Youyang Artemisia annua

Youyang Artemisia annua

Youyang Artemisia annua is a protected geographical indication product.

Youyang Artemisia annua is a certified geographical indication trademark.

　　Artemisia annua, also known as sweet wormwood, bitter wormwood, or wormwood twig, is the whole plant of *Artemisia annua* belonging to the Asteraceae family and genus *Artemisia*. It contains nearly volatile oils, artemisinone, arteether, L-camphor, pinene, benzyl acetate, and more, offering functions such as clearing heat and detoxifying, cooling blood, and relieving summer heat.

　　Youyang Artemisia annua is widely distributed across the region, with reserves reaching several thousand tons, making it one of the major high-quality producing areas in the country. In particular, it has the highest content of the active ingredient artemisinin, the highest in the world, and is internationally recognized as the preferred medication for treating malignant malaria. It is hailed as a "miracle drug" by people in Africa and the Americas. At the same time, it shows significant efficacy in treating lupus erythematosus, rheumatism, silicosis, colds, AIDS, and more. In veterinary use, artemisinin has a 100% cure rate for bovine babesiosis.

　　 Harvesting and Processing

　　In autumn, when the flowers are in full bloom, cut the aboveground parts, remove old stems, and dry them in the shade.

　　　　Processing

　　1. Artemisia annua: Remove impurities, discard residual roots, moisten with water, cut into segments, and dry in the sun.

　　2. Turtle Blood Artemisia annua: Take Artemisia annua segments, place them in a large basin, pour in turtle blood diluted slightly with warm water, mix well, let it sit briefly until the turtle blood is absorbed, then stir-fry over low heat in a pan, take out, and air-dry. (For every 100 pounds of Artemisia annua segments, use blood from 200 live turtles).

　　　　Functions and Indications

　　Clears heat and relieves summer heat, eliminates steaming, and treats malaria. Used for fever due to summer pathogen, yin deficiency fever, night heat and morning coolness, bone-steaming tidal fever, malaria chills and fever, and damp-heat jaundice.

　　This herb is bitter, cold, and clears heat; its aromatic nature allows it to penetrate and disperse. It is especially good at driving out hidden yin-heat to the exterior, making it an essential herb for yin deficiency fever. In addition, it also helps relieve summer heat and treat malaria.

　　1. Relieving summer heat: Can treat exogenous summer heat, fever, and thirst.

　　2. Treating malaria: Mainly used for alternating chills and fever caused by malaria.

　　3. Cooling blood and reducing deficient heat: Particularly effective for yin deficiency fever, bone-steaming tidal fever, and lingering heat in the yin aspect during the later stages of febrile diseases, with symptoms such as night heat and morning coolness.

　　Dosage / Administration

　　Oral: Decoct in water, 6–15g; for treating malaria, 20–40g may be used. Do not decoct for too long. For fresh herb, double the dosage, soak in water, extract the juice and drink; or use in pills or powders.

　　　　External: Appropriate amount, grind into powder and apply as a paste; or crush fresh herb for topical application; or decoct in water for washing.

　　Youyang Artemisia annua is widely distributed across the region, with reserves reaching several thousand tons, making it one of the major high-quality producing areas in the country. In particular, it has the highest content of the active ingredient artemisinin, the highest in the world, and is internationally recognized as the preferred medication for treating malignant malaria. It is hailed as a "miracle drug" by people in Africa and the Americas. At the same time, it shows significant efficacy in treating lupus erythematosus, rheumatism, silicosis, colds, AIDS, and more. In veterinary use, artemisinin has a 100% cure rate for bovine babesiosis.

　　The protected geographical indication area for Youyang Artemisia annua is based on the scope defined in the Chongqing Municipal Government's Letter on Defining the Protected Geographical Indication Area for “Youyang Artemisia annua” ([2006] No. 81), covering 39 townships in Youyang County, Chongqing: Zhongduo Town, Longtan Town, Mawang Town, Ganxi Town, Youchou Town, Houxi Town, Daxi Town, Xinglong Town, Heishui Town, Cangling Town, Gongtan Town, Dingshi Town, Xiaohe Town, Lixi Town, Banxi Township, Tonggu Township, Tushi Township, Jiangfeng Township, Yudi Township, Che Tian Township, Pianbai Township, Wufu Township, Keda Township, Muye Township, Maoba Township, Huatian Township, Shuangquan Township, Miaoxi Township, Langping Township, Qingquan Township, Liangzeng Township, Tian'guan Township, Houping Township, Wanmu Township, Yiju Township, Guanqing Township, Banqiao Township, Nanmu Township, and Nan Yaojie Township, as well as 3 towns in Qianjiang District: Shijia Town, Lianghe Town, and Zhuoshui Town, 3 towns in Xiushan County: Rongxi Town, Longchi Town, and Shidi Town, and 2 towns in Pengshui County: Lujiao Town and Sangzhe Town, totaling 47 administrative regions.