Herba Artemisiae
Annuae
Source
Herb of Artemisia annua L., family Compositae.
Characteristics
A herb, 30-80 cm tall. Stem terete, multibranched, yellow-green, 
longitudinally
striate. Leaves alternate, tripinnately divided, lobes broadly linear,
pubescent on both sides. Numerous small capitulum forming large panicle;
capitulum 2 mm in diameter, yellow-green, aromatic in odour. Bitter in
taste, cold in nature, and attributive to lung and gallbladder channels.
Indication
1. Prevent recurrence of malaria: For various types of malaria, especially
malignant malaria and those resistant to chloroquine.
2. Lower asthenic fever: For the late stage of seasonal febrile diseases
when the heat enters yingfen manifested as night fever, defervescence
without sweating, or continuous low fever, hectic fever due to yin-deficiency.
3. Clear away heat and summer-heat: For summer-heat syndrome manifested
as fever without sweating.
4. Eliminate phlegm, relieve cough and dyspnea: For chronic bronchitis.
Recently, also used for lupus erythematosus discoides and planus lichen
of buccal cavity.
Pharmacological
Action
1. Artemisinine from its volatile oil is an effective antimalarial agent
on mice, monkey, chicken and human malaria. The malarial parasite will
disappear in blood after oral administration of 100mg/kg for 3 days in
mice and 200mg/kg for 2-3 days in monkey. The therapeutic effect of artemisinine
is similar to that of chloroquine.
2.
Antipyretic.
Administration
Decoction:
Generally 3-9g (decocted only for a short time); 120g of fresh herb as
juice or 60g dry herb as instant granule for malaria.
Ampoule (2 ml containing 100 mg of volatile oil): 200 mg IM stat, 100-200
mg IM 6-8 hours later and in the second and third day for malaria.
Tablet (containing 100 mg of artemisinine): Same dosage as volatile oil
for malaria, of 300 mg and gradually increase to 40O-600 mg daily for
lupus erythematosus.
Bolus (containing 3g of crude herb ): 4-6 boluses daily for 3 months for
lupus erythematosus discoides.