Artemisia annua
Sweet Annie
Artemisia annua is a potent plant; its power demands respect, like the Greek goddess herself. However, it’s easy to misconstrue the capabilities of this plant. It has a subtle, delicate, and modest appearance; its seeds are too small for the birds, and its flowers are unappealing to insect pollinators.
A. annua
All plants in the genus Artemisia have similar actions of being systemically antibacterial and antimicrobial. However, A. annua is strongly indicated for heat in the blood, most commonly identified by nosebleeds and rashes that appear as a result of bleeding under the skin.
Author and herbalist Stephen Buhner states that this plant, artemisinin, and its derivatives are best known as “systemic antihematoparasiticals” due to the plant’s proficiency at killing parasites in the blood.
In large amounts, some species of Artemisia can create unpleasantness and disagreeable side effects, resulting in these species being best used under careful regulation.
Artemis, goddess of the hunt
Artemisia annua’s traditional uses include lowering fevers, combating fungal infections and parasites, activating the liver, aiding in menstrual health (due to its emmenagogue actions), and as a steam inhalant for respiratory issues.
Herbalist David Winston includes A. annua among a group of herbs he terms “fragrant bitters,” which have stimulant actions on depressed tissue states, which as herbalist Matthew Wood explains, can be associated with parasitic and bacterial infections.
All throughout its history, A. annua has followed in the footsteps of its namesake, Artemis, goddess of the hunt, in its powerful actions as a killing agent.