African wormwood (Artemisia afra). A. afra is indigenous to Africa and is one of the oldest and best known medicinal plants. The list of uses covers a wide range of ailments from coughs, colds, fever, loss of appetite, colic, headache, earache and intestinal worms to malaria. Artemisia is used in many different ways and one of the most common practices is to insert fresh leaves into the nostrils to clear blocked nasal passages. The roots, stems and leaves are used as enemas, poultices, infusions, body washes, lotions, smoked, snuffed or drunk as a tea. Photographed in Cape Town, South Africa.