Artemisia annua

Common Name: Sweet Annie or Qing hao

Family: Asteraceae (Aster family)

Parts used: Aerial parts prior to and during flowering

Constituents: Sesquiterpene lactones (artemisinin)

Taste/smell: Aromatic, bitter

Tendencies: Cooling

Actions

• Antimalarial

• Antiparasitic/Anthelmintic/Vermifuge

• Anti-cancer

• Antioxidant

Uses

Antimalarial

• Malaria

Antiparasitic/Anthelmintic/Vermifuge:

• Parasitic infections

Anti-cancer:

• Cancer, such as ovarian cancer

Contraindications

• Pregnancy and lactation

• Large internal doses

• Allergic hypersensitivity to Asteraceae family (i.e. arnica, chamomile, feverfew, ragweed, tansy, yarrow)

Adverse Effects

• Nausea

Toxicity

• Very little with the whole herb

• Isolated, high doses of its sesquiterpene lactones are neurotoxic

Interactions

• May need to be combined with iron for optimal efficacy