Artemisia growing, preparing, and usage for malaria

Artemisia is a natural treatment for malaria.  The specific species is artemisia annua, the Chinese species.

Contents

  1. 1 Growing
  2. 2 Preparing
  3. 3 Usage

Artemisia can be grown from the seed or the stem. Seeds can be grown in a small pot with moist fertilized soil and transplanted on regular fields, after sprouting.

Artemisia annua takes 6 months to mature. The final pounded dried leaf powder last 3 to 5 months(World Health Organization, Artemisinin-based combination therapies). Artemisia tolerates dry, hot, and cold conditions. It grows well in sunlight. Soil should be loose and not too wet, with adequate drainage. Garden variety soil is fine.


Growing


Growing artemisa is as follows:

  • Step 1. Plant in full sun in well-drained soil.
  • Step 2. Add a light application of organic fertilizer to the planting hole.
  • Step 3. Place the plants no deeper than they were growing in the containers.
  • Step 4. Set the plants 12 to 18 inches apart.
  • Step 5. Mulch around but not on top of the plants with 3 inches of organic compost.
  • Step 6. Water well until soil is completely moist. To care for Artemisia remove old foliage in spring and lightly fertilize top. Finally, mulch around but not on top of the plants with 3 inches of organic compost in spring(eHow.com).


Preparing


When the plant has matured, pull the leaves off. Place the leaves in the sun to dry. After drying, pound the leaves into a powder.


Usage


A tea made of the artemisia powder should be drunk . 4 teaspoons in a liter of water should be taken per day for a week. It has a very bitter taste.
Works Cited

Artemisia, by www.chajila.blogspot.com or www.kujilana.blogspot.com, on Youtube , Part 1
Artemisia, by www.chajila.blogspot.com or www.kujilana.blogspot.com, on Youtube , Part 2
Artemisia, REAP teaching leaflet #11, pdf
Growing Artemisia, http://www.villagevolunteer.org, pdf