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Artemisia cina - O.Berg.

Common Name Cina, Santonica
Family Asteraceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards Poisonous[4]. Skin contact with some members of this genus can cause dermatitis or other allergic reactions in some people[222].
Habitats Deserts[4].
Range E. Asia - Russia, Turkestan
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade
Artemisia cina Cina, Santonica


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Artemisia cina Cina, Santonica

 

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Summary

Cina or Santonica (Artemisia cina) is a herbaceous, perennial plant growing 20-40cm tall, occasionally up to 70cm. The plant is harvested from the wild, and also cultivated as the source of the anthelmintic drug alpha-santonin. It is Iran to Central Asia. It is a subshrub or perennial and grows primarily in the temperate biome.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Artemisia cina is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from August to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Digestive  Febrifuge  Homeopathy  Vermifuge

Cina is one of the safest and most reliable vermifuges, used especially on children[4]. Because of its bitter flavour, it is usually mixed with liquorice or some other pleasantly flavoured herb. The unexpanded floral heads and the seed contain the vermicide 'santonin'[4, 61, 171, 218]. This is an effective and rapid treatment for round worms, it is also effective for thread worms, though it does not affect tapeworms[4]. The plant is also used as a febrifuge and as an aid to the digestion[232]. Caution is advised in the use of this plant since it is poisonous in large doses[4]. This plant should not be used by pregnant women[254]. The dried flowers are used to make a homeopathic remedy[232]. This is particularly useful for complaints of the nervous system and the digestive tract[232]. A homeopathic remedy made from the plant is used to rid children of worms[238].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. Although this plant has woody stems, these tend to die back each winter, giving the plant a herbaceous habit. It is cultivated as a medicinal plant in Russia and N. America[61, 171, 266]. The following notes are based on the genus's general needs. Easily grown in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a sunny position[1, 200]. Established plants are very drought-tolerant [200]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy, and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor, dry soil[245]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Members of this genus are rarely, if ever, troubled by browsing deer[233]. Zone 6–9 is a cautious estimate, but we did not locate a sufficiently authoritative cultivar-style hardiness listing.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Seed - surface sow from late winter to early summer in a greenhouse[200]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Division in spring or autumn.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Cina; Santonica; Levant Wormseed

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Kazakhstan (southeast), Kyrgyzstan, China (Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu (northwest))

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Not listed.

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12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

O.Berg.

Botanical References

266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

VENK   Thu Oct 26 2006

Is it known for treatment of VITILIGO also?

Ajna Fern. Plants For A Future   Mon Oct 30 2006

We have not came across any records of this plant being used to treat vitiligo Two plants we do know have bean used in this way are Psoralea corylifolia & Ammi visnaga

Ajna Fern   Mon Oct 30 2006

We have not came across any records of this plant being used to treat vitiligo Two plants we do know have bean used in this way are Psoralea corylifolia & Ammi visnaga

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