The epithet of this species has been given both as 'caruifolia' and as 'carvifolia' and is based on the similarity of the leaves to those of Carum carvi L. Both forms are therefore orthographically correct, depending on whether they are based on the genus name or the species epithet, and there is no case for regarding either as an orthographical error. The protologue actually gives the spelling as 'carnifolia' but it also cites the nomen nudum 'Artemisia caruifolia' (of Roxburgh, Hort. Bengal. 1814), which has consistently been treated as a typographical error. It seems rather likely that the 'n' is an upside-down 'u' and that the correct spelling should be 'caruifolia'[].

Common Name:

General Information

Artemisia carvifolia is a much-branched, annual to biennial plant growing 30 - 150cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and a food. The plant can be used medicinally in the same ways as Artemisia annua, which makes it a very important anti-malarial.

Known Hazards

Although we have seen no specific reports for this species, many members of this genus contain potentially allergenic sesquiterpene lactones that can cause skin reactions[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan, Himalayas.

Habitat

Moist river banks, floodlands, waysides, outer forest margins, canyons and coastal beaches; from low elevations up to 4,600 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual/Biennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus are generally easily grown, succeeding in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a sunny position[, ]. They tend to be longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[].
Established plants are drought tolerant.
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

Young plants - cooked in the spring[, ]. They are also used as a flavouring for tea[].

Medicinal

The whole plant is depurative, febrifuge, stomachic, tonic and vermifuge[, , ]. It contains abrotanine which is antiphlogistic and antifebrile[]. The plant is said to prevent malaria, or to drive away mosquitoes[]. It inhibits the maturation of malaria parasites in the body[]. It is also used in the treatment of low-grade fevers, tidal fever, summer heat stroke, chronic diarrhoea, phthisis, purulent scabies and intestinal troubles[, ].
A decction of the root is used in the treatment of asthma[].

This plant can be used interchangeably with Artemisia annua[]. The medicinal virtues of that plant are as follows:-
Qing Ho, better known in the West as sweet wormwood, is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. An aromatic anti-bacterial plant, recent research has shown that it destroys malarial parasites, lowers fevers and checks bleeding[, , ]. It is often used in the Tropics as an affordable and effective anti-malarial[].

The leaves are antiperiodic, antiseptic, digestive, febrifuge[, ]. An infusion of the leaves is used internally to treat fevers, colds, diarrhoea etc[, ]. Externally, the leaves are poulticed onto nose bleeds, boils and abscesses[, ]. The leaves are harvested in the summer, before the plant comes into flower, and are dried for later use[].

The plant contains the essential oil artemisinin, which is well known in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its antiinflammatory, antifebrile and haemostatic properties. Artemisinin has proved to be a dramatically effective anti-malarial agent, effective against multi-drug resistant Plasmodium spp[, , , ]. Clinical trials have shown it to be 90% effective and more successful than standard drugs[]. In a trial of 2,000 patients, all were cured of the disease[].

The seeds are used in the treatment of flatulence, indigestion and night sweats[].

Other Uses

The plant is burnt to repel insects[].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow spring in a greenhouse. Do not allow the compost to dry out. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer.
The seed can also be sown in situ during late spring.