Artemisia

An Anti-Malarial Herb

Artemisia is an herb within the wormwood family. In the States it is often called ‘Sweet Annie” and is sold for the way it smells. The history behind this plant is complex and intriguing. It was used in Asia as a medicinal plant for 2000 years before the west discovered it’s healing attributes. Thanks to a german organization of doctors known as ANAMED, we received five seeds back in 2007. We have cultivated from these five seeds over 1000 plants to date. The hybrid grows great in our african soil and is mainly propagated by making cuttings.

This plant heals malaria. All that is needed is to strip the leaves from the plant. Dry the leaves. Pound the leaves into a powder and add the powder to hot water to be drunk as a tea. The tea should be drunk for a week, consuming one liter a day. In the village of Nomba, over 172 individuals have been healed of malaria (December 2008). The project was begun at the beginning of 2008.

Our friends say, ‘Eeeh, kuŵaŵa!!,’ which means, ‘It’s bitter!’ The tea is bitter but around here that’s a sign of real medicine. This plant has the possibility, if used responsibly and honestly, to help countless families avoid the scourge of malaria that kills 1,000,000 children in Africa every year.

At MGK we are working to be a supplier of Artemisia powder, educate people about the plant, and distribute seedlings for families to have their supply.