Investigation

Artemesia campestris by Adam

1sagebrush13

Artemisia campestris. © 1sagebrush13

Lakota name: cahḣlóġan waśťémna
sound iconListen to Lakota Plant Name: cahḣlóġan waśťémna

Scientific name: Artemisia campestris

Common names: field sagewort, beach wormwood, field sagebrush, field wormwood, prairie sagewort, tall wormwood

Lakota uses: A tea from the roots is used for one who cannot urinate or whose bowels do not move, or for a woman who is having difficulty giving birth. Pulverized roots are used for perfume. Pulverized roots are put on the face of a sleeping man so he will not wake up and his horses can be stolen.  

Other medical uses: The herb is anthelmintic, antiseptic, cholagogue, deobstruent, emmenagogue, stomachic and tonic (see list of terms below). The main use of this herb is as an emmenagogue, and it is also a good stimulant tonic and has some nervine properties. The leaves have been chewed in order to treat stomach problems. The plant was used by some native North American Indian tribes as an abortifacient to terminate difficult pregnancies. The plant has been crushed and applied externally to rheumatic joints, eczema, bruises and sores. A poultice of the crushed leaves has been applied to sore eyes. An infusion of the roots has been used, especially on children, as a hair tonic and to treat scalp infections. It has been taken internally to promote urination and bowel movements.

Secondary compounds: A water extract of A. campestris showed a strong scavenging action of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals. A. campestris contains DPPH, which is an antioxidant.

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Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

Molecular structure of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). © 1sagebrush13

Federal status: It is very widespread and is sometimes considered to be invasive.  However, some subspecies are considered threatened and endangered.

Pollination: Field sagewort flowers are wind-pollinated.

Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

Artemisia campestris plants (© 2006 gwarcita) and flowers (© Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte)

Habitats: grassland, cliffs, prairie, sand barrens & dunes

South Dakota distribution: Counties: Fall River, Custer, Pennington, Lawrence, Harding, Perkins, Stanley, Hughes, Brule, Faulk, McPherson, Sanborn, Day, Marshall, Roberts, Codington, and Minnehaha.

US distribution: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY

Global distribution: Field sagewort is a circumboreal (throughout far northern regions) species with a wide distribution and altitudinal range in North America. It occurs in nearly all US states and Canadian territories.

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About This Page

Author: 1sagebrush13
Classroom Project: Medicinal Plants of the Lakota Sioux
Lead-Deadwood High School
Lead, South Dakota United States

License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0

Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to , Lead-Deadwood High School

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