Artemisia Annua is an herbal supplement that has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat malaria, inflammation and fevers.

It contains the active chemical compound artemisinin and it is from the plant family Asteracea.

In Chinese medicine, it is known as Qing Hao and other names include artemether, artemotil, artesunate, sweet annie, sweet wormwood or wormweed.

Artemisia Annua side effects are generally mild, though there have been drug interactions and condition incompatibilities reported in clinical trials. Negative side effects are also known from its use in Chinese medicine.

What is Artemisia Annua used for?

Artemisia Annua extract is used primarily as an anti-malaria drug, especially for Plasmodium Falciparum.

This type of malaria is one of the deadliest of the five forms of human malaria and accounts for most of the malaria related deaths. It is caused by the protozoan parasite transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito.

The WHO (World Health Organization) has recently approved a malaria treatment known as riamet (Coartem). It contains an extract from Artemisia Annua in a combination therapy. The active ingredients in the drug are lumefantrine 120 mg combined with artemether 20 mg.

The combination has a reported cure rate of up to 98% for malerian. The supplement is also sold as a tincture in health stores or as bulk leaves for making tea recipes. It has reviews of being an effective preventative measure when travelling to malaria infected areas.

Artemisia Annua may also be effective for slowing the progress of cancer, though this is an area where more research is needed. This supplement is being studied for its cytotoxicity (possessing a toxic action) against cancer.

A study published in Life Science Journal in 2001 showed it had a selective cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cells. In the study published in Planta Medica in November 2011 it showed this action again for Molt-4 human leukaemia cells.

In Chinese medicine, the seeds of this herb are a remedy for indigestion and excess gas. The leaves as used as a poultice or dressing to treat nosebleeds and abscesses.

It is also used in wreaths and potpourri items, known as sweet annie and stuffed inside pillows as aromatherapy for calming and pleasant dreams. It is described as having a strong medicinal woody scent.

Artemisia Annua also has antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Artemisia Annua Contraindications

This supplement is not recommended for anyone with watery diarrhea, a weak digestion or those with the condition know as food stagnation. In Chinese medicine, food stagnation arises from emotional distress and causes the qi and sometimes the blood as well to stagnate from poor dietary habits, phlegm, heat, and or cold disorders.

According to Chinese tradition, a hot type of food stagnation has symptoms of bad breath, dissentions, a preference for cold foods and drinks and the pulse is forceful and slippery. A slippery pulse is described as a round feeling pulse, like pearls coursing through the pulse with a rolling quality. It is also a pulse associated with pregnancy. In these conditions, Chinese medicine states that Artemisia Annua should not be used.

Chinese medicine also identifies cold food stagnation symptoms which include nausea, spitting up clear fluids, distentions and a preference for hot food. Additional symptoms include is a white greasy coat to the tongue and a weak thin pulse as in IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

This supplement is also not recommended for postpartum women with a blood deficiency, so as to prevent possible Artemisia Annua side effects.

If a diagnosis of spleen and stomach deficiency cold has been given this supplement should also be avoided. In Western medicine this type of deficiency cold is found in chronic conditions of enteritis, Hepatitis, nephritis, gastroenteritis and gastritis.

People with bleeding disorders, ulcer diseases, diabetes, jaundice, malnutrition or suffering from spasms or seizures should also avoid this supplement. Artemisia Annua should also not be taken with other herbal supplements including:

Da Huang, Scientific Name, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Common name Rhubarb Root and Rhizome.

Dang Gui, Radix Angelicae sinensis also known as Chinese Angelica Root, Tang-Kuei or Dong Quai Root

Sheng Di Huang, Radix rehmanniae, also known as Rehmannia Root, Chinese Foxglove Root.

Artemisia Annua Side Effects

Western medicine also identifies a number of contraindications for the Artemisia Annua plant and artemisinin extract. This supplement should be avoided by pregnant women, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. Some diabetic patients in trials have developed hypoglycaemia. There may be a risk of arrhythmias in patients taking drugs to prolong QT interval.

It is not to be taken with grapefruit juice as it may increase bioavailability of the artemether.

Other Artemisia Annua side effects that have been reported in clinical trials are abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. It has caused Pruritus, (itching) and urticaria (hives), and pain and abscess have developed at the injection site. Heart changes have included bradycardia and prolonged QT interval. The Artemisia Annua plant’s pollen has been reported to cause allergic reactions and headaches.

This herb may also interact with calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem) and verapimil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan).

Because of its antifungal properties this supplement shouldn’t be taken with antifungal medication such as griseofulvin (Gris-PEG), nystatin (Mycostatin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), fluconazole (Diflucan) and itraconazole (Sporanox).

Artemisia Annua side effects are well documented. Its effectiveness as a treatment for treating malaria is becoming more important as climate change turns more areas into malaria zones. Its potential for cytotoxicity against aggressive cancers of the breast, lung and thyroid and leukaemia are also being further studied.

To learn more about the benefits and side effects of Artemisinin supplements, speak to your doctor.

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Article last updated on:by Nootriment