Artemisia Annua (Qing Hao) - Organic Powder 1 lb. - Nuherbs Brand

Qing Hao (Artemisia Annua): Comprehensive Guide to This Powerful Healing Herb

Qing Hao (青蒿), known botanically as Artemisia annua, is an essential herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Revered for its cooling properties and its effectiveness in treating a variety of conditions, Qing Hao holds a pivotal place in herbal treatments, especially for its well-documented success in treating fever and malarial infections. Its use spans thousands of years, with modern studies validating its significance due to the discovery of the compound artemisinin, which revolutionized malaria treatment worldwide.

What is Qing Hao?

Qing Hao, also called sweet wormwood, belongs to the Asteraceae family. It grows in temperate regions, particularly in Asia, and its leaves are harvested during the late summer. The plant thrives in a variety of soils, often found along riverbanks or in moist, shaded areas.

In TCM, Qing Hao is classified as a cooling herb that primarily acts on the Liver, Gallbladder, and Kidney meridians. Its cooling properties are utilized to clear heat and treat conditions associated with fever and excessive heat buildup within the body.

Properties and Taste

Qing Hao’s cooling and bitter nature makes it especially useful in purging heat, alleviating fever, and treating heat-related conditions.

• Nature: Cold
• Taste: Bitter, Acrid
• Meridians Entered: Liver, Gallbladder, Kidney

Qing Hao’s Mechanism of Action

At the core of Qing Hao’s medicinal effects is its ability to clear Yin deficiency heat and reduce fever. This is particularly relevant in patients who experience lingering low-grade fevers, often in the afternoon or evening, a hallmark of Yin deficiency in TCM.

In modern medicine, Qing Hao is recognized for the compound artemisinin, which has powerful antimalarial properties. Artemisinin works by generating free radicals within malaria parasites, which damage the parasites’ cell membranes and lead to their destruction.

The Health Benefits of Qing Hao

1. Treats Malarial Fevers

Qing Hao has been used for centuries to treat malarial fevers. Its effectiveness was first documented in the ancient Chinese medical text, The Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies, by Ge Hong in the 4th century. Modern scientific research has further validated Qing Hao’s anti-malarial properties with the discovery of artemisinin, a breakthrough in the fight against malaria.

Artemisinin targets the malaria parasite during the asexual stage in red blood cells, reducing symptoms such as chills, fever, and body aches. It remains one of the most potent treatments for Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite strain.

2. Clears Yin Deficiency Heat

In TCM, Yin deficiency is often characterized by symptoms like night sweats, restlessness, and afternoon fevers. Qing Hao is a quintessential remedy for these symptoms, particularly in cases where the body’s fluids have been depleted due to chronic illness or overexertion.

By addressing Yin deficiency, Qing Hao restores the balance between Yin and Yang in the body. It cools internal heat without damaging the body’s essential vitality.

3. Lowers Summerheat

Qing Hao is effective in treating summerheat conditions, which are commonly associated with excessive sweating, thirst, dizziness, and irritability. Summerheat is a condition that typically arises from overexposure to high temperatures and humidity during the summer months. By clearing heat and dampness from the body, Qing Hao restores balance and alleviates the discomfort associated with summerheat.

4. Promotes Healthy Liver and Gallbladder Function

Qing Hao has a particular affinity for the Liver and Gallbladder meridians. It is used to address damp-heat in the Liver and Gallbladder, a condition that can manifest as jaundice, red eyes, and bitter taste in the mouth. Qing Hao works to cool the heat, expel dampness, and support the smooth flow of Qi in these organs.

5. Relieves Hot Flashes in Menopause

For women going through menopause, Qing Hao is frequently used to alleviate hot flashes and night sweats. These symptoms often arise from Yin deficiency and an imbalance of hormones, leading to heat sensations that can be uncomfortable. By clearing the underlying deficiency heat, Qing Hao provides significant relief for menopausal women.

6. Antiviral and Antibacterial Properties

Studies have shown that Qing Hao possesses antiviral and antibacterial properties. Its active compounds help inhibit the growth of bacteria and viruses, providing an added benefit for those suffering from infections. The herb has shown promising results in managing viral diseases and bacterial infections, helping to boost the body’s immune response.

How to Use Qing Hao

Qing Hao can be used in several forms depending on the condition being treated. Its flexibility in preparation methods makes it highly versatile in TCM and modern herbal medicine.

1. Decoction

A Qing Hao decoction is one of the most common ways to use the herb. It involves simmering the dried leaves in water for about 15-20 minutes to extract its medicinal properties. Decoctions are especially useful for treating malarial fevers, Yin deficiency heat, and summerheat.

2. Tincture

For a more concentrated form, Qing Hao can be prepared as a tincture. Tinctures are made by soaking the herb in alcohol for several weeks. This method is ideal for long-term use and can be added to water or juice for easy consumption.

3. Powder

Qing Hao is also available in powdered form, which can be taken in capsules or added to teas. This preparation is convenient for those who prefer a quicker intake method without the need for simmering.

Side Effects and Contraindications

While Qing Hao is generally safe for most people, it should be used with caution in certain cases. Individuals with cold constitutions or deficiency of Spleen Qi should avoid Qing Hao as it can exacerbate cold conditions. Pregnant women should also avoid using this herb unless under direct supervision of a healthcare provider.

Side effects, though rare, can include nausea or dizziness when taken in excess.

Modern Research on Qing Hao

The discovery of artemisinin from Qing Hao has earned global recognition, even leading to a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the Chinese scientist Tu Youyou in 2015. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are currently the most effective antimalarial treatments available, saving millions of lives worldwide.

Herbal Information on Organic Artemisia Annua in Bulk Powder Form
Product Description 

Common Name:  Sweet Anne
Botanical Name:   Artemisia Annua
Channels/Meridians:   Kidney, Liver, Gallbladder
Other Names: Sweet Wormwood, Sweet Annie
Pin Yin Name:  Qing Hao  (You Ji Qing Hao Fen)
Other Ingredients:   No fillers or excipients
Form:  Organic Bulk Herb Powder
Please Note: This powder is made from a whole herb.
It is not an extract.
It will not dissolve in water and will leave a
sediment in the bottom of your cup or glass.
Package size:   1 pound
Origin:   China
Brand:  Nuherbs Organic
Caution: Do not use if pregnant or nursing. 
Skin contact with the plant can cause dermatitis or
other allergic reactions in some people.
Aroma of the plant is slightly bitter.

California Prop 65 

Benefits of Qing Hao - Wormwood

• Cools Blood
• Resolves Heat
• Clears Liver
• Clears Gallbladder
• Benefits Digestion
• Encourages Natural Sleep
• Occasionally used for Headaches
• Parasites

Product Properties: Bitter, Cold

Herb Category for Artemisia Annua is:  Herbs that Clear and Relieve Summer-Heat.

Qing Hao is one of the herbs which is
mentioned in S. Buhners book titled "Healing Lyme Disease"

What herbs can be combined with Artemisia Annua?
Huang Qin and Artemisia Annua
Chen Pi and Artemisia Annua
Chi Fu Ling and Artemisia Annua

Naturally Occurring Chemical Components

• Artemisinol
• Palmitic acid
• Coumarin
• Octacosanol
• β-Sitosterol
• Myrcene
• Essenital oils
• Artemisinin A
• Axillarin
• Stigmasterol

Special comments:  Qing Hao should not be cooked to
long or the active ingredients are degraded.   

The other name for wormwood is Artemisia absinthium
and has different properties. Check the botanical names
to be sure you get the herb you're looking for.

Check out our How to Use Bulk Herbs page to see
how to use herbs correctly. 

This Traditional Chinese Herb has been tested or
moisture content, active ingredients, microbial loads,
heavy metals, e-coli and certain pesticides. 

• Made at GMP internationally certified facilities
  (Good Manufacturing Practices) Quality control tests
  are done at the manufacturing site and at third party labs to confirm results.
• Manufactured using Unsulfured, Chlorine free,
• Aluminum Phosphate free herbs when possible.
• Microbials and heavy metals tested. No preservatives.

GMP Statement

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) are guidelines that
govern the manufacturing process of a product to ensure
that the quality and safety of the product is consistent.
To ensure compliance and traceability, each step of the
manufacturing process must be documented and adhere
to its defined guidelines. By documenting the
manufacturing process, validating the equipment used,
and following preset guidelines, the manufacture ensure

the quality of each lot of their products.