This is sweet annie on the side of my house. Possum, one of the outdoor cats, is keeping his eye on me. Several years ago I traveled back to that Northeast state where I was born.. When I was living there (before my move westward ho) I had a nice herb garden culinary and medicinal. One of my prized plants was sweet annie. The scent of it is intoxicating. A friend was able to find several sweet annie plants for me. I bought them back to Oklahoma. Now five years later, the plants are growing like a weed in my yard and pastures.
THE DISCLAIMER: The following is not to be considered “Medical Advice”. The author is not a “Medical Doctor” or “Health Care Professional”. Any use of this information is solely the responsibility of the Reader. (Words in quotations are legal words used by the US Federal Government.)
Okay enough of the blah, blah, blah. Back to the good stuff.
| Botanical Name | Artemisia annua |
| Common Name | Sweet Annie, sweet wormwood |
| Plant Type | Annual |
| Mature Size | 6 ft. tall, 2ft. wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full |
| Soil Type | Sandy, Well-drained |
| Soil pH | Neutral, Alkaline |
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Hardiness Zones | 5-9, USA |
| Native Area | Europe, Asia |
Sweet annie/sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua) should not be confused with its cousin wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) made famous because of the French liqueur absinthe. Loved by Toulouse-Lautrec, Vincent Van Gogh, Picasso and others, absinthe was addictive and toxic. Sweet annie has some of the same biological components but does not contain the toxic compounds. One of its active compounds artemisinin has been used in treating malaria.
Known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as qing hao, sweet annie has been used to treat malaria and intestinal parasites. According to Dr. James A Duke sweet annie has been proven useful in China and at the Walter Reed Army Research Institute in Washington D.C. to treat a malarial parasite similar to the amoeba. Dr. Duke suggests using two to five teaspoons of the dried leaves to make a tea and drinking one to three a day.
Sweet Annie can also be used as a tincture. When I make a tincture I gather the lacy leaves and yellow flowers starting in September. Right now is ideal. I fill a half gallon mason jar with the plant material and fill with 100 proof vodka. Label, label, label the jar. Did I say label the jar. Yes! You might recognize the plant matter but you won’t remember when you set it aside. Information to include on the label is what plant, what the liquid is and at least the date you bottled. I also include what date it will be able to use. That is usually four to six weeks in the future. Place the jar in a dark spot. When it is ready, strain the plant matter out and label again in a different bottle. Chris Marano, a Master Herbalist who owns Clearpath Herbals in Massachusetts, suggests 10-30 drops 1-3X daily and a higher dose if addressing parasites.
During the recent disease crises I used my sweet annie tincture and was never sick. I didn’t even get a cold. I know people will say but that’s just anecdotal. Yes, but it’s my antidote. (Spelling intentional.) I have been known to put a shot of the tincture into my bourbon and seltzer.
Artemisinin also has anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. I believe there is research into treating hepatitis B and C, influenza and other viral infections. Sweet annie has also been studied in treating Lyme Disease.
Genesis 1:29 – And Elohim said, “See, I have given you every plant that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth and every tree whose fruit yields seed, to you for food.
Further education:
Chris Marano, https://clearpathherbals.com
https://learningherbs.com/herbmentor/
The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke, Ph.D.
You tube videos by Eric Joseph Lewis, Homestead Corner, Magical Hoof, The Grow Network
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