Sweet Annie

(Artemisia annua)

Other Names:

Sweet wormwood, sweet sagewort, annual mugwort, and annual wormwood

Range:

Family:

Asteraceae - Aster or Composite Family

Growth Type:

Herbaceous annual

Height:

Can grow from 12" to 40" tall

Leaves:

The glabrous leaves of A. annua have a length of 3–5 cm and are divided by deep cuts into two or three small leaflets. The intensive aromatic scent of the leaves is characteristic.

Stem/Trunk:

Erect herbaceous stems.

Flower Appearance:

Pale yellow, tubular flowers are clustered in sphere-shaped bent-down heads. These heads are clustered into branched panicles.

Seed/Fruit:

he small greenish-yellow flowers have a diameter of 2–2.5 mm and are arranged in loose panicles.

Miscellaneous characteristics:

N/A.

Parts Used:

Arial parts of the plant

Culinary Uses:

None Known

Energetics:

Taste: Bitter
Thermal: Warming
Humidity: Drying

Traditional Medicinal Uses:

Sweet wormwood has been used to treat allergies, hay fever, fevers, digestive disorders, malaria, respiratory infections, and in the treatment of wounds.

Indications

Arthritis, Ascaris, Atonic Dyspepsia, Biliary disorders, Coccidiosis, Chronic Gastritis, Colic, Enterobius, Flatulence, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Indigestion, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's Disease), Malabsorption, Nausea, Plaque Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Indications Citations

Artemisia annua has a long history of use. The fact that studies concerning all indications listed above have not yet been completed, does not mean said uses are invalid. The plants I have included have a long history of effective use, and most were part of the U.S. Pharmacopoeia prior to the advent of allopathic medicine.

Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (Hayfever): Rhinitis: Lou H, Huang Y, Ouyang Y, Zhang Y, Xi L, Chu X, Wang Y, Wang C, Zhang L. Artemisia annua-sublingual immunotherapy for seasonal allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled trial. Allergy. 2020 Aug;75(8):2026-2036. doi: 10.1111/all.14218. Epub 2020 Feb 23. PMID: 32030780.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Yang M, Guo MY, Luo Y, Yun MD, Yan J, Liu T, Xiao CH. Effect of Artemisia annua extract on treating active rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized controlled trial. Chin J Integr Med. 2017 Jul;23(7):496-503. doi: 10.1007/s11655-016-2650-7. Epub 2016 Dec 29. PMID: 28035541.

Osteoarthritis (OA of knee and hip): Stebbings S, Beattie E, McNamara D, Hunt S. A pilot randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of an extract of Artemisia annua administered over 12 weeks, for managing pain, stiffness, and functional limitation associated with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. Clin Rheumatol. 2016 Jul;35(7):1829-36. doi: 10.1007/s10067-015-3110-z. Epub 2015 Dec 3. PMID: 26631103.

Coccidiosis (Common): Fatemi A, Asasi K, Razavi SM. Anticoccidial effects of Artemisia annua ethanolic extract: prevention, simultaneous challenge-medication, and treatment. Parasitol Res. 2017 Sep;116(9):2581-2589. doi: 10.1007/s00436-017-5567-y. Epub 2017 Aug 1. PMID: 28766151.

Medicinal Actions:
Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antiarthritic, Anticoccidial, Antihistamine, Anti-Inflammatory, Antimalarial, Antimicrobial, Antiparasitic, Antipsoriatic, Antiretroviral, Antirheumatic, Astringent, Bitter, Carminative, Cholagogue, Choleretic, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Immunomodulator, Nervine, Stomachic, Tonic: Kidney, Tonic: Uterine

This plant has been shown, by scientific studies, to exibit the following medicinal actions. The fact that studies concerning all of the traditional medicinal actions listed above have not yet been completed, does not mean said actions are invalid. The plants I have included have a long history of effective use, and most were part of the U.S. Pharmacopoeia prior to the rise of allopathic medicine.

Analgesic (Relieves pain): Stebbings S, Beattie E, McNamara D, Hunt S. A pilot randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of an extract of Artemisia annua administered over 12 weeks, for managing pain, stiffness, and functional limitation associated with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. Clin Rheumatol. 2016 Jul;35(7):1829-36. doi: 10.1007/s10067-015-3110-z. Epub 2015 Dec 3. PMID: 26631103.

Antihistamine (Common): Lou H, Huang Y, Ouyang Y, Zhang Y, Xi L, Chu X, Wang Y, Wang C, Zhang L. Artemisia annua-sublingual immunotherapy for seasonal allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled trial. Allergy. 2020 Aug;75(8):2026-2036. doi: 10.1111/all.14218. Epub 2020 Feb 23. PMID: 32030780.

Anti-Inflammatory (Common): Stebbings S, Beattie E, McNamara D, Hunt S. A pilot randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of an extract of Artemisia annua administered over 12 weeks, for managing pain, stiffness, and functional limitation associated with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. Clin Rheumatol. 2016 Jul;35(7):1829-36. doi: 10.1007/s10067-015-3110-z. Epub 2015 Dec 3. PMID: 26631103.

Antiretroviral (Treats AIDS Virus): Twinomujuni SS, Atukunda EC, Mukonzo JK, Nicholas M, Roelofsen F, Ogwang PE. Evaluation of the effects of Artemisia Annua L. and Moringa Oleifera Lam. on CD4 count and viral load among PLWH on ART at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. AIDS Res Ther. 2024 Apr 16;21(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s12981-024-00609-4. PMID: 38627722; PMCID: PMC11020329.

Antirheumatic (Treats rheumatoid arthritis): Yang M, Guo MY, Luo Y, Yun MD, Yan J, Liu T, Xiao CH. Effect of Artemisia annua extract on treating active rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized controlled trial. Chin J Integr Med. 2017 Jul;23(7):496-503. doi: 10.1007/s11655-016-2650-7. Epub 2016 Dec 29. PMID: 28035541.

Astringent (Has a drying action on tissue): Lou H, Huang Y, Ouyang Y, Zhang Y, Xi L, Chu X, Wang Y, Wang C, Zhang L. Artemisia annua-sublingual immunotherapy for seasonal allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled trial. Allergy. 2020 Aug;75(8):2026-2036. doi: 10.1111/all.14218. Epub 2020 Feb 23. PMID: 32030780.

Anticoccidial (Prevents or treats Coccidiosis): Fatemi A, Asasi K, Razavi SM. Anticoccidial effects of Artemisia annua ethanolic extract: prevention, simultaneous challenge-medication, and treatment. Parasitol Res. 2017 Sep;116(9):2581-2589. doi: 10.1007/s00436-017-5567-y. Epub 2017 Aug 1. PMID: 28766151.

Constituents:

Leaf: (E)-6-Methyl-3,5-Heptadien-2-One, 1,8-Cineole, 6,7,3',4'-Tetra-O-Methyl-Quercetagetin, Allo-Aromadendrene, Alpha-Humulene, Alpha-Pinene, Alpha-Terpinene, Artemisia-Ketone, Artemisinin, Benzyl-3-Methyl-Butyrate, Beta-Cadinene, Beta-Cubebene, Beta-Farnesene, Camphene-Hydrate, Camphor, Caryophyllene-Oxide, Cuminaldehyde, Eo, Friedelan-3-Beta-Ol, Friedelin, Isoeugenol, Longipilene, Myrtenal, Myrtenol, P-Ethylcumene, Sabinaketone, Sabinene, Sabinol, Santolinatriene, Trans-2,7-Dimethyl-4,6-Octadien-2-Ol

Plant: 3,3,6-Trimethyl-Hepta-1,5-Dien-4-Ol, 3,5-Dihydroxy-6,7,3',4'-Tetramethoxyflavone, 3-Isobutylcadin-4-En-11-Ol, 3-Methyl-Pinocarvone, 4,5-Secocadinane, 5,2',4'-Trihydroxy-6,7,5'-Trimethoxyflavone, 5,7,8,3'-Tetrahydroxy-3,4'-Dimethoxyflavone, 6,7-Dehydroartemisinic-Acid, 6-Methoxykaempferol, Alpha-Amyrenone, Alpha-Amyrin, Alpha-Cadinene, Alpha-Caryophyllene, Alpha-Copaene, Alpha-Guaiene, Alpha-Hydroxysantonin, Alpha-Myrcene-Hydroperoxide, Alpha-Terpineol, Alpha-Thujene, Annulide, Arteannuic-Acid, Arteannuin-A, Arteannuin-B, Arteannuin-C, Arteannuin-D, Arteannuin-E, Arteannuin-F, Arteannuin-G, Artemisia-Alcohol, Artemisiatriene, Artemisic-Acid, Artemisic-Acid-Methyl-Ester, Artemisilactone, Artemisin, Artemisinic-Acid, Artemisinin-B, Artemisinin-C, Artemisinol, Artemisitene, Artemisitine, Artemisyl-Acetate, Axillarin, Baurenol, Beta-Amyrin, Beta-Amyrin-Acetate, Beta-Arteannuan, Beta-Caryophyllene, Beta-Elemene, Beta-Farnesene, Beta-Myrcene-Hydroperoxide, Beta-Pinene, Beta-Selinene, Beta-Sitosterol, Beta-Thujene, Bonanzin, Borneol, Bornyl-Acetate, Cadin-4(15),11-Dien-9-One, Cadin-4,7(11)-Dien-12-Al, Cadinenol, Camphene, Capillene, Caryophyllene-Oxide, Casticin, Chrysoeriol, Chrysosplenetin, Chrysosplenol-D, Circieiol, Circilineol, Circimaritrin, Cirsilineol, Cis-Chrysanthenol, Cis-Chrysanthenyl-Acetate, Cis-Sabinene-Hydrate, Cis-Sabinol, Cis-Thuj-2-En-4-Ol, Coumarin, Dehydroartemisinic-Acid, Delta-Cadinene, Deoxyarteannuin-B, Deoxyartemisinin, Deoxyisoartemisinin-B, Deoxyisoartemisinin-C, Dihydro-Deoxyarteannuin-B, Dihydroartemisic-Acid, Dihydroxycadinanolide, Epideoxyarteannuin-B, Epoxyartemisic-Acid, Eupalitin, Eupatorin, Friedelin-3Beta-Ol, Gamma-Caryophyllene, Gamma-Elemene, Gamma-Terpinene, Geraniol, Germacrene-D, Hentriacontanyltriacontanoate, Humulene, Isoannualide, Isoannulide, Isoartemisia-Acetate, Isoartemisia-Alcohol, Isoartemisia-Ketone, Isokaempferide, Isopinocamphone, Kaempferol, Kaempferol-3-O-Glucoside, Limonene, Luteolin, Luteolin-7-O-Glucoside, Menthol, Methyl-Acetate, Methyl-Pinocarvone, Myrcene, Myrcenol, Neryl-Acetate, Nonacosanol, Norannuic-Acid, O-Cymene, Ocimene, Octacosanol, Oleanolic-Acid, P-Cymene, Patuletin, Penduletin, Phytene-1,2-Diol, Phytol, Pinocarvenone, Pinocarveol, Pinocarvyl-Acetate, Qinghaosu-Iv, Quercetagetin-3,4'-Dimethylether, Quercetagetin-6,7,3',4'-Tetramethylether, Quercetagetin-6,7,4'-Trimethylether, Quercetin, Rhamnetin, Rhamnocitrin, Scopoletin, Secocadinane, Stigmasterol, Tamerixetin, Taraxasterone, Terpinen-4-Ol, Tetratriacontane, Thymol, Trans-5-Hydroxy-2-Isopropenyl-5-Methylhex-3-En-1-Ol, Trans-Alpha-Ocimene, Trans-Beta-Farnesene, Trans-Caryophyllene-Oxide, Trans-Chrysanthenyl-Acetate, Trans-Pinocarveol, Trans-Sabinene-Hydrate, Verbenone, Ylangene, Yomogi-Alcohol

Root: Arteannuic-Acid-Alcohol, Beta-Isocomene, Beta-Sitosterol, Friedelin, Isocomene, Maaliene, Silphinene, Stigmasterol, Taraxeryl-Acetate

Shoot: (E)-Alpha-Bergamotol, 1,8-Cineole, 2,2,6-Trihydroxychromone, 2,2-Dihydroxy-6-Methoxychromone, 2,3-Dihydro-1,8-Cineole, 5-Nondecylresorcinol-3-O-Methyl-Ether, 6-Methoxykaempferol-3-O-Glucoside, 7-Hydroxy-6,8-Dimethoxycoumarin, Alpha-Bisabolol, Alpha-Cadinol, Alpha-Fenchene, Alpha-Pinene, Annphenone, Annuadiepoxide, Apigenin, Ascaridole, Astragalin, Beta-Linalool-Oxide, Beta-Pinene, Beta-Sabinene-Hydrate, Beta-Sitosterol, Bisabolol-Oxide, Carvacrol, Carvone, Caryophyllene-Oxide, Cirsilineol, Cirsiliol, Cis-Epoxyocimene, Coumarin, Cuminaldehyde, Epicubenol, Gamma-Selinene, Isoquercitrin, Isorhamnetin, Kaempferol, Limonene, Linalool, Luteolin-7-Methyl-Ether, Myrtenal, Myrtenol, P-Cymene, Patuletin-3-O-Glucoside, Pinocarveol, Ponticaepoxide, Quercetagetin-3-Methylether, Quercetagetin-4'-Methylether, Quercetin-3-O-Glucoside, Quercimeritrin, Sabinyl-Acetate, Scoparone, Scopolin, Spathulenol, Stigmasterol, Tomentin, Trans-Nerolidol, Trans-Verbenol

Tissue Culture: Artemetin, Chrysosplenetin, Chrysosplenol-D, Cirsilineol