"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, in the case of an existing illness, can prevent expansion and lead to the regression of pathogenic germs or cells. As an antioxidant marvel, Artemisia also protects us from free radicals, which are involved in the development of all chronic diseases." For herbal expert Barbara Simonsohn, it was a great concern that younger people too should learn about the astonishing effects and great health significance of annual mugwort through the new audiobook on her bestselling guide "Artemisia annua".

Your successful and proven compact guide "Artemisia annua", now in its 10th edition, is now also available as an unabridged audiobook. Who are you hoping to reach with this medium, and why should "annual mugwort" not only be on everyone's lips, but also in everyone's ears?

Simonsohn: I know this from my adult children – they don't read books anymore, except for specialist literature. When I came with the audiobook, they were thrilled: "Finally!" In my opinion, young and old should learn about this great medicinal plant, and not just avid readers. Lyme disease and cancer are on the rise. With Lyme disease, it's partly due to global warming; there used to be hardly any ticks in northern Germany, but unfortunately that has changed. When it comes to cancer, one has to state: if the development continues like this, cancer will soon replace cardiovascular diseases as the number one cause of death. More and more younger people are also affected. I am happy and grateful that the publisher decided on the audiobook medium, which appeals more to younger people than printed books. Many spend a long time traveling by car or train. With an audiobook, you can educate yourself almost effortlessly on the go.

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

Simonsohn: This plant more than deserves these titles. Artemisia is, among other things, the name of a goddess who had power over life and death. Artemisia annua can be life-saving, for example in malaria, Lyme disease, or cancer. In TCM, Artemisia annua has a very special position, and has had since the 4th century AD. Since this time, Artemisia annua has been used as a deworming agent, antiseptic, for diarrhea, as an antibiotic, for fever reduction, for joint pain, colds, and to strengthen the immune system, but also for healing benign and malignant tumors. In 2015, the Chinese medical professor Tu Youyou, then 84 years old, finally received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for her discovery from the 1960s that artemisinin in Artemisia annua works against the causative agents of life-threatening malaria. As an antioxidant marvel, annual mugwort is THE agent for extinguishing fires in the body, caused by the mischief of free radicals. The plant has the spectacular ORAC value of 70,000, only surpassed by Moringa with 74,000. Free radicals are involved in the development of all chronic diseases, and antioxidants, as their antagonists, protect against dementia and Alzheimer's, among other things.

For over 2,000 years, Artemisia annua has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is considered an effective remedy against malaria in Asia and Africa. However, medical successes have also been proven against modern diseases such as Alzheimer's, AIDS, or cancer. What insights are there now regarding active ingredients and areas of application?

Simonsohn: There are more than 600 medicinally active 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 induce cancer cells to self-destruct, and prevent the formation of metastases. All types of cancer are sensitive to artemisinin. Artemisia acts selectively, meaning healthy cells are not affected. The same applies to malaria and Lyme disease: The plasmodia of malaria or the spirochetes of Lyme disease are attacked and killed without affecting healthy cells. Artemisia annua also successfully fights pathogenic viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and worms. The plant stabilizes blood sugar levels and helps with type II diabetes for prophylaxis and as a therapy. Artemisia annua alleviates the symptoms of HIV infections and AIDS, prevents osteoarthritis due to its high boron content, and the antioxidants in the plant are neuroprotective, meaning they prevent neurodegenerative diseases.

Artemisia annua also represents an excellent source of protein and is particularly recommended for people who have an increased protein requirement, such as active athletes, sick people, mental workers, pregnant women, vegans, children, adolescents, and people under increased stress. How do you personally 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 available through heating, and also the powder in raw food and organic quality 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 dose 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 not missing from my medicine cabinet; the recipe for it can be found in the book and of course also in the audiobook.

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

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

For many years you have also been involved in development aid and support, among other things, Moringa projects and organic gardens. What opportunities are there to get involved in this area with the help of Artemisia annua to provide people there with a food base, a home pharmacy, and a source of income?

Simonsohn: I support the "New Village Ghana" project, where meaningful local jobs are created in the Ashanti region. Small farmers there grow Moringa and Artemisia annua, among other things, in a permaculture project, for the supply of the local population, but also for export to Germany. The project is supported 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 information at www.gardencommunityghana.org; there are of course donation receipts, the non-profit status is recognized. The GFEU e.V. association reports on the progress of the project via circular emails and video links. In parallel, Professor Otterpohl, author of "Das Neue Dorf" (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 on African superfoods such as Moringa, Artemisia, and Baobab, all subjects of my books. I am currently training Kwabena from "New Village Ghana" and my new neighbor from Niger as Reiki masters, because voodoo is widespread in Africa; with the activation of light energy and unconditional love, we want to make a difference.

Audiobook Tip:
Barbara Simonsohn: Artemisia annua – Medicinal Plant of the Gods (Audiobook). Antibacterial – Antiviral – Immunostimulating. Mankau Verlag, 1st ed. 2024, 1 MP3-CD in Jewelcase, total runtime approx. 161 min., 8-page booklet, RRP 12.99 Euro (D) / 13.40 Euro (A), ISBN 978-3-86374-724-4.
Also available as a download (7.99 Euro)!

Book Tip:
Barbara Simonsohn: Artemisia annua – Medicinal Plant of the Gods (Compact Guide). Antibacterial – Antiviral – Immunostimulating. Mankau Verlag, 10th ed. 2024, flap paperback, continuous color, 11.5 x 16.5 cm, 127 pages, 8.99 Euro (D) / 9.20 Euro (A), ISBN 978-3-86374-474-8.

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