Old-man
StarArtemisia abrotanum
Synonyms: Artemisia sabulosa, Artemisia abrotanifolia, Abrotanum pedunculare, Abrotanum platylobum, Artemisia altissima, Artemisia naronitana, Artemisia camphorata var. pauciflora, Artemisia camphorata var. rhodanica, Abrotanum viridulum, Abrotanum xerophilum, Abrotanum pulverulentum, Abrotanum rhodanicum, Abrotanum suave, Artemisia camphorata var. alpestris, Abrotanum virgatum, Artemisia angustifolia, Artemisia proceriformis, Artemisia anethifolia, Artemisia camphorata var. xerophila, Artemisia foeniculacea, Artemisia tenuissima, Artemisia camphorata var. peduncularis, Artemisia camphorata var. platyloba, Abrotanum pauciflorum, Abrotanum incanescens, Abrotanum mas, Abrotanum alpestre, Abrotanum ambiguum, Abrotanum brachylobium, Abrotanum congestum, Artemisia herbacea
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Artemisia abrotanum, commonly known as southernwood, old man, lad's love or boy's love, is a semi-evergreen aromatic shrub in the family Asteraceae thought to be native to southern Europe and southwestern Asia but long cultivated throughout temperate Eurasia. It typically grows 60 to 120 cm tall, with woody lower stems and herbaceous, much-branched upper growth that often dies back partially in winter. The foliage is the chief ornamental feature: finely divided into thread-like, pinnate or bipinnate, grey-green to silvery segments that emit a strong, pleasantly bitter, lemony-camphoraceous fragrance when crushed. In cultivation the plant rarely flowers freely; when it does, the small, dull yellowish, nodding flower heads are borne in loose terminal panicles in late summer. It has been cultivated in monastery gardens, cottage gardens and herb gardens since at least the Middle Ages, where it was traditionally grown as a strewing herb, moth repellent and medicinal plant. It is closely related to wormwood (A. absinthium) and tarragon (A. dracunculus).
Active Constituents
Piperitone
Monoterpene ketoneConcentration: 20.4–38.5% of the essential oil (often the major component)
The dominant volatile in many southernwood chemotypes; contributes minty-camphoraceous aroma and to antimicrobial and spasmolytic properties of the oil.
1,8-Cineole
Monoterpene ether (oxide)Concentration: 0–33% of the oil (chemotype-dependent)
Expectorant, spasmolytic and anti-inflammatory monoterpene; one of the constituents identified as active in the anti-allergic nasal-spray preparation.
Davanone
Sesquiterpene ketoneConcentration: Notable oil constituent (chemotype-dependent)
A sesquiterpenoid identified, with 1,8-cineole and linalool, as an active essential-oil component of the clinically studied nasal spray for allergic rhinitis.
Camphor and borneol
Bicyclic monoterpene ketone / alcoholConcentration: camphor up to ~45% and borneol ~2–9% in some chemotypes
Rubefacient, mildly antiseptic terpenoids contributing to the warming, aromatic character used traditionally for topical and digestive complaints.
Coumarins (isofraxidin, umbelliferone, scopoletin, herniarin, esculetin)
Simple and methoxy-coumarinsConcentration: Non-volatile phenolic fraction
Coumarins are among the compounds responsible for insect-repellent activity and contribute to spasmolytic and mild anticoagulant-type effects; they are part of the plant's characteristic scent.
Flavonols (centaureidin, casticin, quercetin dimethyl-ethers, rutin)
Methylated flavonols and flavonol glycosidesConcentration: Flavonol fraction (~11 mg/g rutoside-equiv.)
Centaureidin, casticin and quercetin dimethyl-ethers were identified as the active flavonols in the anti-allergic nasal spray; the fraction contributes antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activity.
Phenolic acids (rosmarinic, chlorogenic, caffeic, isochlorogenic acids)
Hydroxycinnamic (phenolic) acidsConcentration: ~9 mg/g total phenolics (gallic-acid-equiv.)
Strong antioxidants contributing to radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts.
Abrotine
AlkaloidConcentration: Minor alkaloidal constituent
The bitter alkaloid historically associated with the plant's name and its traditional use as a bitter tonic, febrifuge and appetite stimulant.
Preparation Methods
Infusion (bitter tonic tea)
Parts: dried leaves, flowering tops
A light infusion of the dried aromatic leaves is used traditionally as a bitter to stimulate appetite and digestion, as a febrifuge and as an anthelmintic (historically in children). Because the herb contains thujone-type and other neuroactive volatiles, use should be short-term and moderate, and it is avoided in pregnancy and lactation.
Standardised nasal spray extract
Parts: aerial parts (herba)
A characterised extract combining the essential-oil and flavonol fractions has been formulated as a nasal spray for allergic rhinitis, giving rapid symptomatic relief in a clinical pilot study – a modern, better-tolerated delivery route than oral preparations.
External application / insect repellent
Parts: fresh or dried aerial parts, essential oil
The crushed herb or its oil is applied to the skin or used in sachets/baths; the essential oil and coumarins give documented repellency against ticks (Ixodes ricinus) and mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti), consistent with the folk names “lad's love” and the traditional moth- and insect-repellent use.
Clinical Studies
Characteristics, clinical effect profile and tolerability of a nasal spray preparation of Artemisia abrotanum L. for allergic rhinitis
A nasal spray containing an Artemisia abrotanum extract (essential oils 4 mg/mL with 1,8-cineole, linalool and davanone; flavonols 2.5 µg/mL with centaureidin, casticin and quercetin dimethyl-ethers) was tested in patients with allergic rhinitis. Application produced rapid (within minutes) relief of nasal congestion, rhinorrhoea and sneezing comparable to an antihistamine, with additional ocular and bronchial symptom improvement in some patients and good tolerability.
Historical Texts
Dioscorides, De Materia Medica; Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia
1st century CEHildegard of Bingen and medieval Germanic herbals
10th–12th centuryRenaissance herbals (Brunfels, Bock, Fuchs) and Syrenius's Polish “Zielnik”
16th–17th centuryReferences
- Woźniak D, Matkowski A, et al.. Artemisia abrotanum L. (Southern Wormwood) – History, Current Knowledge on the Chemistry, Biological Activity, Traditional Use and Possible New Pharmaceutical and Cosmetological Applications . Molecules (2021) [DOI]
- Remberg P, Björk L, Hedner T, Sterner O. Characteristics, clinical effect profile and tolerability of a nasal spray preparation of Artemisia abrotanum L. for allergic rhinitis . Phytomedicine (2004) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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