The World Health Organization has come out in support of the use of wormwood extract (from the qinghao plant) in the fight against malaria. Malaria affects over 250 million people and kills over 2 million children annually in the tropical world. The use of qinghao for medicinal purposes was first reported in 168 B.C. In the early 70’s Chinese scientists rediscovered the herb and by 1979 they had conducted extensive clinical studies which proved its effectiveness in combatting malaria.

Western pharmaceutical companies have now spent 13 years in trying to synthezise the active component of wormwood. Their synthetic product has yet to undergo human testing with the result that this life-saving drug is still not available outside of China and Vietnam. The Chinese have proven the efficacy and safety of wormwood for over 2000 years; yet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration still classifies it as dangerous.

The Lancet, March 14, 1992, pp. 649-50