Annual hibiscus is used as a stimulant and antispasmodic in curing snakebites, stomach and intestinal disorders. It helps in treating ailments such as cramps, loss of appetite, headaches, stomach cancer, hysteria, gonorrhea and respiratory disorders.

Annual hibiscus forms an ingredient in vermouths, bitters and other food products. The herb is used in relieving spasms of the digestive tract, poor circulation and aching joints. It is used in the manufacturing of cosmetics like perfumes, soaps, detergents, creams and lotions.

Annual hibiscus is considered as an insecticide also. The herb is used by the Arabs for flavoring coffee. Its seeds are crushed and steam distilled to produce a volatile oil called musk seed oil or ambrette seed oil. The seeds are known to be antiseptic, cooling, tonic, carminative and aphrodisiac.

The leaves and roots of annual hibiscus are helpful in curing gonorrhoea and venereal diseases. Its seeds are used as an inhalation, when suffering from hoarseness and dryness of throat. The unripe pods, leaves and new shoots of the herb are consumed as vegetables. The plant’s root mucilage provides sizing for paper. On the other hand, the flowers are sometimes used to flavor tobacco.

Annual hibiscus is also used in making traditional herbal liquor called Benedictine.