Locally named Damakese and its scientific name is Ocimum Lamifolium. Artemisia abyssinica or Chikugn (Amharic) is a species of wormwood that is traditionally used for intestinal problems, for infectious diseases.
It is used to treat coughs and colds, the fresh leaves are squeezed and the juice sniffed. The juice can also be used as an eye rinse for eye infections. Also used for Mich, an infection of fever with headache and mouth blisters. Known to be used for coughs and asthma.
Research notes other traditional uses for headache (as a dressing), paludism (malaria), ague, fever, stomachache, and as a diuretic. The smoke of the burning root is commonly inhaled for ‘Satan Beshita’ or ‘devil disease’ (Asres 2001). Withania or Gisewa is also found to have antifertility properties and to be traditionally used as a douche (aqueous extract) for its uterotonic and anti-implantation activity on butanol fraction extract (Desta, 1994).
In Ethiopian traditional practice, the roots of Verbena, or Atuch, are soaked in water and drunk to expel roundworms, help with snake bites, and relieve stomach aches and diarrhea. A ‘herb of all trades’, Verbena is found to have antimicrobial properties and is traditionally used for treating tropical ulcers.
