“Artemisia annua can save lives!” Interview with medicinal plant expert and bestselling author Barbara Simonsohn

"Artemisia annua, annual mugwort, helps us in the fight against life-threatening diseases such as Lyme disease or cancer. Artemisia can be used for prophylaxis or to prevent the spread of an existing disease and lead to the decline of pathogenic agents or cells. As a miracle antioxidant, Artemisia also protects us from free radicals, which are involved in the development of all chronic diseases." For medicinal plant expert Barbara Simonsohn , it was very important that younger people also learn about the amazing effects and great health significance of annual mugwort through the new audio book of her bestselling guide "Artemisia annua" .

Your successful and proven compact guide "Artemisia annua", which is already in its 10th edition, is now also being published as an unabridged audio book. Who do you want to address with this medium, and why should "annual mugwort" not only be on everyone's lips, but also in everyone's ears?

Simonsohn: I know that from my grown-up children – they no longer read books, apart from specialist literature. When I came up with the audio book, they were excited: "Finally!" In my opinion, young and old should know about this great medicinal plant, and not just those who read a lot. Lyme disease and cancer are on the rise. Lyme disease is partly due to global warming; there used to be hardly any ticks in northern Germany, but that has unfortunately changed. When it comes to cancer, it has to be said that if trends continue like this, cancer will soon replace cardiovascular disease as the number one cause of death. Younger people are also increasingly affected. I am happy and grateful that the publisher has chosen the audio book medium, which appeals more to younger people than printed books. Many people travel long distances by car or train. With an audio book, you can educate yourself on the go almost effortlessly.

“Medicinal plant of the gods”, “crown jewel from the treasury of TCM”, “antioxidant miracle” and even “Nobel Prize plant” – why does Artemisia annua deserve all these superlatives?

Simonsohn: This plant more than deserves this title. Artemisia is, among other things, the name of a goddess who had power over life and death. Artemisia annua can save lives, for example in cases of malaria, Lyme disease or cancer. Artemisia annua has held a very special place in TCM, and has done so since the 4th century AD. Since then, Artemisia annua has been used as a dewormer, antiseptic, for diarrhea, as an antibiotic, to reduce fever, for joint pain, colds and to strengthen the immune system, but also to heal benign and malignant tumors. In 2015, the Chinese professor of medicine Tu Youyou, then 84 years old, finally received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for her discovery in the 1960s that the artemisinin in Artemisia annua is effective against the pathogens that cause life-threatening malaria. As an antioxidant miracle, annual mugwort is THE remedy for extinguishing fires in the body caused by the mischief of free radicals. The plant has a spectacular ORAC value of 70,000, topped only by Moringa with 74,000. Free radicals are involved in the development of all chronic diseases, and antioxidants as their counterparts protect against dementia and Alzheimer's, among other things.

Artemisia annua has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years and is considered an effective remedy for malaria in Asia and Africa. But medical success has also been proven against modern diseases such as Alzheimer's, AIDS and cancer. What do we now know about its active ingredients and areas of application?

Simonsohn: There are more than 600 medicinally effective ingredients in the Artemisia annua plant, I don't even know where to start. Artemisia prevents the development of cancer; in the case of an existing tumor disease, it intervenes in various stages of cancer development, can cause cancer cells to self-destruct and prevent the formation of metastases. All types of cancer react sensitively to artemisinin. Artemisia has a selective effect, meaning that healthy cells are not affected. The same applies to malaria and Lyme disease: the plasmodia of malaria and the spiral bacteria of Lyme disease are attacked and killed without affecting healthy cells. Artemisia annua also successfully combats pathogenic viruses, bacteria, single-celled organisms, fungi and worms. The plant stabilizes blood sugar levels and helps prevent and treat type II diabetes. Artemisia annua alleviates the symptoms of HIV infections and AIDS, prevents osteoarthritis due to its high boron content, and the antioxidants in the plant have a neuroprotective effect, i.e. they prevent neurodegenerative diseases.

Artemisia annua is also an excellent source of protein and is particularly recommended for people who have an increased need for protein, such as those who exercise, are ill, do intellectual work, pregnant women, vegans, children, young people and people under increased stress. How do you use Artemisia in your medicine cabinet and in what form should it best be administered?

Simonsohn: Artemisia annua is not only a natural remedy, but also a superfood. I use the tea because certain polyphenols become more readily available when heated, and also the raw and organic powder in capsule form for travel; at home I prefer the liquid plant extract based on vegetable glycerin from the company Kasimir & Lieselotte. Since we are no longer prepared for a concentrated load of bitter substances, we should slowly integrate bitter substances into our diet and start with small amounts such as half a teaspoon of Artemisia powder per day. Of course, Artemisia ointment is also a must in my medicine cabinet; the recipe for it is in the book and of course also in the audio book.

In the guidebook and the audiobook , you also point out that there are now even studies that show that Artemisia annua can be used successfully in the fight against Covid-19. What is the current state of research here, and what can even long-term or post-Covid sufferers hope for?

Simonsohn: I cited the studies on Covid-19 in my book. Professor Maximilian Moser, former medical director of the University of Graz, sent me new studies on this. As he describes in his book "Kerngesund", it is not the virus, but the weakened and overreacting immune system that made Covid-19 so dangerous. I myself was born in 1954, was not vaccinated against Corona and have not had Corona. Covid-19 patients in Madagascar who received a mixture of Artemisia annua and Moringa oleifera only had a mortality rate of 20 percent compared to patients in Europe, despite malnutrition. Regardless of whether you have long-vac or post-vac, I would try these two plants. The exact application and a dosage recommendation are in my book or can be found in the audio book.

You have been involved in development aid for many years and support projects such as Moringa and organic gardens. What opportunities are there to get involved in this area with the help of Artemisia annua in order to provide local people with a source of food, a medicine cabinet and a source of income?

Simonsohn: I support the "New Village Ghana" project, which creates meaningful jobs locally in the Ashanti region. Small farmers there grow Moringa and Artemisia annua, among other things, in a permaculture project to supply the local population, but also for export to Germany. The project is sponsored by Professor Ralf Otterpohl from the TU Hamburg-Harburg. For one euro you can work small miracles in Africa. For example, I am currently financing a position for a trained organic farmer who trains and instructs others, for 70 euros a month. We are creating new perspectives for the local people and, so to speak, combating the causes of flight. Anyone who would like to support this - every euro counts! - can find out more at www.gardencommunityghana.org ; of course there are donation receipts, and the non-profit status is recognized. The GFEU eV association reports on the project's progress via circular emails and video links. At the same time, Professor Otterpohl, author of "The New Village" among others, is committed to establishing a center for regenerative agriculture in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There I will give lectures in French about African superfoods such as Moringa, Artemisia and Baobab, all of which are the subject of my books. I am currently training Kwabena from "New Village Ghana" and my new neighbor from Niger as Reiki teachers because the voodoo cult is widespread in Africa; we want to make a difference by activating light energy and unconditional love.

Audiobook tip:
Barbara Simonsohn: Artemisia annua - medicinal plant of the gods (audio book) . Antibacterial - antiviral - immune stimulating. Mankau Verlag, 1st edition 2024, 1 MP3 CD in jewel case, total running time approx. 161 minutes, 8-page booklet, RRP 12.99 euros (D) / 13.40 euros (A), ISBN 978-3-86374-724-4.
Also available as download (7.99 Euro)!

Book tip:
Barbara Simonsohn: Artemisia annua - medicinal plant of the gods (compact guide) . Antibacterial - antiviral - immune stimulating. Mankau Verlag, 10th edition 2024, paperback, full color, 11.5 x 16.5 cm, 127 pages, 8.99 euros (D) / 9.20 euros (A), ISBN 978-3-86374-474-8.

Link recommendations:
More information about the audio book “Artemisia annua ”
More information about the book “Artemisia annua”
To the reading sample in PDF format
More about the author Barbara Simonsohn
Our social networks – for questions, criticism, suggestions