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Artemisinin – Amazing health benefits

The genus Artemisia, often known collectively as “wormwood”, has aroused great interest in the scientific community, pharmaceutical and food industries, generating many studies on the most varied aspects of these plants. [source]

The medicinal benefits of the plant come from the shrubby perennial’s upper shoots, flowers, and leaves. While the plant was initially native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, it is now grown in North America as well. [source]

Artemisinin, a sesquiterpene phytolactone, is derived from Artemisia annua. [source]

Artemisinin is not wormwood even though artemisinin comes from wormwood (Artemisia annua).


Fever, Chills, Malaria, Inflammation, Viral Infection, Cell and Tumor proliferation, Respiratory Diseases

“Artemisinins are sesquiterpenes isolated from the herb Artemisia annua. It has been used for centuries for the treatment of fever and chills, and has been recently approved for the treatment of malaria due to its endoperoxidase properties. Progressively, research has found that artemisinins displayed multiple pharmacological actions against inflammation, viral infections, and cell and tumour proliferation, making it effective against diseases. Moreover, it has displayed a relatively safe toxicity profile. The use of artemisinins against different respiratory diseases has been investigated in lung cancer models and inflammatory-driven respiratory disorders. These studies revealed the ability of artemisinins in attenuating proliferation, inflammation, invasion, and metastasis, and in inducing apoptosis.” [source]


Can Artemisinin (Wormwood) Treat Cancer?

“One of its potentially more important treatment applications for many, though, is wormwood’s application as a cancer treatment. According to the American Cancer Society, the extract shows promise as a cancer treatment drug. According to anecdotal evidence; however, individuals have experienced as great as a 28% tumor shrinkage within 16 hours of treatment with artemisinin alone. When used in conjunction with iron, the effects seem to be even better.

“The main reason that artemisinin is such an effective cancer treatment is that it functions primarily through oxidation. The compound enters the cancerous cells and reacts with iron already present in the body. This reaction releases the artemisinin’s peroxide molecule, which creates a highly reactive oxygen species, much like a free radical. The natural reaction then is for the free radical to destroy the entire cancerous cell. The iron only enhances the reaction as cancer cells feed on iron, and a greater amount of iron in the cells leads to bigger reaction.

Wormwood extract is not strong enough

“In terms of actually using the typical wormwood extract, this form of artemisinin is not strong enough, as it only contains 0.3 to 0.5% artemisinin. To treat cancer effectively, you need to take 600 mgs of 100% artemisinin twice a day.[source]

Artemesia has profound anti-cancer activity against multiple cancer cell lines. Approximately 400 studies have been published in scientific literature. A key mode of action is the induction of apoptosis through mitochondrial pathways.

“The result of this vast investigation showed the Artemisia species (extracts and essential oils) as exhibiting antiparasitic, anticancer and anti-inflammatory action in addition to antioxidant, wound healing, antinociceptive, immunoregulation, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-asthmatic, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-adipogenic, anti-ulcerogenic, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-osteoporotic activities.” [source]

Artemisinin and its derivatives are very potent anticancer compounds, highly selective on cancer cells with almost no side effects on normal cells. [source][source]

Artemisinin, the active principle of Artemisia annua, and its derivatives are cytotoxic towards cancer cells and multidrug-resistant tumor cells. Normal cells are minimally or not affected by artesunate (semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin). [source]

“An extract of an artemisinin-deficient Artemisia annua herbal preparation exhibits potent anticancer activity against triple negative human breast cancer.” [source]


Mode of action: Artemisinin’s interaction with iron

“Artemisinin’s anticancer activity is believed to occur when it comes in contact with iron. Cancer cells concentrate iron for use in cellular division (the malaria parasite also collects high concentrations of iron). Artemisinin’s contact with iron triggers the release of free radicals between cells that destroy cancer cells. Because of this “ferroptosis” effect, iron is often administered several hours before artemisinin to enhance targeting the cancer cells while sparing normal cells.” [source]

“Artemisinin’s anti-cancer effects aren’t limited to breast cancer. It’s shown to induce cell death across various cancer cell lines, demonstrating anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-metastasis, and growth inhibition effects. It’s especially potent when paired with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), even against drug-resistant glioblastoma.

“However, certain substances can hinder artemisinin’s cancer-fighting capabilities, such as N acetyl cysteine (NAC), bafilomycin, and deferoxamine mesylate. On the other hand, compounds like resveratrol, turmeric, allicin, berberine, vitamin D, melatonin, butyrate, and stilbenes can enhance artemisinin’s activity. Furthermore, artemisinin can augment the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs.

“Artemisinin has proven to be a formidable weapon in the battle against cancer. Its ability to selectively target cancer cells, causing minimal damage to healthy cells, has made it a promising alternative cancer therapy. Artemisinin’s application extends to aggressive cancers like brain, colorectal, pancreatic, and TNBC. The research by Dr. Henry Lai and his team highlights artemisinin’s potential: alone, it can kill cancer cells, but when bound to iron, it becomes 34,000 times more lethal to cancer cells.” [source]


Artemisinin benefits immune system, supports digestive and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Artemisinin is not water soluble, but it is slightly fat soluble, but barely.


During the past years, Artemisinin has also been identified as a substance with a strong anti-cancer potential in various cancer cells such as


Artemisinin our Ultimate Cancer Weapon a Gift from China

by Jeffrey Dach MD Read the article here.


Following human experiments, the team led by Dr. Narendra Singh of the University of Washington developed a protocol using a reduced carbohydrate diet with vitamin D supplementation (5,000IUs) and encouraged exercise as described below [source]

  • Singh believes that plant iron from a plant-based diet provides ferric iron. By providing 1 gm of vitamin C (with a little oil) after meals, the ferric iron converted to ferrous iron in the cancer cell and thus the vitamin C encourages greater uptake.
  • The Artemisinin should be given on an empty stomach but with a little yoghurt (which contains no iron) to help absorption, and before bed as the immune system falls at night and cancer cells proliferate more.
  • Dose is 100 mg of artemisinin supplement per 10 kg of body weight.
  • Some practitioners believe it should be taken with 1000 mg of cod liver oil, and 3 gm of Conjugated Linoleic Acid.
  • It is sometimes observed that the body becomes ‘used to’ artemisinin and the herb under-performs. For this reason some practitioners ‘pulse’ the herb – 5 days on, 3 off; or 8 days on, 3 off.

Here is another protocol I found for you to study.

Access the protocol by Curt Michael Graydon here.

It is also recommended to add 1-3 capsules of sodium butyrate to any artemisinin protocol (IV, IM, liposomal, capsule) as the sodium butyrate has been shown to significantly enhance the effectiveness of the artemisinin.


Resources: Leonard Rosenbaum’s Pocketbook for Cancer Patients

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