Sweet Annie

Sweet Annie, Artemisia annua, is a plant I love. The smell is divine and I brush past it every time I enter my glasshouse. It is a member of the wormwood family and no insects seem to bother eating it. It makes a lovely herbal tea and that is now all I am allowed to dispense it as. In NZ, the government changed it's classification under the Medicines Act. It is a non invasive annual and I need to grow it in a sheltered spot in South Canterbury, so I may extend its growing season. It is a frost tender annual and has soft feathery leaves and mine grew 2m tall this growing season.

Several members of the Artemisia family have traditionally been used as antimicrobials and antiparasiticals. They are known for being bitters and antiparasiticals. Bitters in herbal medicine are associated with the liver.

It is used extensively in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for many issues including gut, autoimmune, cardiovascular, liver and gallbladder, blood sugar balance, infections, and more.

Studies have shown Sweet Annie may have benefits on blood sugar balance, some cancers (particularly leukemia, colon and some that are resistant to some drugs), have anti-malarial actions and act as an anti-inflammatory.

I will continue to grow this divinely scented herb in my garden, even for the aroma alone.