Artemisia afra

Artemisia afra Jacq.

Traditional Use

Used for respiratory ailments, coughs, colds, fever, digestive discomfort.

Chemical Constituents

Essential oils (1,8-cineole, camphor, alpha-thujone), sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, coumarins, polyacetylenes.

Preparation Method

Infusion: 1-2 tsp dried leaves per cup, steep 10 min. Tincture: 1:5 in 60% ethanol, 2-4ml 3x daily.

Dosage / Administration

Tea: 1 cup 2-3x daily. Tincture: 2-4ml 3x daily. Max 6g dried herb/day.

Safety Notes

Contains thujone; avoid during pregnancy/breastfeeding. Max 2 weeks use.

References

Van Wyk, B.-E. (2008). South African Journal of Botany.