Umhlonyane has been used for decades by traditional healers to treat various illnesses, including respiratory symptoms, it can be consumed with water, used with steam to clear a blocked nose and chest, or inhaled in the plant form.

Used for its multitude of medicinal properties artemisia helps in the treatment of malaria, headaches, intestinals worms and increasing the appetite. Heating the leaves and inhaling the vapors helps clear the respiratory tract, thus treating the common cold, cough, sore throat, influenza and asthma.

The roots, stems and leaves are used and prepared as infusions, enemas, poultices, body washes and lotions. It is also smoked (to ease phlegm and ease sore throat), snuffed or drunk as a (very bitter) tea. Taken as a tea, the herb treats colic, constipation and expels worms.

​​​​​​​One of the most common practices is to insert fresh leaves into the nostrils to clear blocked nasal passages and stop nose bleeds. It is also used in socks for sweaty feet and used to infuse brandy. It is also used as a natural insecticidal spray and moth repellent. Warmed leaves applied as a poultice relieve inflammation such as arthritis while an aqueous infusion applied as a lotion can treat hemorrhoids.

Studies to verify or substantiate the traditional use of this herb are oncoming and its use in treating modern diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases are being investigated. One research project looked at the use of Artemisia to prevent coccidiosis in broiler chickens. There are four utility patents given for A. afra – two patents are in diabetes, one in cancer and one in diabetes and cardiovascular disease.