Antimalarial, Antiviral, Antiparasitic, Anti-inflammatory
Terpenoids (artemisinin), Flavonoids
This Site is for Educational Use Only: The information on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I am not a licensed medical professional. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any medicinal plants, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Artemisia, aka wormwood, and yes that's the plant behind absinthe. Before you get excited, drinking artemisia tea is not going to give you the same experience as the drink. Sorry. The hallucinations and psychosis associated with absinthe have more to do with the way it's processed and concentrated into the spirit than with the plant itself, which is why absinthe has been banned all over the place and this plant is still sitting quietly in the herbal medicine cabinet minding its business.
It has a rich ceremonial history across Latin, Greek, and Mexican traditions, which gives it that same ancient and multi-cultural credibility we see in a lot of the most useful plants in this database.
Medicinally, a tea taken in wine glass doses has been traditionally used to relieve melancholia, dispel the yellow hue of jaundice, and aid digestion. The essential oil can expel worms, and the dried and powdered flower has been used to treat fever. A humble and practical resume for something with such a dramatic reputation.
Safety note: Large amounts can cause convulsions or kidney failure, so this is genuinely one where dosage is not something to play fast and loose with. Wine glass doses means wine glass doses, not a full pot. Stick to recommended amounts, keep use short term, and avoid during pregnancy. The plant and the spirit are different things, but that doesn't mean the plant is without teeth.
Artemisia annua L. as a promising medicinal plant for powerful wound healing applications https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7544745/
Artemisia annua, a Traditional Plant Brought to Light https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7404215/
Unlocking the Therapeutic Benefits of Artemisia Annua: A Comprehensive Overview of its Medicinal Properties https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11888663/
Sacred Herbs by Opal Streisand
Disclaimer: The content on this website is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. No provider-patient relationship is created by use of this site. The author makes no representations regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information and assumes no liability for any adverse effects resulting from the use of plants or remedies described herein.
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If only one source is saying something, be skeptical. If ten independent sources across different institutions, different countries, different decades are saying the same thing, you're getting warmer. Consensus is earned, not declared. Studies should be peer reviewed.
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