Qing Hao
English Name: artemisia, sweet wormwood, sweet annie
Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Artemisiae Annuae
Medica Category: Deficiency-Heat Clearing Herbs
Properties: Qing Hao enters the Liver, Gallbladder, and Stomach channels; it is acrid and bitter in nature and cold in temperature.
What is Qing Hao?:
The Chinese Herb Qing Hao is the dried aerial parts of artemisia annua (aka sweet annie or sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua L.; Artemisia apiacea Hance)). This plant is native to China, growing in marginal, disturbed areas at the edges of civilization and waste places. She prefers full sun and fairly dry soil. Fully grown artemisia annua plants have fern-like dark green foliage dotted with tiny cream-yellow colored flowers.
The fresh juice of Qing Hao is most effective for use as a single herb for the treatment of malaria; otherwise the dried aerial parts are used as medicine (in decoction).
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Qing Hao:
Qing Hao clears deficiency heat and is the herb of choice for treating malaria with alternating chills and fever (either as a single herb (freshly juiced Qing Hao is most effective) or in formula depending on the presentation).
Qing Hao clears deficiency heat without consuming yin/damaging body fluids and is thus used to address symptoms of yin deficiency such as steaming bones, tidal fever, night sweats, five-center heat, and irritability.
Qing Hao clears summer-heat and is used alone (or with He Ye) to address symptoms of dehydration and bodily stress from overheating in the sun.