Artemisia Annua and Artemisinin for Cancer: Safety & Side Effects
This page covers safety information for Artemisia Annua and Artemisinin. See our complete Artemisia Annua and Artemisinin therapy guide →
Side effects and adverse reactions
Side effects of the use of Artemisia and artemisinin-based supplements and drugs have not been well studied. Use has generally been associated with mild side effects. Vomiting is the most common side effect reported among people treated for malaria with tea made from Artemisia annua leaves.1Willcox ML, Burton S et al. Evaluation and pharmacovigilance of projects promoting cultivation and local use of Artemisia annua for malaria. Malaria Journal. 2011 Apr 11;10:84.
There are case reports of liver injury associated with use of artemisinin-derived drugs, usually in combination with other treatments that can also impact liver function.2Mathavan A, Mathavan A, et al. 2023. Immune-mediated herb-induced liver injury: a potential association with herbal artemisinin use as supported by the updated RUCAM. BMJ case reports, 16(5), e251852. Very high doses of intravenous artesunate (greater than 18 mg/kg) have resulted in more severe side effects including neutropenic fever (a severe, emergency-level fever), nausea and vomiting, and liver function test abnormalities.3Deeken JF, Wang H et al. A phase I study of intravenous artesunate in patients with advanced solid tumor malignancies. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology. 2018 Mar;81(3):587-596.
Studies on the long-term use of artesunate in people with cancer (including breast cancer and brain cancer) have shown no major safety concerns.4von Hagens C, Walter-Sack I et al. Long-term add-on therapy (compassionate use) with oral artesunate in patients with metastatic breast cancer after participating in a phase I study (ARTIC M33/2). Phytomedicine. 2018 Sep 17;54:140-148; Strik H, Efferth T, & Kaina B. 2024. Artesunate in glioblastoma therapy: Case reports and review of clinical studies. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 123, 155274. Other methods of administration including intravaginal and intra-anal among people with pre-cancerous symptoms have also not shown any major safety concerns.5Trimble CL, Levinson K et al. A first-in-human proof-of-concept trial of intravaginal artesunate to treat cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 (CIN2/3). Gynecologic Oncology. 2020 Apr;157(1):188-194; Fang SH, Plesa M, et al. 2023. A phase I study of intra-anal artesunate (suppositories) to treat anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. PloS one, 18(12), e0295647.
Contraindications
Use during pregnancy may cause harm to the fetus.6Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010. p. 162. Of about 3,000 cases of presumed malaria treated with A. annua teas, including 54 women in the first trimester of pregnancy, 2 miscarriages were reported.7Willcox ML, Burton S et al. Evaluation and pharmacovigilance of projects promoting cultivation and local use of Artemisia annua for malaria. Malaria Journal. 2011 Apr 11;10:84.
Drug interactions
There are known drug interactions with this therapy. Interactions with medications and other interventions are complex. Always consult with a healthcare professional before adding any new therapy to your regimen. To learn more about interactions visit one of the trusted resources below:
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References