Botanical name
Artemesia afra
Parts Used
Leaves and rarely the roots.
Description
Perennial shrub, which can grow up to 2 meters high. Common
in South Africa and can be found sparsely as far as Ethiopia. It is one
of the most widely used traditional medicines in South Africa.
Constituents.
Volatile Oils:
Cineole, Alpha-thujone, Beta –thujone, Camphor, Borneol.
Other:
Turprnoids, Coumarins and Acetylenes.
Dosage Recommendations
Most herbalists recommend 3 - 12 grams of Als per day for therapeutic
purposes.
Medicinal Actions
Analgesic, Anti microbial, Anti oxidative, Anti helminthetic,
Antihistamine, Decongestant, Narcotic, Purgative, Stoma chic
Used in the following internal
illnesses
Coughs, Colds, Floo, Fever, Loss of appetite, Colic, Headache,
Malaria, Intestinal worms, Whooping cough. Gout, Blood poisoning/
Applications.
Tea, Tincture, Capsules
Sometimes the herbs are boiled in water and the fumes inhaled.
External Medicinal Use
Blocked nasal passages, Hemorrhoids, Congested lungs, Throat irritation,
Night coughing, Eye lotion, Sore feet, Ear ache
Applications.
Plugs of the herb are inserted
into the nasal passages.
Bathing in a decoction soothes
hemorrhoids
Used as a vapour for menstrual
chills.
A warm infusion dropped gently
into the ear alleviates earache.
Leaves can be packed into shoes
to prevent sweating and sore feet.
An infusion is used as an eye
lotion.
The dried leaves are smokes for
congested lungs, throat irritation, night coughing
Energetics.
Pungent, Bitter.
Contra indications and side
effect
No toxicity although smoking the herb is mildly hallucinogenic and could
be toxic.
Chakra.
Mainly 3rd but affects 4th and 5th
chakra.
Astrology.
Falls under the influence of Mars.
Signature.
The shape of the leaves resembles the mucosa of the digestive system.
Mythology
Has a strong pungent smell, which repels moths.
A sprig inserted under the pillow forms vivid dreams.
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