Artemisia annua benefits include its use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) where it is known as Qing Hao.

It is traditionally used to treat fevers, including those associated with Malaria, and it has antibacterial and antifungal properties.

The constituent element thujone in the supplement is being studied as an antioxidant.

The Artemisinin extract from the herb also has restorative properties for febrile conditions and is used to boost immune system support. It is also used as a calming herb in aromatherapy.

It has a dream enhancing herb lore from its name Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt and the moon. This makes it a popular ingredient in the craft industry for herbal pillows and potpourri. It is used in the perfume industry and to flavor beverages and wine.

In cancer studies, Artemisia annua extract has shown cytotoxic activities and two of its components, artemisinin and artesunate are being studied as a cancer treatment.

Artemisia Annua Benefits

The herbal action properties of Artemisia Annua cited in Chinese and Japanese folk medicine include it being an antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative (for intestinal gas), diaphoretic (perspiration), as an emmenagogue (menstrual flow), as an expectorant (for bronchial secretions), an eupeptic (aids digestion) and as a bitter tonic (digestive).

It is used as a liver tonic as well with improved bile secretion. It is often used in jaundice and hepatitis treatment.

Artemisia Annua is used in TCM and western medicine for reproductive system disorders. It decreases the bleeding in a prolonged menstrual cycle, helps increase fertility in the womb, and soothes menstrual pain. It has received positive reviews for easing stiffness and soreness in Fibromyalygia.

The highest concentration of artemisinin – the active chemical ingredient – is found in its leaves prior to flowering. An ethnopharmacology study showed that 40% of artemisinin is made available through tea preparation methods.

The lipids and essential oils are used in cosmetics and for preventative skin treatments and to treat inflammation.

In traditional medicine, Artemisia Annua tea is also beneficial for treatment of summer fevers, blood deficiency or Yin deficiency fevers and to help recovery from symptoms of a febrile disease.

It is also used to treat purpuric rashes caused by bleeding underneath the skin from vasculitis, (inflammation of the blood vessels), scurvy or injury frailness of older skin as well as psoriasis. It is also used to treat epistaxis (nosebleed) from blood heat conditions.

Medicinal Uses of Artemisia Annua

Artemisia Annua is most commonly used today in modern medicine as a low-cost ingredient for the treatment of Malaria. It is also viewed as having fewer side effects than other malaria medications.

The WHO (World Health Organization) recently has approved riamet (Coartem) as a malaria treatment. This drug combines lumefantrine 120 mg and 20 mg artemether from the Artemisia Annua plant.

This combining of ingredients helps prevent a malaria drug resistance that often occurs when only one ingredient is used. It has a reported cure rate of 98 percent.

The anti-bacterial benefits of this supplement are used to treat parasitic conditions such as scabies, a contagious skin infection caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabie and bladder infections, without upsetting the intestinal flora.

Artemisia Annua benefits have also been shown to have anthelmntic (expels worms and parasite) properties and is used in particular for threadworm and ringworm conditions. Some natural health practitioners recommend it as part of a Lyme disease treatment protocol.

It is also being used against Onchocerciasis, river blindness in Africa. This disease is the second largest cause of blindness due to infection in the world. This supplement kills the Onchocerca volvulus parasite that causes this disease spread by the bites of a Simulium genus type of black fly and helps combat the symptoms. This disease is also present in Latin America, including Mexico.

Artemisia Annua and Artemisinin are also used in the treatment of African Sleeping sickness, which is transmitted by the tsetse fly from the parasite Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in infected animals to humans.

Clinical trials reported low incidence of side effects from Artemisia Annua supplements compared to alterative malaria drugs.

However, side effects of abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting have been observed. Itching, hives and rashes have also been reported.

There have also been reports of pain and abscess development at the injection site for intramuscular forms of artemisinin, as well as cardiovascular changes include bradycardia and prolongation of the QT interval.

This herb may also interact with calcium channel blockers and antifungal medication. In some cases it caused hypoglycaemia or low blood pressure.

It should never be taken with grapefruit juice. It should also be avoided for use in pregnant women, especially those during first trimester of pregnancy and post partum women with anemia.

Artemisia Annua should not be taken together with Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Radix Angelicae sinensis also known as Dong Quai Root or Radix rehmanniae.

Artemisia annua benefits include its use for anti-inflammation in the treatment of Fibromyalgia and its effectiveness as a malaria drug ingredient. It also has an enhancing effect on the immune system and for treating febrile conditions.

It is used as an anthelmintic in the treatments of African Sleeping Sickness and River Blindness. It also has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Studies are encouraging for its potential use as an anti-cancer treatment.

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Article last updated on:by Nootriment