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