Artemisinin is a pharmaceutical compound that is derived from the plant Artemisia annua, which is also called sweet wormwood, sweet Annie and qinghao in China. This herbal drug extract is used commercially for its medicinal purposes as well as in agriculture as a natural herbicide. The potentially beneficial uses of Artemisinin include disease control against drug-resistant malaria strains and as a treatment for cancer in both humans and animals. However, the New England Journal of Medicine notes that research studies for this herb are ongoing and not yet conclusive.
Step 1
Consult a doctor about the uses of Artemisinin and whether you would benefit from this herbal drug. If you are traveling or stationed in an area that is known for the treatment-resistant malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, Artemisinin may be a potentially life-saving treatment.
Step 2
Discuss uses of Artemisinin for the treatment of cancer. Take the prescribed dose in addition to other conventional cancer treatment. This herbal drug that attacks cancer cells in the body and may be used in conjunction with treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.
Step 3
Use herbicide and pesticide sprays which contain Artemisinin to kill disease-carrying larvae and plant-destroying molds and fungi on crops and plants. The herbal drug extract Artemisinin is used commercially in agriculture as a natural herbicide.
Tips and Warnings
- If you are using Artemisinin for the treatment of cancer cells, under the supervision of a doctor, do not eat antioxidant-containing foods or supplements as this drug works by creating free radicals that attack the cancer cells. Antioxidant activity will counter these free radicals.
- Artemisinin is a potent drug and can cause side effects and interact with other medications such as drugs for seizures. It may also affect kidney and liver enzymes and blood chemistry, so patients taking it should be monitored by a doctor. A study published in the 2009 New England Journal of Medicine reports that some cases of malaria resistant to Artemisinin have been reported.
Things You'll Need
- Artemisinin prescription medication
- Artemisinin spray
References
- Scientific American: What is Artemisinin?
- New England Journal of Medicine (2009): Artemisinin Resistance in Plasmodium falciparum Malaria
- BoneCancerDogs.org: Artemisinin
- Purdue University Horticulture: Distribution of Artemisinin in Artemisia annua
- Nature.com: Production of the Antimalarial Drug Precursor Artemisinic Acid in Engineered Yeast
