Artemisia Annua (Sweet Wormwood) and Artemisinin

• Weak evidenceone or more case studies, supported by animal evidence OR small treatment effects of limited clinical significance OR studies with no controls OR weak trends of effects (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of short-term tumor response in a person with prostate cancer treated with bicalutamide for 14 days and oral Artemisia annua L capsules long-term
• Preclinical evidencetesting a drug, a procedure, or another medical treatment in isolated cells or in animals; preclinical evidence is considered only an initial indication of possible effects in people of less tumor growth and lower cancer cell viability, adhesion, and invasion in cancer cells treated with Artemisia annua extracts

See How can Artemisia annua and artemisinin help you? What the research says ›

• Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of a lower marker of inflammation among people with active rheumatoid arthritis treated with extract of Artemisia annua L
• Preclinical evidence of better markers of blood sugar balance and insulin resistancea condition in which cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin and can’t efficiently take up glucose from your blood for energy, body weight, hormone balance, immune function, inflammation, oxidative stressan imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body in which antioxidant levels are lower than normal; this imbalance can cause harmful oxidation reactions in your body chemistry, and antimicrobial activity against necrotic enteritis

See How can Artemisia annua and artemisinin help you? What the research says ›

• Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of lower measures of pain and other symptoms of arthritis among people treated with an Artemisia annua extract

See How can Artemisia annua and artemisinin help you? What the research says ›

We did not find any studies investigating Artemisia annua or artemisinin for reducing cancer risk.

• Artemisia annua and artemisinin are not mentioned in the practice guidelines we consulted.
• Limited use by our program sources

See How do experts use Artemesia annua and artemisinin? ›

• Moderate caution is needed due to possible liver toxicity and harm during pregnancy.
• May interact with HIV antiviral treatment or cardiovascular, antibiotic, and antiparasitic drugs.
• Supervision by a medical professional is highly recommended.

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• The dried leaf supplement, artemisinin, and other natural extracts are available without prescription.
• Annual cost is moderate (between $500 US and $2000 US/year).

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