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