Alchimia presents the Artemisia annua seeds by Kokopelli Association. It is a plant native to temperate China, where it has been used for centuries in its traditional medicine to treat various ailments. Currently it can be found in many countries.
It is an annual herbaceous plant, up to 1.5m high (although it can reach 2m). It is a strong plant and easy to cultivate in a wide variety of climates and soils. It adapts well to areas with a lot of rain or drought, and can tolerate extreme temperatures.
Artemisia annua cultivation
Seeds can be sown directly into the ground in spring, or grown in pots and then transplanted into the open ground. The plant prefers well-drained, fertile soil, and should be watered regularly to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. It can also be grown from cuttings.
It develops quickly and reaches maturity in a few months, particularly if planted in a location with good sun exposure. It is ready to harvest when the plant is about 90-120 days old, when the flower buds appear. It can be collected the entire plant or just the upper parts. After harvest, the plant should be dried out of direct sunlight or in a well-ventilated area to preserve its medicinal properties. Only the leaf is used, discarding the woody parts.
Uses of Artemisia annua
Artemisia annua has traditionally been used to treat a variety of conditions, including fever, headache, digestive problems, and menstrual pain. It has also been studied for its possible use to help in fighting cancer and other diseases.
It is now well known because it contains a chemical called artemisinin, which has been shown to be effective in treating malaria. Artemisinin is capable of killing disease-causing parasites early in their life cycle, making it a valuable tool in the fight against malaria.
