Infusions of Artemisia annua and afra have been used for centuries in China and Africa against malaria and other parasites. However, as these plants contain hundreds of molecules, they are complex to study and difficult to standardise.
Studies have been carried out, but not according to international standards due to lack of public funds. This is why the WHO does not currently recommend the use of these plants against malaria.
However, given the scale of the pandemic, the vulnerability of the population and the growing plague of counterfeit drugs, an effective, local and inexpensive solution would require the full attention of global health institutions.
Thanks to the determination of some stakeholders, testimonies and clinical studies supporting the therapeutic effectiveness of Artemisia annua and afra to prevent and treat malaria have accumulated during the first two decades of the 21st century.