Artemisia leaves

ARTEMISIA

The discovery of the therapeutic benefits of mugwort, once called "ponema" by the Gauls, is nothing new. This herbaceous plant is renowned for its fortifying properties. It is also an excellent digestive stimulant, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antifungal and a powerful antibacterial.

Scientific name : Artemisia vulgaris  Common names mugwort, common mugwort, lemon mugwort, artemisia, royal herb, herb of a hundred flavours, fire herb, St. John's herb

English names : artemisia, mugwort  Botanical classification Asteraceae family (Asteraceae)

Forms and preparations Infusions, moxas, capsules, essential oils, poultices, powders, plasters and atmospheric diffusions. Mugwort relieves digestive disorders: colic, chronic diarrhoea, visceral pain, feelings of distension, flatulence. Stimulates secretion of gastric juice, promoting appetite. Powerful vermifuge: eliminates intestinal worms  Used in friction, relieves stomach aches, chest pains and muscle contractions felt in the lower limbs after intense physical effort. Treatment of phlebitis and varicose veins Stimulates blood circulation (fighting against heavy legs). In traditional Chinese medicine, dried mugwort sticks are used in moxibustion to treat various ailments. Calm the epileptic seizuresThe essential oil is diffused into the air to repel harmful insects.

This plant with multiple virtues is usually recommended to soothe painful periods. Its emmenagogue property makes it possible to treat menstrual disorders in women, such as dysmenorrhoea and amenorrhoea, by increasing uterine contractions.

Important : Numerous studies have been published on the effectiveness of artemisinin extracted from another mugwort, the annual mugwort, Artemisia annua, against malaria. Artemisinin derivatives are used by pharmaceutical companies to manufacture anti-malarial drugs such as artesunate. The annual mugwort is also present in the pharmacopoeia of the Traditional Chinese Medicine for hundreds of years: it was already indicated in the treatment of malaria-related fevers in some very old compendia.

Antiviral effect. While mugwort has not been directly tested, artemisinin has been the subject of scientific studies to test its antiviral effects.

Artemisinin and its derivatives used by the pharmaceutical industry have been shown to have antiviral effects on various DNA and RNA viruses, including human cytomegalovirus, human herpes simplex virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, Zika virus and polyomavirus.

Mugwort and SARS-CoV2. Given the known antiviral effects of artemisinin and its derivatives and the absence of an effective treatment against SARS-CoV2, scientific studies were conducted to test their in vitro effects on this coronavirus responsible for the Covid epidemic19. The first results confirm an in vitro antiviral activity of artemisinin and its derivatives on SARS-CoV2. These results are certainly encouraging but obviously remain preliminary. Further studies need to be conducted.

Mugwort applied to oncology. Several studies have investigated the anti-cancer activity of mugwort. They have been conducted in vitro or on animal models. The results are very interesting because not only did these studies demonstrate an anticancer effect on different types of cancer cells (colon cancer cells, liver cancer cells, lung cancer cells) but also some of the underlying mechanisms were at least partially identified. Scientists thus mention mugwort as an interesting lead to keep in mind for new anti-cancer chemotherapy molecules.

For example, the study by G Lian and his team published in 2018 confirmed that an extract of Artemisia vulgaris used on colon cancer cells induced antitumour effects by induction of autophagy, suppression of cell migration and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, all leading to a cytotoxic effect of the mugwort extract on cancer cells. Parts used. Most of the plant's active therapeutic ingredients are found in its leaves and flowering tops.

Active ingredients. The active ingredients contained in its leaves are sesquiterpene alcohols, sesquiterpene lactones and sesquiterpene acids. Flavonoids, coumarins, polyines, sterols and triterpenes are also present. The essence extracted from its flowering tops also contains sesquiterpene lactones, including artemisin, thujones, hydroxycoumarin, flavonolglycosides, polyines, coumarins, tannins and numerous trace elements such as calcium, potassium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur and iodine. The dried leaves are used in a decoction to relieve muscle spasms, particularly those of the muscles of the uterus. Around 20g of this plant should be infused for 15 minutes in 1 litre of hot water. It is recommended to take 2 or 3 cups of the resulting solution, at any time of the day, in case of joint or muscle pain. For women suffering from amenorrhoea or dysmenorrheaIf you are taking a drug, treatment should be started 10 days before the usual menstrual period.

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