond its medicinal applications, pastoralists in the Algerian steppes historically utilized the plant as fodder for grazing livestock, particularly sheep and cattle.

How Sold

Herbal teas Aqueous extracts Essential oils Dried herb preparations