Sweet Annie (Artemisia annua) is a plant with small yellow flowers. It contains flavonoids, essential oils, and artemisinin, which is a compound that may offer health benefits.

Other names for this plant include sweet wormwood and qinghao. It’s native to China and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many years.

Read on to learn about the possible health benefits of sweet Annie, including whether it can treat malaria.

Malaria is a life threatening illness caused by a parasite that mosquitoes carry. Health experts have found that artemisinin-based products help kill these parasites.

The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that the most common antimalarial treatments are artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). These are produced with pure artemisinin compound, which is extracted from Artemisia annua plants.

However, the WHO also explains that they do not support the use of Artemisia plant material, or the use of nonpharmaceutical forms, for the treatment or prevention of malaria. There is no evidence to suggest that herbal sweet Annie products are effective in treating malaria.

More research is necessary to determine if sweet Annie is a useful treatment for cancer.

According to research from 2022, the artemisinins in sweet Annie are generally safe and tolerable in medication. The article suggests that it may be possible to repurpose existing medications containing artemisinins for the treatment of certain cancers, but that clinical trials are necessary to confirm this.

Some studies of artesunate, a semisynthetic derivative of artemisinin, have shown tolerability in people with advanced cancer. However, other studies didn’t produce a response.

More research is necessary to confirm the benefits and tolerability of sweet Annie and artemisinins in people with cancer.

According to a 2020 review, sweet Annie has the potential to offer the following properties:

  • anti-inflammatory
  • antioxidant
  • antiviral
  • antimicrobial
  • antiplasmodial
  • antitumor

Although studies are currently limited, this review suggests that sweet Annie may help in treating a wide range of conditions.

Some healthcare professionals recommend using sweet Annie to help reduce fever and swelling.

Some anecdotal reports suggest that an extract of sweet Annie may be beneficial for managing COVID-19. However, there is not enough research to support this at present.

Anecdotally, some people believe sweet Annie can help treat:

However, there is currently no research to support these claims.

Be sure to contact your doctor for advice before taking sweet Annie. It may not be suitable for everybody. For example, it can be dangerous for people with ulcers or stomach disorders.

Sweet Annie contains artemisinin, a compound found in antimalarial drugs. Some research suggests it may also have the potential to help treat several kinds of cancer, but more research is necessary.

As sweet Annie contains anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, it may help treat numerous other conditions. However, research is currently limited.

It’s important to contact your doctor before adding sweet Annie to your treatment plan. They can advise on the benefits and safety of sweet Annie based on your individual circumstances.