Super-herb Artemesin kills cancer cells, yeasts, parasites, E coli and viruses
Artemesinin annua, or Sweet Wormwood, is a herb found from Pakistan to China, and is the current treatment of choice for malaria. The highest concentration of active ingredient is found in the leaves and flowers. There are 14 other Artemesia species.
Artemesinin is the most potent anti-malarial treatment available
Malaria kills at least 1 million people across the world each year. Artemesia annua is the most effective treatment, especially as the potency of certain drugs has continued to fail. The exact understanding of how it works is not fully clear but it seem to attack the membranes of the malarial mitochondria(1).
Artemesinin kills yeasts infections
Infections and excesses of yeasts are common in humans in the West. Some 70 per cent of human have excesses at some point in their lives. Excesses are caused when the commensal bacteria of the gut (the good guys) are compromised and fail to deal with the yeasts. At night in a healthy individual, 2.2 pounds of yeasts are consumed by commensal bacteria.
These helpful bacteria can be damaged and their numbers reduced, by antibiotics and drugs (especially Proton Pump Inhibitors).
They can also be damaged by changing the pH of the gut – through consuming too much sugar, salt, pickled food or alcohol. The most damaging effects come from stress.
Artemesin can be effective in treating IBS, Crohn’s and Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (the underlying cause of fibromyalgia).
Artemesinin kills parasites
Firstly, artemesia annua is very effective at killing a group of blood flukes or Schistomas. These are the second most common parasite in the world after malaria. They are Trematodes. Later it was discovered that all trematodes can be killed by artemisinin(4). Pinworms, roundworms and more.
Artemesinin kills E. Coli and other pathogens
When killing parasites, artemisinin seems to act on 124 different targets(5). It is actually a super-herb. It acts in many ways.
One of artemesia annua’s properties is its sesquiterpines, which play a huge role in human health. They reduce inflammation and tumour formation(6). Some are anti-microbial and disrupt the cell walls of funghi and invasive bacteria.
E.coli has now been found present in breast cancer and colon cancer tissue. So the above antimicrobial action makes artemisinin a potent cancer preventer. And research has shown artemisinin does kill microbes from E.Coli to Salmonella(7).
Artemesinin kills cancer cells
However, there is clear research that artemisinin kills cancer cells on its own or especially when bound to iron(8). Cancer cells love iron and so ingest the iron-artemesinin mix.
Since many cancers are precursored by gut problems, long-courses of antibiotics, or drugs for recurrent illnesses, artemisinin is always a herb to consider.
Artemesinin Usage
Artemesinin is powerful stuff, and should only be used in short bursts and rarely for more than 8 weeks, although anti-malarial doses have shown no side-effects.
References
Keiser J, Utzinger J (2007). “Artemisinins and synthetic trioxolanes in the treatment of helminth infections”. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 20 (6): 605–612
