Afsanteen Plant (Wormwood) Medicinal Uses, And Benefits

The Afsanteen plant (Wormwood) is also known as Artemisia absinthium, Worm seed, or Absinthe plant. Find out its medicinal uses, benefits, how to identify and grow it, and its traditional and international uses.

Afsanteen Plant Overview

Botanical Name	Artemisia absinthium
English Name	Worm seed, Absinthe
Urdu Name	Afsanteen
Common Name	Wormwood
Family	Asteraceae
Habit	Perennial Herb
Part Used	Leaves and Flowers
Medicinal Plants	Explore

Afsanteen Plant

Afsanteen is an herbaceous perennial plant, with a hard, woody rhizome. The stems are upright and grow to be 2-4 feet tall. They have lines on them, branches, and a silvery-green color.

The leaves of Wormwood are spirally arranged, greenish-grey above and white below, and covered with silky silvery-white hairs, the basal leaves are bipinnate to tripinnate with long petioles, with the cauline leaves smaller, less divided, and with short petioles; the uppermost leaves can be both simple and sessile.

Flowers of the Afsanteen plant are pale yellow, tubular, and clustered in spherical bent-down heads (capitula), which are in turn clustered. They are in leafy and branched panicles. Fruit is a small achene.

Distribution of Afsanteen Plant

Species of wormwood, native to temperate regions of Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia. In Pakistan, it is found in Swat, Chitral, Kurram, Parachinar, and AJK at altitudinal ranges from 1800 – 3000 m.

Medicinal Uses of Afsanteen Plant

Folk use

Taken internally, wormwood is said to help gastrointestinal digestion. It may promote menstruation, as well as help cool down fevers. Poultices to help heal bruising may be effective.

Tib (Traditional Islamic Medicine) Uses

In traditional tib medicine, Afsanteen preparations were used internally for gastric insufficiency, intestinal disorder, gastritis, stomachache, liver disorders, bloating, anemia, irregular menstruation, intermittent fever, loss of appetite, and worm infestations. It may be soothing to the nervous system.

International Uses of Afsanteen Plant

Afsanteen plant has been employed with success for the expulsion of the intestinal parasites Ascaris vermicularis and lumbricoides. Previous to the introduction of cinchona it was largely employed in malarial intermittent and was at one time a popular remedy for jaundice.

In small doses it is a stimulant tonic, improves the appetite, and is useful in a tonic state of the gastro-intestinal tract, as tonic dyspepsia, especially when due to alcoholic excesses, in flatulent colic, and in obstinate diarrhea. Principally used, however, as a warm fomentation for sprains, bruises, and local inflammations. It can be applied outside the body to help with ongoing stomach problems, using a special liquid or paste.

Culinary Uses of Afsanteen Plant

Extract of wormwood containing absinthe is found in a few European alcoholic beverages (notably Strega). Today, a tiny amount is sometimes used to flavor vermouth, and it’s enough to impact the taste.

Constituents of Afsanteen Plant

The chief constituent is a volatile oil. The oil contains thujone (absinthol), thujyl alcohol, cadinene, phellandrene, and pinene. Additionally, it has absinthin, a bitter substance, as well as tannin, resin, starch, and various salts.

Climate and Growth Conditions

• Climate: Tropical and Sub-tropical regions.
• Temperature: Max: 27.5°C, Min: 12.5°C
• Rainfall: 1500-2000 mm/year
• Soil: This plant prefers a well-drained humus rich fertile, sandy loam
• pH Range: 4.5-8.0
• Reproduction: By dividing the roots in autumn and by seeds.

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