Buy Artemisinin Supplements Online – Review and Product Guide

Artemisinin is the active ingredient in medications used to prevent and treat malaria. It can also be purchased as a dietary supplement to support general health and to fight signs of aging.

Artemisinin is the name for a group of semi-synthetic compounds derived from sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua). In Chinese, it is referred to as qinghaosu.

A prominent Chinese scientist, Tu Youyou, discovered artemisinin and was awarded the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize in Medicine as a result. Of all known drugs, artemisinin provides the fastest action against the Plasmodium falciparum type of malaria.

In the USA, Artemisinin is approved as a prescription drug, but can also be purchased as an over-the-counter supplement because it is a natural herbal extract that has been extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine. Consumers buy artemisinin pills to boost immunity and it is also being researched for its anti-cancer effects.

Artemisinin

Immunomodulator

Immunity

Anti- Viral

Chinese Medicine

How It Works:

• Anti-viral & immune supporting properties
• Promotes general health & anti-aging
• Used in Chinese medicine to boost Qi

Dosage:

Between 100 - 1000 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Where to Buy Artemisinin

Artemisinin is available for sale online on Amazon.com and from specialty health product providers. This supplement is not widely distributed and may be hard to find at local retailers.

Some popular brands of Artemisinin sold online include Absorb Health, Doctor’s Best, Nutricology, Swanson and Allergy Research. Most supplements provide 100 mg of artemisinin per serving in an oral capsule format.

The cost per dosage of artemisinin ranges between $0.23 per serving to $0.42 per serving, depending on the brand being purchased.

Artemisinin can also be purchased in a liquid tincture form, as a bulk powder or by purchasing raw Artemisia annua or sweet wormwood.

Some supplements provide a “full spectrum” Sweet Wormwood supplement as opposed to providing an isolated extract of artemisinin. You should speak to your doctor or qualified herbalist to determine which is best for your needs.

Artemisinin Overview

Artemisia annua has been used in Chinese herbal medicines since 200 B.C. It was historically used to improve symptoms of fever associated with malaria.

This traditional use was subsequently validated in clinical studies that show artemisinin extract is a viable medication, particularly when combined with other agents that can improve its bioavailability and prevent resistance to the drug.

Currently, Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) are the drug of choice for the World Health Organization (WHO) for the treatment of malaria. A number of derivatives of artemisinin have been developed to improve efficacy.

However, it is important to note that artemisinin is not recommended as a malaria preventive because it has a very short half life. To be effective at malaria prophylaxis (prevention), artemisinin would have to be administered multiple times daily.

Artemisinin Effects and Research

Artemisinin and its derivatives are currently being researched for their effects on the immune system as well as their actions against cancer progression. A number of medicinal properties have been demonstrated.

Some of the mechanisms of action attributed to artemisinin pills include:

• Antiangiogenic;
• Anti-inflammatory;
• Antimicrobial;
• Antineoplastic;
• Antiparasitic;
• Antioxidant;
• Cannabinoid-agonizing;
• Hematological;
• Hormonal;
• Immunological;
• Neurological;

Research continues to examine the therapeutic effects associated with artemisinin administration.

Artemisinin for Malaria

A number of consumers buy artemisinin to protect them against contracting malaria when traveling. However, this supplement may not be the best preventative medication available due to its short half-life.

Artemisinin is not usually used on its own for treating malaria. When this extract is taken by itself for parasitic infections, there is a high probability of recrudescence (reinfection).

For this reason, ACTs (artemisinin combination therapies) are used. These medications combine artemisinin with other slower acting pharmaceutical agents. They help to eliminate remaining parasites in the blood and prevent their return.

The quick-acting artemisinin destroys the majority of the parasites upon administration, and then the combination drug(s) act to keep the organism clear of reinfection.

High-quality artemisinin, when administered intramuscularly, acts against parasitic infections, like malaria, better than quinine, with 30% less associated mortality.

Artemisinin is easier to administer, cheaper to manufacture and acts faster against sequestered and circulating parasitic invaders. The WHO has recommended that ACTs are used as first-line treatments for all cases of severe malaria worldwide.

Artemisinin for Cancer

A number of consumers buy artemisinin due to the promising anti-cancer research conducted on this supplement. There is not enough clinical evidence yet to support this usage, even though consumer reviews are favorable.

Early clinical exploration of artemisinin derivatives are showing significant effects against the progression of various cancer cell lines, especially hepatocellular carcinomas.

Artemisinin contains a unique peroxide lactone group bridge in its molecular makeup. This bridge is believed to be responsible for much of its anticancer and chemopreventive effects.

When the peroxide contacts iron molecules, free radicals are created, making the molecule unstable, and induing cytotoxicity on the cell.

Cancerous cells contain abnormally high amounts of iron. The resulting cytotoxic oxidative stress induced on the cancer cells causes mitochondrial apoptosis, eliminating the cell.

Artemisinin has been shown to reduce the generation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) in tumor cells. This prevents tumor cells from receiving blood and the nutrients contained therein. This may further promote tumor cell death and prevent growth and replication.

Artemisinin extract also suppresses the expression of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) in various tissue cultures. Further, artemisinin has been shown to selectively targeted malignant melanoma cells in humans.

Significantly more research is needed to determine whether artemisinin is viable in human cancer treatment. It has not been approved by the FDA for used as a cancer drug.

Artemisinin Supplement Doses

Artemisinin dosages are based primarily on records of traditional use as well as case reports from integrative health practitioners who recommend this supplement for Lyme disease and other ailments. The following wormwood dosages have been used:

For relief of backache pain, and for fibromyalgia, one teaspoon of the juice from wormwood leaves has been used twice daily. Two daily 750 mg doses of a wormwood-based herbal blend has been used to treat Crohn’s disease.

Traditional treatment for malaria uses tea prepared from 9 grams of wormwood leaves simmered in one liter of purified water. This mixture recipe provides roughly 94.5 mg/L of artemisinin, given that the leaves are of average potency.

This tea is taken three times daily. Each cup provides the equivalent of a 500 mg dose of artemisinin.

Is Artemisinin Safe to Use?

Artemisninin is rated as Possibly Safe for short-term use at appropriate dosages. Some have experienced cramping, drooling, dizziness, vomiting and/or insomnia while taking wormwood derivatives.

Some people inadvertently buy artemisinin supplements which contain unhealthy levels of thujone. Thujone is a CNS stimulant and neurotoxic substance which may cause acute renal failure and/or seizures.

There is not enough clinical evidence currently available to determine the safety of artemisinin usage in pregnancy and/or nursing women, or children. Usage should be discussed with your doctor beforehand.

Because of possible allergies, do not combine wormwood supplements or artemisinin with herbals including marigolds, daisies, chrysanthemums, ragweed and/or other members of the Asteraceae botanical family.

Alpha-thujone may cause the synthesis of porphyrins which may lead to the onset of porphyria. Patients with issues concerning the synthesis of hepatic heme should not buy artemisinin or wormwood products.

Do not buy artemisinin for supplementation purposes if you have renal insufficiency and/or seizure disorders. Essential wormwood oils may cause negative reactions for people with these conditions. Always speak with your doctor before beginning any supplementation program.

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