Sweet Wormwood for Rheumatoid Arthritis

A 2017 study found that people with rheumatoid arthritis who took an extract of sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua) daily in addition to standard medications had significant improvement over standard medications alone during a 48 week period. There was significant improvement in number of painful joints, number of swollen joints and inflammatory markers. Another study found that sweet wormwood significantly improved symptoms of osteoarthritis over 12 weeks compared to placebo. Some people may be allergic to sweet wormwood or have other side effects. Plants in the genus Artemisia are not safe for use in pregnancy due to possible uterine contractions.

Yang M, Guo MY, Luo Y, Yun MD, Yan J, Liu T, Xiao CH. Effect of Artemisia annua extract on treating active rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized controlled trial. Chin J Integr Med. 2017 Jul;23(7):496-503. doi: 10.1007/s11655-016-2650-7. Epub 2016 Dec 29. PMID: 28035541.

Stebbings S, Beattie E, McNamara D, Hunt S. A pilot randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of an extract of Artemisia annua administered over 12 weeks, for managing pain, stiffness, and functional limitation associated with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. Clin Rheumatol. 2016 Jul;35(7):1829-36. doi: 10.1007/s10067-015-3110-z. Epub 2015 Dec 3. PMID: 26631103.