Sweet Annie’s scientific name is Artemisia annua is a plant with small yellow flowers. It contains flavonoids, essential oils, and artemisinin, which is a compound that many people think has health benefits. Other names for this plant include sweet Annie, sweet wormwood, and qinghao. It’s native to China and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many years.
Sweet Annie has been used for centuries in Chinese and European herbal medicine to treat painful childbirth and dysmenorrhea. This plant is native to Asia bearing small yellow flowers and feathery green leaves. Sweet Annie plant has other common names such as Sweet wormwood, Annual Wormwood, Ch’Ou Hao, Kuso-Ninzin, Huang Hua Hao, Qing-guo, Ts’Ao Hao, Sweet Sagewort, Wormwood, Annual mugwort, Absinthe Sauvage, Annual Mugwort, Ajenjo Silvestre, Armoise Annuelle, Armoise Amère, Artémise, Artemisia, Artemisia annua, Chinese Wormwood, Artemisinin, Ching-hao, Herbe aux Cent Goûts, Herba Artemisiae Annuae, Huang Hua Guo, Qing Hao, Sourcil de Lune and Qinghaosu. The oil is extracted with the use of steam distillation of aerial parts. It possesses a woody, dry, and licorice scent. The color ranges from yellow to brown to green and blends well with jasmine, sweet orange, oakmoss, and lavender. It is used in aromatherapy to treat menstrual discomfort, headaches, fungal skin infections, and fevers. The inhalation of Sweet annie essential oil helps to treat nasal catarrh and congestion. It comprises alpha thujone, geranyl propionate, beta thujone, myrcene, linalyl acetate, trans sabinol, sabinene, and trans sabinyl acetate.
Sweet Annie essential oil facts
| Name | Sweet Annie Essential oil facts and benefits |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name of Sweet Annie plant | Artemisia annua |
| Native | It is native to Asia, especially in China. It was naturalized in Bulgaria, Argentina, Hungary, France, Romania, Italy, USA and Spain. It was used for more than 2000 years in China for treating digestive ailments and fevers. |
| Common/English Name of Sweet Annie plant | Sweet wormwood, Annual Wormwood, Ch’Ou Hao, Kuso-Ninzin, Huang Hua Hao, Qing-guo, Ts’Ao Hao, Sweet Sagewort, Wormwood, Annual mugwort, Absinthe Sauvage, Annual Mugwort, Ajenjo Silvestre, Armoise Annuelle, Armoise Amère, Artémise, Artemisia, Artemisia annua, Chinese Wormwood, Artemisinin, Ching-hao, Herbe aux Cent Goûts, Herba Artemisiae Annuae, Huang Hua Guo, Qing Hao, Sourcil de Lune, Qinghaosu |
| Name in Other Languages | Chinese: qing hao; Vietnamese: thanh hao; |
| Method | Steam distillation |
| Part | Aerial parts |
| Odor | Sweet, balsamic, fruity, herbaceous |
| Health Benefits |
|
| Traditional uses |
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| Precautions |
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| Other Facts | It is combined with Clove bud, African bluegrass, rosewood, copal and yarrow. |
History
It is native to Asia, especially in China. It was naturalized in Bulgaria, Argentina, Hungary, France, Romania, Italy, USA, and Spain. It was used for more than 2000 years in China for treating digestive ailments and fevers.
How does it work?
Sweet Annie contains a chemical called artemisinin that seems to be effective against the parasites that cause malaria. Some drug manufacturers make anti-malarial medications from artemisinin that they have modified in the laboratory.
Sweet Annie should not be used alone for malaria since it may only inactivate the parasites that cause malaria, not actually kill them. The amount of artemisinin in Sweet Annie might be too small to kill all the parasites that cause malaria, but large enough to make these parasites resistant to further treatment with more powerful malaria drugs that also contain artemisinin.
Many researchers are investigating new ways to increase the amount of artemisinin in Sweet Annie.
Health Benefits of Sweet Annie essential oil
This essential oil possesses cholagogue, anti-hermitic, digestive, deodorant, febrifuge, emenagogue, narcotic, insecticide, tonic, and vermifuge properties. Botanically it is known as Artemisia Annua or Artemisia Absinthium.
Support digestion
Sweet Annie essential oil has a cholagogue property that discharges bile from the liver. It assists in breaking down food and supports digestion. It eliminates excess acid in the stomach by providing relief from ulcers and acidity. It also stimulates the intestines, which, in turn, promotes the peristaltic movement. The oil further aids digestion through its purging and cholagogue properties that encourage the discharge of bile from the liver into the small intestines. This action then induces peristalsis to enable easy release of stools from the colon.
Tones Your Organs
Sweet annie oil helps to tone up the organs and aid digestion, which promotes the absorption of the nutrients in the body. It also eliminates harmful substances and toxins in the body. Sweet annie oil promotes the health of the nervous system by making it more active and alert. It also supports the health of the immune system that fights illnesses, infections, and diseases.
Infections occur when the body’s cells and tissues are attacked by illness-causing agents. It is the reaction of host cells and tissues to the illness-causing agents that are multiplying and the toxins that they produce. Communicable disease, which is also called transmissible or infectious disease, is an illness that results from an infection.
Fights Cancer Cells
Scientific studies conducted on sweet annie essential oil have shown that the oil has potential anti-proliferative and anti-cancer properties. Iron is a key component in the DNA replication of cancerous cells. This results in a higher concentration of iron content in cancer cells in comparison to normal cells.
The artemisinin in the oil actively interacts with the iron in the blood to induce apoptosis of cancer cells. It is good to note, however, that synthetic versions of the oil are still under investigation to establish whether they possess similar anti-cancer properties. Sweet annie essential oil can also be used to treat breast cancer.
Fortifies The Body
Sweet annie essential oil is a natural tonic that fortifies the body by strengthening the organ systems. It begins by toning up the digestive system and promoting optimal absorption of nutrients by the body. Next, it stimulates the circulatory system and enables the effective distribution of nutrients in the bloodstream to all parts of the body. On top of this, it tones up the excretory system and helps in the elimination of harmful materials and toxins from the body.
Furthermore, sweet annie essential oil conditions the endocrine system and helps promote optimal growth, maturity, and efficient discharge of enzymes and hormones. Its toning effect on the nervous system makes it more alert and active. This essential oil also tones up the immune system to provide the body with a powerful resistance against diseases and infections.
Inhibits Bacterial Growth
Sweet annie oil also has powerful antibacterial properties. It is, therefore, used in the treatment of numerous bacterial infections in the upper respiratory tract, urinary bladder, and intestines. Its antifungal properties are useful in the treatment of fungal infections in the lungs of patients with AIDS and the management of pneumocystis pneumonia.
It also possesses powerful antiviral properties that make it useful in the treatment of viral hepatitis and the common cold. Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver due to a viral infection. It occurs in acute (relatively rapid onset of an infection) or chronic forms.
Treatment Of Menstrual Problems
Because it is an emmenagogue, sweet annie essential oil improves menstrual discharges. It helps solve obstructed menstruation that may cause uterine tumors and cancer. It also provides relief from menstrual side effects, such as lack of appetite, aches, nausea, headaches, abdominal cramps, and irregular periods.
Menstruation is the monthly bleeding that a woman undergoes. During menstruation, a woman’s body sheds the lining of the womb (uterus). This lining is released in the form of blood that flows from the womb through a small opening known as the cervix to the vagina, and then it is discharged out of the body. The average menstrual period lasts for three to five days.
Helps Cure Insomnia
Sweet annie essential oil also has narcotic properties that reduce stress, nervous afflictions, and hysteric and epileptic attacks. It is great for relieving tension, insomnia, and convulsions. Insomnia is a health condition that is associated with a lack of sleep.
People who experience insomnia may have trouble finding sleep or staying asleep for the desired time. Insomnia is commonly associated with depression, irritability, low energy, and daytime sleepiness. It may lead to an increased risk of road accidents as well as problems in learning and focusin
Act as a deodorant
Sweet Annie essential oil has thujone that provides the aroma and smell that resemble Thuja. Being an emmenagogue, it promotes menstrual discharges and opens an obstructed menstruation that leads to cancer or uterine tumors. It provides relief from abdominal cramps, headaches, nausea, ache, regularized periods, and lack of appetite.
Eliminate microbes
This essential oil has beta thujone and alpha thujone that counteract infections by eliminating the growth of microbes. It also lowers fever.
Eliminate worms
The essential oil also eliminates tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms from the body. It assists in proper growth in children by stimulating the absorption of nutrients.
Tone organs
Sweet Annie essential oil helps to tone organs and digestion that ensures proper nutrient absorption. It eliminates unwanted toxins and materials. It makes the nervous system more alert and active. It enhances the immune system that prevents diseases and infections.
Traditional uses Insufficient Evidence for
- Malaria. Taking Sweet Annie tea for 4-7 days might improve symptoms and decrease the number of active parasites in people with malaria. The tea should not be boiled, because heat will destroy the chemical that seems to fight malaria. There is some concern that if Sweet Annie tea is used alone instead of in combination with usual malaria treatments it might only inactivate the malaria parasites, not actually kill them.
- Osteoarthritis. Taking Sweet Annie extract might reduce pain and stiffness and improve function in people with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.
- A disease caused by parasitic worms (schistosomiasis). Early research shows that drinking Sweet Annie tea three times per day for 7 days can clear this infection faster than praziquantel, the drug of choice for this type of infection.
- An autoimmune disease that causes widespread swelling (systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE).
- An eating disorder (anorexia nervosa).
- Arthritis.
- Bacterial infections.
- Bruises.
- Common cold.
- Constipation.
- Dysentery.
- Fever.
- Fungal infections.
- Gallbladder disease.
- Indigestion (dyspepsia).
- Infection of the intestines by parasites.
- Itchy skin infection caused by mites (scabies).
- Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea).
- Nerve pain.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- Scaly, itchy skin (psoriasis).
- Sprains.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the stomach (gastritis).
- Tuberculosis.
- Yellowing of the skin (jaundice).
- It is used to treat painful childbirth and dysmenorrhea.
- It is used in aromatherapy for treating fevers, menstrual discomfort, headaches, and athlete’s foot.
- It is used in diffusers for treating respiratory infections.
- It is useful for treating jaundice, skin conditions, and dysentery.
Side Effects
Sweet Annie is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth. The tea of Sweet Annie might cause upset stomach and vomiting. It might also cause an allergic reaction in some people including a rash and cough.
There has been one report of liver damage in a person who took doses of Sweet Annie that was too large. But liver damage has not been reported in people taking typical doses.
Not enough is known about the safety of applying Sweet Annie directly to the skin.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Sweet Annie is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken by mouth during pregnancy. Animal studies show that drugs made in the laboratory from artemisinin, a chemical found in Sweet Annie, can cause the death of the fetus or birth defects when used early in the pregnancy. The safety of using Sweet Annie during the last 6 months of pregnancy is not known. Nevertheless, the World Health Organization considers drugs made in the laboratory from artemisinin acceptable to use during the last six months of pregnancy, if no other malaria treatment is available. The safety of using Sweet Annie during breastfeeding is not known. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
- Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Sweet Annie may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking Sweet Annie.
- Liver problems: Sweet Annie might cause liver problems, even in healthy people. Taking Sweet Annie might make liver problems worse. People with a history of liver problems should avoid taking Sweet Annie.
Interactions
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2B6 [CYP2B6] substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Talk with your health provider. Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Sweet Annie might increase how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking Sweet Annie along with some medications that are broken down by the liver can decrease the effectiveness of some medications. Before taking sweet Annie, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications changed by the liver include ketamine (Ketalar), phenobarbital, orphenadrine (Norflex), secobarbital (Seconal), and dexamethasone (Decadron).
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 [CYP3A4] substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Talk with your health provider. Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Sweet Annie might increase how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking Sweet Annie along with some medications that are broken down by the liver can decrease the effectiveness of some medications. Before taking sweet Annie, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications changed by the liver include some calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, nicardipine, verapamil), chemotherapeutic agents (etoposide, paclitaxel, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine), antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole), glucocorticoids, fentanyl (Abstral, Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Sublimaze, others), losartan (Cozaar), fluoxetine (Prozac), midazolam (Versed), omeprazole (Prilosec), ondansetron (Zofran), propranolol (Inderal), fexofenadine (Allegra), and many others.
Dosage
BY MOUTH:
- For malaria: 5-9 grams of Sweet Annie have been prepared into a tea. The tea is taken in three divided doses daily for 4-7 days.
- The appropriate dose of Sweet Annie depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for Sweet Annie. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
Precautions
- Sensitive people might experience contact dermatitis.
- Nursing and pregnant women should avoid it.
- Not to be used for small children and infants.
- Dilute it with a carrier oil to use on the skin.
- The heart and brain patients should use it cautiously.
Can sweet Annie treat malaria?
Malaria is a life-threatening illness. A parasite that mosquitoes carry causes this illness. People have found that artemisinin kills these parasites.
Some herbal remedies are made from the dried leaves of sweet Annie and sold as malaria treatments. However, the World Health OrganizationTrusted Source encourages people to avoid using these products to treat malaria. Instead, it recommends pharmaceutical drugs made from artemisinin and other compounds.
Antimalarial drugs that contain artemisinin usually also include another drug. People commonly use these medications in countries where malaria is common. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also approved Coartem for use in the United States. This is the first artemisinin-based drug approved in the United States.
Some doctors are concerned that parasites carrying malaria could become resistant to artemisinin in countries where malaria is widespread.
Can sweet Annie treat cancer?
More research is necessary to determine if sweet Annie is a useful treatment for cancer. Scientists continue to research sweet Annie’s effect on cancer cells. According to an article published in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, artemisinin may be useful for treating leukemia and cancers of the:
- colon
- breast
- lung
- pancreas
It may also slow the growth of ovarian cancer cells and treat colorectal cancer. Artemisinin is generally considered safe. It probably causes fewer side effects than many other cancer treatments.
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