Evidence supporting the use of: Sweet Annie
For the health condition: Itching
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Sweet Annie (Artemisia annua) has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine, primarily for treating fevers and malaria, but it has also been used to address various skin complaints, including itching (pruritus). Traditional healers sometimes applied preparations of Sweet Annie topically or included it in herbal baths to soothe irritated skin and relieve itching. This usage is based on anecdotal evidence and traditional practices rather than robust scientific research.
The plant contains several bioactive compounds, most notably artemisinin, which is valued for its antimalarial properties. Some laboratory studies have shown that extracts of Artemisia annua possess anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, which could theoretically contribute to its soothing action on itchy or irritated skin. However, these effects have not been directly linked to relief of itching in well-designed clinical trials. The evidence supporting its use for pruritus is thus limited to traditional reports and minor in vitro or animal research, with little to no direct clinical evidence in humans.
Therefore, while Sweet Annie is used traditionally to help relieve itching, scientific validation for this particular use is lacking, and its efficacy for pruritus remains unproven by modern research.
Other ingredients used for Itching
AbrusAgrimony
Allantoin
Aloe vera
Alstonia scholaris
American Liverleaf
Amor seco
anamu
apple cider vinegar
Arani
argan nut oil
Arisaema
Asam gelugor
Asarum sieboldii
avens
babchi
Baliospermum
balsam
Baphicacanthus cusia
Barleria
bentonite
betel
black nightshade
Brazilian peppertree
cajuput
calamus
Calendula
Calotropis gigantea
camphor oil
carry me seed
Carthamus
castor oil
catechu
cedar
chamomile
chickweed
cinquefoil
citronella
Clerodendrum trichotomum
cocoa butter
coconut oil
colloid
copaiba oil
cornflower
Cyanthillium cinereum
Davilla rugosa
dendramine
Didymocarpus
divi-divi
Dwarf Nettle
elephant\'s head
emu oil
Erodium cicutarium
eugenol
Euphorbia
European Elder
fang-feng
ferula assafoetida
fleabane
Flueggea suffruticosa
fringed pink
Gardenia jasminoides
geranium
giant blazingstar
golden shower tree
henna
Homalomena
honey loquat syrup
Houttuynia
Hydrocolloid
Indian nightshade
Japanese sophora
Jessica\'s sticktight
Jewelweed
jojoba oil
labrador tea
Lantana camara
Ledebouriella
Leptospermum scoparium
Lesser speargrass
lichen
licorice root
Lophira lanceolata
Lycopodium
Lysimachia
Macaranga indica
Mahonia
mallow
Malva sylvestris
Marking Nut Tree
Marsh Tea
Marshmallow
Matapalo Tree
Matico
melaleuca alternifolia
Myrobalan
Oak
Onosma bracteatum
oriental arborvitae
pagoda tree
Pellitory
Pepper Bark Tree
Peppermint
Plectranthus amboinicus
Plumbago zeylanica
Polygonum
Potentilla
Pulsatilla
Quisqualis
Rhus glabra
Rubus
rue
Sabadilla
Sagebrush
Salvia
Sandalwood
Sandy Everlasting
Sanguisorba
Sapindus mukorossi
Scabrous Gentian
scrophularia root
Self-Heal
Semiaquilegia
Sensitive Plant
sheep's sorrel
Slippery Elm
slippery elm bark
Snakeroot
Soapberry
Southernwood
Spanish Needle
Speedwell
Spikenard
Spilanthes
Storax
Sumac
Sweet Annie
Sweet Bay
sweetgums
Tannins
Tea Tree Oil
Terpinen-4-ol
Thymol
turmeric
typhonium
Vervain
vitamin D
vitamin E
Waltheria ovata
White oak
Winter Savory
Witch Hazel
Wrightia tinctoria
Yarrow
Zinc
Other health conditions supported by Sweet Annie
Abdominal PainAntibiotics (alternatives to)
Appetite (deficient)
Asthma
Bites and Stings
Boils
Bronchitis
Burns and Scalds
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Congestion (bronchial)
Dermatitis
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Edema
Fever
Gas and Bloating
Gastritis
Inflammation
Influenza
Insomnia
Itching
