Abrótano female: properties, remedies and precautions

In June, around the San Juan festivities, the bouquets of the female artemis (Santolina chamaecyparissus), displaying their tight golden strands to the sun. It is a characteristic plant of the western Mediterranean, very abundant in the eastern half of the Iberian Peninsula and with its own subspecies on the coasts of Mallorca and Menorca: the famous “Manzanilla de Mahón”.

Also Known As tansy weed, the artemisia is a woody and dense bush, very branched, with greyish, segmented leaves, and small flower heads of a beautiful yellow color, protected by external bracts. It is very rich in essential oil, with camphor and cineole, and contains flavonoids, tannins and phenolic acids.

Medicinal properties

The artemisia stands out as stomach tonic, with antispasmodic, digestive and carminative virtues. It is a great remedy to relieve gastrointestinal spasms and cramps that appear after meals in poor condition or that simply feel bad. Help to recover appetite and it is very effective for combat gaseshalitosis and gastroesophageal reflux, as well as to prevent flatulence. Artemisia is considered an emmenagogue. Helps normalize the rule and relieves the spasmodic pain of the period. It is also indicated against disorders of the menopause like back pain and migraines.Externally, artemisia is applied as anti-inflammatory and emollient on inflamed wounds. In gargles it is used to cure mouth sorestongue and inflamed and painful gums. It is also indicated for fungus of the skin and thrushas well as to treat conjunctivitis, eyelid inflammation and eye irritation.

Precautions

The essential oil, especially if it is pure, should not be taken orally.

Natural remedies with artemisia

In addition to the dried plant for infusion, artemisia is found in powders, infused with sodium chloride to apply in eye drops, and essential oil for massage.

1. Tea for heavy digestions

In case of gases and meteorisms it is recommended to combine artemisia with chicory, dandelion and green anise in equal parts.

How to prepare it

Add a tablespoon of the mixture for each glass of water. Boil for half a minute, leave another five at rest and take after strong and copious meals.

The simple infusion of artemisia -or combined with thyme and garlic cloves- has been widely used in rural environments against intestinal parasites such as pinworms and limbricoid ascaris.

2. Infusion for painful periods

There is a very tight formula that combines artemisia with calendula, chasteberry and mugwort.

How to prepare it

It is infused for ten minutes, strained and taken from the nine days before menstruation, three times a day.

3. Natural eye drops for conjunctivitis

This infusion for conjunctivitis and eyestrain combines artemisia with cornflower, eyebright and elderflowers in equal parts.

How to prepare it

Boil a tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water for two minutes, let it rest for five and filter. Compresses or pieces of cotton are soaked with the warm infusion and applied repeatedly to and around the closed eyes, renewing the cotton every time the eye is changed.

Jordi Cebrian. Advisor: J Mª Teixé, herbalist at “El Manantial de Salud”