Single Herb Glossary
Qīng Hāo 青蒿
| Pharmaceutical name | Artemisiae Annuae Herba Artemisia, Sweet wormwood “blue-green artemisia” |
| Category | Clear Heat from Deficiency |
| Key Properties | Clears all types of yin level heat without injuring the Qi, Blood or Yin |
| Properties | Bitter Acrid Cool |
| Tropism | KD, LV, GB |
| Actions & Indications | 1) Clears Summer-heat 2) Clears Fevers from Deficiency (steaming bone without sweat) 3) Cools blood and stops bleeding (purpuric rash, nosebleed) 4) Checks Malarial disorders, Resolves Heat |
| Dosages | 6-12g – do not subject to prolonged cooking Last 10 min |
| Contraindications (TCM) | Caution with Deficiency & Cold of Sp/St Weak digestion or watery diarrhea |
| Contraindications (Western) | |
| Chemical Composition | Artemisinin, arteannuin, essential oils 0.20-0.25% (artemisia ketone, isoartemisia ketone, camphene, β-pinene, β-caryophyllene, l-camphor) |
| Pharmacological Effects | • Antimalarial: artemisinin has demonstrated excellent effectiveness against malarial parasites, one of the most powerful schizonticidal agents to treat falciparum malaria; mechanism believed to be associated with blocked utilization of host erythrocyte protein by the plasmodium, causing starvation and death; however, this compound is not effective as a prophylactic agent because it affects neither the sexual nor the exoerythrocytic forms of the plasmodium • Antibiotic: decoction shown to inhibit S. aureus, Neisseria catarrhalis, Bacillus anthracis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus dysenteriae, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis; essential oil effective against some dermatophytes • Antihypertensive: intravenous injection of arteannuin in rabbits lowered blood pressure, decreased heart rate, inhibited contraction of cardiac muscle, and decreased blood perfusion to coronary artery; in another study, intravenous injection at 20 mg/kg effective in treating aconitine-induced arrhythmias in rabbits • Antipyretic: injection effective in reducing body temperature in rabbits with artificially induced fevers • Cholagogic: shown to increase production and excretion of bile in rats |
| Herb-Drug Interactions | |
| Classical Formula(s) |
This information is a reference tool for Chinese herbal studies. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Please consult a primary health professional if you require health advisory.