Iron chelating benefits of Artemisinin or Sweet Wormwood or Mugworts, for fatigue or hyperinflammation.

Research shows benefit for cancer treatment and has been used in Parkinson's Disease and neurocognitive conditions. Likely helpful for anemia of chronic inflammation.

“Fatigue” of chronic inflammation is a natural defense mechanism to make iron less available to a potential pathogen. Sometimes the body seems to remain in that mode, even without an obvious infection. Iron chelating phytonutrients like artemisinin or catechins/ellagitannins and citrus peel polyphenols can help control excess iron which is damaging - rust inducing in an oxidative environment.

In anemia of chronic infection or inflammation, there is enough iron, it just moved out of the red blood cells because RBCs are more vulnerable to pathogens like malaria parasites. Artemisinin is used as an anti-malarial medication or prevention.

The anemia fatigue is from not enough oxygen carrying red blood cells, but taking extra iron won’t help change the inflammatory signaling that is causing the iron to be shifted into a ferritin or other form and out of the hemoglobin. Pathogens have easier access to red blood cells than other types of cells so the body moves iron out of hemoglobin into other types of storage which might become too full. Iron is damaging if free as an electrically active ion.

Green tea catechins helped reduce oxidative stress within the brain:

• Mandel, S., Weinreb, O., Reznichenko, L., Kalfon, L., Amit, T. (2006). Green tea catechins as brain-permeable, non toxic iron chelators to “iron out iron” from the brain. In: Parvez, H., Riederer, P. (eds) Oxidative Stress and Neuroprotection. Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementa, vol 71. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-33328-0_26 https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-211-33328-0_26

‘Sleepy encephalitis’ of the last post, might begin as anemia of chronic inflammation. Iron chelators/zinc ionophores might be helpful for controlling excess iron storage. Taking extra iron for that type of anemia might just make the overall inflammatory situation worse for the body. Vitamin C and ot

1917/1918 Spanish Flu & Encephalitis lethargica - resembles 'Covid19' and 'Long Covid'

her antioxidants might help though as it is an inflammatory/oxidative situation.

Following ‘Covid19’ like illness in March 2020, I was extremely tired. Going up and downstairs in a two story house was too much effort. I found artemisinin, 100 mg twice a day, helpful for the fatigue that remained after my respiratory symptoms had resolved in March 2020 with untested illness. I continued taking it twice a day for almost a year and then once a day for a while. I have since used Wormwood tea when feeling a flair up or artemisinin.

Wormwood (Artemisia absenthium) is bitter and rich in thujone which can cause seizures in excess. I found the tea good made into a Suntea (structured water) but also habit forming. I had difficulty stopping use when it became clear that it was causing salicylate excess symptoms for me. Sweet Wormwood (Artemisia annua) would be the tea leaves to look for to have a thujone free and less bitter tea. Neither are recommended during pregnancy or lactation. In areas with endemic malaria, ten grams made into tea is used as a daily preventative against malaria. Artemesia afra might be used by women of childbearing age instead.

Artemisinin, an extract of Sweet Wormwood (Wormwood, Mugwort).

Artemisinin - typical dose 100-200 mg once a day for prevention or twice a day for treatment.

The Artemisia species in general are beneficial for their anti-parasitic, immunomodulator and iron chelator effects (Mugwort & Wormwood, Artemisia absenthium, and others).

• Artemisia afra is used as a malaria prevention in some African nations for children or women of childbearing years as Sweet Wormwood and Wormwood are not recommended.

• Artemisia annua (Sweet Wormwood) is used as tea as a malaria prevention for other adults, about one teaspoon, 10 grams, made into a cup of tea.

• Artemisia absenthium (Wormwood) is bitter and quite potent. A ¼ teaspoon steeped for a couple minutes makes a strong tea without too much of the oily thujone being released. Excess thujone can cause seizures. Making Wormwood tea with thyme and/or fennel seeds too, helps balance the GABA effects caused by thujone inhibition, and adds better flavor.

Grok AI from X.com (15 links):

Artemisinin, originally known for its antimalarial properties, has been explored for its potential in cancer treatment and other conditions, including its effects on iron metabolism which could be relevant for managing anemia of chronic inflammation (ACI). Here's how artemisinin might play a role in this context:

Iron Chelating benefits of Artemisinin for Anemia of Chronic Inflammation

Anemia of Chronic Inflammation (ACI): Often characterized by iron sequestration in macrophages and increased ferritin levels due to inflammatory responses. This results in functional iron deficiency where the body has sufficient or even increased iron stores but cannot effectively use it for erythropoiesis due to hepcidin-mediated iron trapping.

Artemisinin's Iron Interaction:

• Iron Activation: Artemisinin derivatives, particularly dihydroartemisinin (DHA), are activated by iron, leading to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can cause oxidative damage. This interaction with iron is fundamental to its antimalarial activity but also has implications in cancer cells where it can induce ferroptosis, a form of iron-dependent cell death.

• Ferritin Degradation: Research suggests that DHA can induce lysosomal degradation of ferritin, thereby increasing free iron levels within cells. This process does not rely on traditional autophagy pathways but rather on lysosomal degradation, which could theoretically reduce iron sequestration in ACI by making iron more available for hemoglobin synthesis.

• Iron Homeostasis Modulation: Artemisinin compounds affect iron-regulatory proteins (IRPs) which control iron homeostasis through the iron-responsive element (IRE) system. By binding to free iron, artemisinin can alter this regulatory mechanism, potentially aiding in the release of iron from ferritin or reducing hepcidin levels, though direct research on this in the context of ACI is sparse.

Research Support:

• Ferroptosis Induction: Studies have shown that artemisinin compounds can sensitize cancer cells to ferroptosis by manipulating iron homeostasis. For instance, a study demonstrated that DHA induces ferroptosis in cancer cells by promoting ferritin degradation, thus increasing cellular free iron, which might have implications for conditions involving iron dysregulation like ACI (,).

  • Chen GQ, Benthani FA, Wu J, Liang D, Bian ZX, Jiang X. Artemisinin compounds sensitize cancer cells to ferroptosis by regulating iron homeostasis. Cell Death Differ. 2020 Jan;27(1):242-254. doi: 10.1038/s41418-019-0352-3. Epub 2019 May 21. PMID: 31114026; PMCID: PMC7205875. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7205875/

• Iron Sequestration: While direct links between artemisinin's role in reducing iron sequestration in ACI are less documented, the mechanism of freeing iron from ferritin in cancer cells suggests a potential pathway for exploration in ACI.

• Potential in Anemia Treatment: Although not directly studied for ACI, the interaction of artemisinin with iron metabolism pathways hints at possible applications. For example, the ability of artemisinin to alter iron levels through ferritin degradation could be beneficial in conditions where iron is sequestered due to chronic inflammation ().

  • Grignano, E., Cantero-Aguilar, L., Tuerdi, Z. et al. Dihydroartemisinin-induced ferroptosis in acute myeloid leukemia: links to iron metabolism and metallothionein. Cell Death Discov. 9, 97 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-023-01371-8 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41420-023-01371-8

Conclusion

While artemisinin's role in directly treating anemia of chronic inflammation through iron chelation or reducing ferritin increase is not conclusively established in clinical settings, its potential to modulate iron metabolism offers intriguing possibilities. More research is needed to understand how these mechanisms can be harnessed for treating ACI, focusing on clinical trials that could demonstrate efficacy and safety in this specific context. The current understanding largely comes from cancer research, where the iron-manipulating properties of artemisinin are better characterized.

Disclaimer: Grok is not a doctor; please consult a medical professional. Do not share your personally identifiable information.

Encephalitis and also Parkinson’s Disease and Lewey body formation within the brain have been observed following the CoV injections or illness.

• Kumari P, Rothan HA, Natekar JP, Stone S, Pathak H, Strate PG, Arora K, Brinton MA, Kumar M. Neuroinvasion and Encephalitis Following Intranasal Inoculation of SARS-CoV-2 in K18-hACE2 Mice. Viruses. 2021; 13(1):132. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13010132 https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/1/132

• Morassi, M., Palmerini, F., Nici, S. et al. SARS-CoV-2-related encephalitis with prominent parkinsonism: clinical and FDG-PET correlates in two patients. J Neurol 268, 3980–3987 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-021-10560-3 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-021-10560-3

• Hamoy, M.; Braga, G. H. R.; Chaves, J. V. S. .; Maia, A. C. S. .; Cabral, D. A. C.; Campos, F. M. S. .; Medeiros, J. P. do V. .; Cabral, L. G. C. .; Oliveira, B. P. dos S. .; Braga, J. P. .; De Mello, V. J.; Paschoal, E. H. A. . Parkinson’s disease secondary to COVID-19: a systematic review. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 11, n. 1, p. e50711124397, 2022. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v11i1.24397. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/24397. Acesso em: 22 jan. 2025.

Has artemisinin or a mugwort extract been trialed for Parkinson's Disease treatment?

Grok/15 web pages.

Artemisinin, derived from the sweet wormwood plant (Artemisia annua), which is a type of mugwort, has been explored in various clinical and preclinical studies for its potential therapeutic benefits beyond its well-known antimalarial properties. Here's the overview regarding its application in Parkinson's Disease (PD):

• Preclinical Studies:

  • A study published in Science Translational Medicine has indicated that artemisinin exerts a protective effect in the MPTP mouse model of Parkinson's disease by inhibiting microglial activation via the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway. This suggests that artemisinin might have neuroprotective effects, potentially useful in managing PD by reducing inflammation and preserving dopaminergic neurons.

  • Lv J, Zhu J, Wang P, Liu T, Yuan J, Yin H, Lan Y, Sun Q, Zhang Z, Ding G, Zhou C, Wang H, Wang Z, Wang Y. Artemisinin exerts a protective effect in the MPTP mouse model of Parkinson's disease by inhibiting microglial activation via the TLR4/Myd88/NF-KB pathway. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2023 Apr;29(4):1012-1023. doi: 10.1111/cns.14063. Epub 2023 Jan 24. PMID: 36691817; PMCID: PMC10018080. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10018080/

• Clinical Trials and Research:

  • There isn't direct mention of clinical trials specifically testing artemisinin or mugwort extracts for Parkinson's Disease treatment in the provided search results. However, there are broader discussions on the therapeutic potential of artemisinins in neurodegeneration, including Parkinson's Disease:

    • A review article in PMC discusses artemisinin's potential in various neurodegenerative diseases, including PD, highlighting its anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. This review does not confirm ongoing clinical trials but suggests that artemisinins could be considered for further research into neurodegenerative diseases.

    • Lu BW, Baum L, So KF, Chiu K, Xie LK. More than anti-malarial agents: therapeutic potential of artemisinins in neurodegeneration. Neural Regen Res. 2019 Sep;14(9):1494-1498. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.255960. PMID: 31089038; PMCID: PMC6557089. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6557089/

• Broader Context:

  • Although not specifically for PD, artemisinin and its derivatives have been explored in clinical settings for other conditions, which might indirectly support the rationale for further investigation in PD. For instance, there are studies on artemisinin's effects on various types of cancers, viruses, and inflammatory conditions, suggesting a broad spectrum of biological activities.

  • Huang, Y., Yang, Y., Liu, G. et al. New clinical application prospects of artemisinin and its derivatives: a scoping review. Infect Dis Poverty 12, 115 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-023-01152-6 https://idpjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40249-023-01152-6

  • Zhang Y, Xu G, Zhang S, Wang D, Saravana Prabha P, Zuo Z. Antitumor Research on Artemisinin and Its Bioactive Derivatives. Nat Prod Bioprospect. 2018 Aug;8(4):303-319. doi: 10.1007/s13659-018-0162-1. Epub 2018 Apr 9. PMID: 29633188; PMCID: PMC6102173. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6102173/

Conclusion: While there is evidence from preclinical studies indicating that artemisinin could have beneficial effects in models of Parkinson's Disease, there is no clear documentation here of ongoing or completed clinical trials specifically testing artemisinin or mugwort extract for PD treatment. However, the potential neuroprotective effects observed in animal models and the general interest in artemisinin's therapeutic applications in neurodegeneration might warrant further research into its use for PD. If you're interested in current trials or research, checking the latest entries in databases like ClinicalTrials.gov would be advisable.

Disclaimer: Grok is not a doctor; please consult a medical professional. Do not share your personally identifiable information.

Mugwort species are common around the world and in general, the entire group has some medicinal benefits. Photo by Akshay Chauhan on Unsplash

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