Artemisinin or Qinghaosu (pronounced
Ching-hao-su) is an extract from the plant Artemisia
annua (sweet wormwood) or Qinghao (pronounced
Ching-hao). Artemisinin triggers the death of
cancer cells through apoptosis.
Scientific research has also shown Artemisinin to be
beneficial in balancing the microbiology of
the gastrointestinal tract.
Artemisinin is an anti-parasitic and
anti-angiogenic*. It is essentially a method of
delivering hydrogen peroxide (Gammill, 11/29/04).
With the knowledge of a high accumulation of iron in
cancer cells, researchers Henry Lai and Narenda Singh of
the University of Washington became interested in possible
Artemisinin activity against malignant cells. In
1995, they published a paper in Cancer Letters
concerning the use of Artemisinin against numerous cancer
cell lines in vitro. This article has mobilized
interest in Artemisinin as an addition to anti-cancer
treatment.
Iron-hungry cancer cells typically have significantly
more transferrin receptors, and researchers have bound Arteminisin to Transferrin. Inside the
cancer cell, the iron is released and reacts with the
Artemisinin. Artemisinin-tagged transferrin was
34,000 times more effective in selecting and killing the
cancer cells than normal cells," Lai said.
"Artemisinin alone is 100 times more effective."
In an article
on the use of Artemisinin for cancer, a researcher at
the Brewer Science Library cites it as being highly
effective for breast cancer, lymphoma, and particularly
leukemia. "More aggressive cancers such as
pancreatic and acute leukemia ... respond even
better. Slower cancers, such as nonaggressive
prostate cancers, do not respond as well. It is
effective with sarcoma, melanoma, larynx, ovarian,
prostate (but PSA doesn't
drop), brain (including neuroblastoma and GBM), renal,
metastatic breast cancer, and drug-resistant cancers.
"Artemisinin is effective against a wide variety of cancers as
shown in a series of successful experiments. The most effective
is leukemia and colon cancer. Intermediate activities were also
shown against melanoma, breast, ovarian, prostate, CNS and renal
cancer. Although artemisinin is insoluble in water, it is able
to cross the blood/brain barrier (the water-soluble artesunate is the
weakness among the derivates), and may be particularly suitable for
curing brain tumors together with Poly-MVA."
In Vietnam it is used to arrest breast
cancer. The Hoang medical family has used
Artemisinin in combination with several other herbs to
treat cancer and eliminate necrosis material. They have
achieved a 50 to 60 percent long-term remission rate in
over 400 cancer patients utilizing Artemisinin together with
a comprehensive cancer strategy, and with no observed
toxicity." (www.mnwelldir.org/docs/cancer1/altthrpy.htm and cited by Dr. Rowen cited in
www.cancerdecisions.com/090503.html.
"In laboratory studies of radiation-resistant
breast cancer cells that have a high propensity for
accumulating iron revealed that Artemisinin has 75
percent cancer-cell-killing properties in 8 hours, and
almost 100 percent within 24 hours when these cancer
cells are pre-loaded with iron after incubation with
holotransferrin. Normal cells remained virtually
unharmed." --Michael Lam, MD
Arteminisin is best taken on an empty stomach with
some natural fat such as cottage cheese or
yogurt. Cod liver oil and CLA will enhance
absorption. "With the exception of patients
very near death, taking Artemisinin or derivatives
has stabilized, improved, or remitted every cancer
patient I have followed." --Robert Jay Rowen, MD
Good-quality Artemesia annua contains 0.3 to 0.5
percent artemisinin, so pure Artemisinin provides
hundreds of times more of the active constituent
artemisinin than the whole herb itself.
Artemisia annua is a plant with a strong aroma,
containing camphor and essential oils. It is a
robust plant that grows in many areas of the world.
However, only plants grown in special agricultural and
geographic conditions contain artemisinin. The best
high-yielding samples have been collected from the steep
hills at altitudes over 4,500 feet around Youyang County,
City of Chongqing in Szechuan Province, China, where our
supplier, Holley Wulingshan Mountain Pharmaceutical Co.
Ltd, is located.
The quantity and quality of artemisinin are very
sensitive to various conditions, such as farming, harvest
timing, the pre-manufacturing processing, transportation,
extracting and purification processes, manufacturing and
storage environments, etc. Even in optimal
conditions, Artemisia annua yields very low
artemisinin.
Artemisia annua leaves have been consumed by local
Chinese over several centuries for promoting general
health. Its extract, Artemisinin, has been used over
several decades. Derivatives of the plant
(chemically altered; not natural products) have
been developed and used to treat various diseases,
including malaria.
For more info, see:
www.townsendletter.com/Dec2002/artemisinin1202.htm (Rowen)
www.annieappleseedproject.org/artemisinin.html
www.cancure.org/artemesia.htm
* Anti-angiogenesis therapy is the use of drugs or
other substances to stop cancerous tumors from developing
new blood vessels.
Caution: Not indicated for pregnant or nursing
women. Long-term administration (for longer than one
month) should be monitored by a health care practitioner
and include liver enzymes and hemoglobin testing.
Combining with antioxidants or iron may theoretically
decrease effectiveness. Detoxification reactions may
be experienced by some individuals.
Suggested use: As a dietary supplement, 1 or 2
capsules, one or two times daily before meals, or as
directed by a health care practitioner.
Contents: 60 capsules per bottle.
Active Ingredient: Artemisinin, 100mg.
Other ingredients: Gelatin, maltodextrin.
