[3] It has been described physically as: Softly hairy, half woody, strongly aromatic shrub, 1-4 meters (m) high.

Simple, alternate, broadly elongated leaves, 7-20 cm long, with toothed margin and appendaged or divided base.

[5] Sambong works as an expectorant, an anti-diarrheal and an anti-spasmotic, all of which treat some symptoms of the common cold.

[2][3] The active ingredients exist in the volatile oil, made from the leaves of the sambong, which have mostly camphor and limonene, but also has traces of borneol, saponin, sesquiterpene, and tannin.

The Bodos, of Assam, India, use it as a flavourful herb and add it to soups, chicken, curries, and also as a side dish with chillies and native soda ash water called kharwi.