| Artemisinin (Artemisia annua) Common | | | | before last frost. Self sows and will |
| names: Sweet annie, Sweet wormwood | | | | never go away once established. Part |
| (English), Qing-hao (Chinese). Family: | | | | used: Aerial parts, primarily the upper |
| Asteraceae Habitat: The plant is native | | | | third of the plant, which is highest in |
| to china, western Asia, and southeast | | | | artemisinin content. Medicinal actions |
| Europe. An emerging invasive plant | | | | of artemisinin: Antimalarial, |
| species, it is naturalized in the United | | | | antiparasitical, antitumor, antiviral, |
| States, especially in Lyme endemic | | | | calcium antagonist, immunomodulator, |
| areas. Loves waste areas-roadsides, | | | | plasmodicide, schizonticide, |
| fallow fields, neglected gardens, | | | | antispirochetal. Broadly active against |
| especially in eastern North America. The | | | | dermatophytes-fungi that cause infection |
| plant is stronger and more aromatic when | | | | in hair, skin, and nails. The whole herb |
| grown in poor, dry soil. Collection: The | | | | has a much broader range of actions than |
| plants grow 4-6 feet tall with a | | | | artemisinin, the isolated constituent. |
| typical, attractive weedy look. They | | | | Functions in Lyme disease: Primarily for |
| bloom in late summer. The aerial parts | | | | the treatment of babesia coinfections. |
| should be harvested just before | | | | Possesses mild antiendotoxin effects |
| flowering. The top third of the plant is | | | | that can help in reducing Herxheimer |
| strongest in artemisinin content. | | | | reactions. Some clinical evidence exists |
| Cultivation: Easily from seed. Sow | | | | for the plant possibly being effective |
| outdoors in fall or from seed indoors | | | | against borrelia organisms. |