An herb with superpowers. Annual mugwort
The annual mugwort (lat. artemisia annua) - a medicinal plant known since ancient times, has virtually experienced a rebirth in recent years. The extracts from artemisia annua have been successfully used against tropical malaria, its effect is confirmed by the latest results of researchers at Columbia University in New York. It was established what is actually known to mankind for centuries: its antiviral, antibacterial, blood thinning and immunostimulant effects, which are of great importance especially with regard to covid disease and all colds. In Madagascar, for example, the mugwort extract has been used for over a year to cure covid disease sufferers and work is being done on a drug based on it, with impressive success.[i]
Artemisia annua owes its name to Artemis, the Greek goddess of the forest, hunting, the moon and birth. The Olympic athletes drank the tea from artemisia during the preparation for the games, the Egyptian priestesses of Isis, goddess of birth and rebirth, wore a wreath of artemisia on the head and in traditional Chinese medicine, the annual mugwort has been known for over 2000 years as a remedy for malaria.
What can you use mugwort for?
The list of diseases against which artemisia annua can help very effectively is long:
- Viruses (herpes, hepatitis and flu viruses)
- bacterial infections and inflammations
- Worms and parasites
- Fungal infections and dysbacteriosis
- Anorexia and loss of appetite
- Indigestion and flatulence
- Sleep disorders
- Tumors and cancer
- Polyglobulia and thrombosis
When preparing mugwort tea, please be sure to follow:
– artemisia annua - annual mugwort - is different from the other varieties of the genus Artemisia to distinguish (eg, common mugwort artemisia vulgaris or wormwood herb artemisia absinthium)
- The tea infusion of mugwort is very bitter. You can start with one sip three times a day and then increase the amount a little. To make the tea more digestible, you can add a teaspoon of honey or drink a sip of water afterwards. But please do not if you are fighting parasites or fungal infections, because any sweetness provides additional breeding ground for the pests and significantly reduces the healing effect.
- The cure should not last longer than 10 to 14 days, because the body gets used to the active substances and the healing effect decreases. After a four-week break, you can start the cure all over again.
- Although herbal teas are known to have no significant side effects, watch out for any discomfort - especially sensitive people may react with nausea or dizziness.
- In ancient times, the annual mugwort was used as a labor-inducing agent, so this medicinal plant is a no-no for pregnant (and breastfeeding) women!
- When buying, of course, you should pay attention to high quality and reach for the goods from the pharmacy or good tea houses. However, you can also collect and dry the plants yourself in the wild. The annual mugwort originally comes from China, but can be found in many Asian countries, North America, South Africa, Central and Southern Europe. In Germany, this plant has become rare, but in many neighboring Eastern European countries it is present in every meadow. The best time for harvesting it - when the plant blooms or begins to bloom, from mid-July to mid-August.
Tea preparation
Pour 200 ml of boiling water over one teaspoon and let it steep for 10 min. The warm tea is drunk in small sips before meals three times a day.
Sources and useful links:
https://www.dw.com/ru/nastojka-polyni-lekarstvo-iz-afriki-protiv-koronavirusa/a-53454415
Image sources:
Photographs of the author
[1] Current 7-day incidence in Madagascar (as of 11/7/2021) 0.0 with vaccination rate 0.65%! Source: https://www.corona-in-zahlen.de/weltweit/madagaskar/
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