How Artemisia Annua Transformed Our Lives
Hello Artemisia annua!
Artemisia annua also known as Sweet Annie is a remarkable plant with various benefits. We got to know and grow her in our gardens thanks to my mother-in-law who gave us some seeds one summer of 2019. As we grew it, we found that it became bushy and emitted a very pleasant sweet smell. While its flavor is bitter, herbaceous and slightly sweet.
In doing our research, we discovered that it is a plant native to Asia and traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat fever. In fact, in the 1970s, the Chinese government asked scientist Tu Youyou to help find a cure for malaria. So she studied ancient Chinese texts and focused on artemisia annua to extract its artemisinin compound. Tu and her team conducted clinical trials and concluded that it was very effective in treating malaria. Thanks to this discovery, today's malaria drugs are made with artemisinin. In fact, artemisia annua tea helped many soldiers during the Vietnam war.
Today, it is used to help fevers, viral infections, intestinal dysbiosis and inflammatory conditions. Its bitterness helps to secrete digestive enzymes necessary for better absorption of nutrients. This is why it is suggested to drink it before eating. It also has antimicrobial and antifungal properties, which makes it effective in protecting the immune system.
In conclusion, here are its benefits:
Anti-parasitic
Immune health
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-viral
Rich in antioxidants
Digestive health
This plant can be consumed as tinctures or herbal teas.
You can find it in our store here. It was cultivated by us in our field in Les Cèdres, Quebec with love and patience.
How to consume it?
To make an infusion, prepare a cup of boiling water with 1 teaspoon of dried leaves and let infuse 2 to 5 minutes. The longer you let it infuse, the more bitter the taste. You can always add a bit of honey for its taste.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3924430/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095496421000637
https://blog.kokopelli-semences.fr/presentation-de-lartemisia/
*Natural products should always be discussed with a health care professional before use, as they may have potential side effects and interact with other medications.
