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Artemisia (aka. Wormwood) has been used in herbalism since ancient times. It is extremely bitter tasting and named wormwood on account of its efficacy in destroying intestinal parasites. It is also one of the herbal ingredients in that mysterious alcoholic beverage Absinthe – which according to the traditional recipe was also prepared with several other herbs including lemon balm, mint, anise, fennel, hyssop, marjoram, angelica and dittany of Crete. [1]
After discovering a write-up on the highly selective and rapid anticancer properties of Artemisia on Healthy Food House, I dug in and did some research. What I found was astounding: The research base is solid. Artemisia has tremendous promise as a potential anticancer agent – especially when combined with iron: It targets the cancer cells specifically.
Artemisinin, a compound derived from Wormwood, has been the subject of much research – and it has shown much promise as an anti-malaria agent. It is now well established to have anti-proliferative and apoptotic (killing) effects on a number of cancer cell types. [2]
Artemisia annua was first noted as a possible anticancer herb in 2001, when two researchers at the University of Washington learned that wormwood showed highly selective activity against breast cancer cells. “Artemisinin reacts with iron to form free radicals that kill cells. Since cancer cells uptake relatively large amount of iron than normal cells, they are more susceptible to the toxic effect of artemisinin.” [3] The anticancer effect of artemisinin is thus much enhanced (up to 100x) by the preloading of cancer cells with iron. [4]
Recent scientific research conducted at the Cancer Research Laboratory, University of California (Berkeley) has found that Artemisinin, a compound found in Artemisia, induced a growth arrest of tumorigenic human breast cancer cell lines with preneoplastic and late stage cancer phenotypes, but failed to arrest the growth of a nontumorigenic human mammary cell line. [5]
In lay terms, what this means is that artemisinin killed the breast cancer cells without harming the healthy cells. This is exactly the kind of effect that researchers are looking for – because one of the greatest challenges of modern cancer research is to develop effective anti-cancer agents which do not also harm healthy cells. Current anticancer regimens are notorious for their highly toxic effects – aka “collateral damage”. [4]
It is also thought that hyperbaric oxygen therapy could further enhance the anticancer effects of artemisin. [6]
Note that these studies were performed in vitro i.e. in laboratory glassware and so this research, though highly encouraging, should not be considered as proof that artemisinin can cure cancer in human subjects. It is however one of the more promising anticancer herbs we have come across and worthy of due consideration not only by naturopaths but by orthodox medicine. Artemisinin is sometimes being used as supplementation as an adjunct to chemotherapy. I just discovered this comment from a lady whose husband had lung cancer:
“My husband was diagnosed with lung cancer, it filled the left lung and it was wrapped around his spinal cord. Too close to a main artery and esophagus to operate. It also got into the Lymph system. The doctors were surprised that he wasn’t paralyzed since the cancer had crushed and cracked the spinal cord. I gave him Artemisinin capsules for four days at the beginning of the treatments with radiation and chemo. After six weeks hubby was cancer free and stayed that way. An amazing recovery. The medical staff said “they don’t see that very often.” [7]
I am sure we will here more about artemisinin soon as research continues…
For more anticancer herb reports, please view our full page investigating 60+ “Anticancer herbs” – with links to the scientific studies.
References:
[1] Aleister Crowley “The Green Goddess” (1915). https://museeabsinthe.com/Crowley-Green-Goddess.pdf
[2] “Artemisinin Blocks Prostate Cancer Growth and Cell Cycle Progression by Disrupting Sp1 Interactions with the Cyclin-dependent Kinase-4 (CDK4) Promoter and Inhibiting CDK4 Gene Expression” (2009). https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2629082/
[3] “Effects of artemisinin-tagged holotransferrin on cancer cells” (Life Sciences 76, 2005). https://assasmus.s.a.f.unblog.fr/files/2010/05/publicationartemisiadrlai.pdf
[4] Antitumor Activity of Artemisinin and Its Derivatives: From a Well-Known Antimalarial Agent to a Potential Anticancer Drug. https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3228295/
[5] “Antiproliferative effects of artemisinin on human breast cancer cells requires the downregulated expression of the E2F1 transcription factor and loss of E2F1-target cell cycle genes”. https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/22185819
[6] https://washington.edu/news/2011/04/04/high-dose-of-oxygen-enhances-natural-cancer-treatment/
[7] https://healthyfoodhouse.com/amazing-herb-kills-cancer-cells-in-just-16-hours/ (in comments)
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Hi dear i have a condition in my kidneys they both collapse and they grow back only50% and came with scars because that’s scars i on dialysis hemo..my question is do you have any herbs to produce kidney tissue to cure my kidneys. .thanks
THANKS
This herb is well known in Morocco and is very cheap. The Arabic name for Artemisia is (Shiba) and Moroccans use it in tea.
Great herb
Yes it does cure cancer in humans as well as treat infections like ulcers and colon issues. My doctor, Robert Morey, ND, has used this herb in conjunction with others to elimate many different types of cancer.
Do you know if this can be taken also as a tea?
The woman said she gave her husband artimisin in capsule form,so where do we buy thatcapsule, thanks.
My husband has terminal cancer will this herb help him if so were do I get some please
Where and how can I purchase these tablets. I’m in south africa. Thank you Marlene Brandon.
In India this herb found in plenty
thanks
in eastern state of west malaysia, t he local people especially in rural area consume it with some sort of anchovies sauce called “budu”…
I wonder if the whole herb wormwood would work as well as the compound artemisinin that is found in it. Kind of like whole food nutrition being better than supplements perhaps? But of course, there’s more money to be made by taking it apart and synthesizing the compound. Anyone know of research being done in that regard?
Philippines to much plants like that,,, in urban area….we know that healing one but only for stressful,,,,,
I want to buy this artemisinin capsules,as my father in law is suffering from prostate cancer.I live in[new delhi] India.Dr.M Majeed could you please help me from where I can get this medicine here in Idia.It’s really very urgent.I’ll be very thankful if anyone could help me out.
my mail id is-farah.aleem1@gmail.com
love live healthy with herbs
Wormwood will definitely kill breast cancer cells. I used a parasite kill which contained wormwood, green walnut hulls and cloves. It worked within hours. the breast felt like a cell phone vibration. that is the only sensation, no pain. i started taking this parasite kill at 9 am one morning and the vibration stopped before the end of the day. the lump was the size of a quarter. this was in 2006. I never receive any medication or chemo. the doctor only told me i had cancer. the lump is still there but is about the size of a dime. wormwood really worked for me.
I need to try some of this for my grandma. She is no longer allowed to receive Chemo. How do I get some capsules?
Hi Tara, we can only report on the studies that have been done and cannot legally make a medicinal recommendation, you need to check in with a doctor or qualified naturopath to see if this would be appropriate for her condition.
Thanks for sharing this set of instructions. Really informative.
Very important information..regarding herb.