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CARIBOU LEAVES Artemisia tilesii

  Description: Plant - Silver-green-grayish colored basal leaves, very fragrant, in dense mats; stem leaves somewhat divided, smaller; silver, dense hairs on stem; compact flower heads, 1/4 inch.

Habitat: - Poor, barren soil, steep cliffs, cut banks, disturbed soil.

Uses: - Artemisia is used by Athabascans as a wash for skin rashes, cuts, blood poisoning & infection; as a compress for toothache, earache & snow blindness; also for swelling, arthritis & other body aches. Fresh, raw leaves worn in socks treat athlete's foot. Commonly used by Athabascans & Northwest Inuit in steam baths: bundles of plants are gathered & lashed together at the stalks, then used to gently flagellate swollen or arthritic joints, sprained or sore limbs, or any part of the body to enjoy the stinging sensation. Caribou leaves are used internally as tea in small quantities through­out the day for colds. Occasionally mixed (dried) with chewing tobacco. Cooked leaves can be mixed with dog food to treat worms.

A. tilesii contains some interesting chemicals [cf. Economic Botany, 34(2), 1980, pp. 97-100] including thujone, which is commercially extracted from sage. The oil from several species of Artemisia is used in the manufac­ture of absinthe, a potent liqueur.

 Special Harvest or Processing Comments: - There are many species of Artemisia growing in Alaska & it is necessary to be able to tell them apart before you begin gathering them. The best reference for this is Hulten's Flora of Alaska.  If gathered for floral purposes or to use in the steam bath, concentrate on gathering taller stems. As an herb, gather whole, flowering plant, including basal leaves. Remove stems during or after drying.