This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Hawaiian Neem (Artemisia douglasiana) contains active compounds including thujone, camphor, and artemisinin derivatives that stimulate uterine smooth muscle contractions. The bitter principles and flavonoids also contribute to its emmenagogue effects, promoting menstrual flow. This mechanism explains both its traditional use for menstrual regulation and why it must be avoided during pregnancy, as uterine stimulation could cause miscarriage. Evidence level: B.
Does Hawaiian Neem interact with any medications?
Hawaiian Neem may interact with anticoagulant medications due to potential effects on bleeding. The thujone content may interact with GABA-affecting medications including benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and alcohol, potentially enhancing sedative effects. Those taking anticonvulsant medications should avoid this herb, as thujone can lower seizure threshold. Always consult a healthcare provider before combining with prescription medications. Evidence level: Traditional/C.
What is the recommended dosage for Hawaiian Neem tea?
The standard adult dosage for Hawaiian Neem is 2-4 grams of dried herb prepared as a tea, taken up to three times daily. To prepare, steep the dried herb in hot water for 10-15 minutes. Do not exceed recommended amounts, as higher doses increase risk of thujone toxicity. Duration of use should be limited; consult a qualified herbalist for extended use. Evidence level: B/Traditional.
Is Hawaiian Neem safe during pregnancy?
Hawaiian Neem is contraindicated during pregnancy and considered unsafe. As a uterotonic herb, it stimulates uterine contractions and can cause miscarriage or premature labor. The thujone content poses additional risks to fetal development. Women who are pregnant, attempting to conceive, or breastfeeding should avoid this herb entirely. Traditional use has always excluded pregnant women from mugwort preparations. Evidence level: B.
What is Hawaiian Neem traditionally used for?
Hawaiian Neem (Artemisia douglasiana), also called Pacific mugwort, has been used traditionally by Pacific Coast peoples for digestive complaints, menstrual irregularities, and nervous system support. Indigenous use includes promoting vivid dreams, easing digestive discomfort, and regulating menstrual cycles. The herb was valued as a bitter digestive tonic and nervine to calm the nervous system. These uses are supported by traditional knowledge and limited modern research. Evidence level: B.
What are the side effects of Hawaiian Neem?
Primary concerns with Hawaiian Neem involve thujone toxicity when consumed in excessive amounts or for prolonged periods. Thujone can cause neurological symptoms including headaches, dizziness, seizures, and in severe cases, convulsions. Individuals with epilepsy or thujone sensitivity should avoid this herb entirely. Mild side effects may include digestive upset or allergic skin reactions in sensitive individuals. Use within recommended dosages minimizes risk. Evidence level: B.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Artemisia douglasiana (California mugwort) is a medicinal herb used traditionally for various ailments and studied for its cytoprotective, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties [PMID:24073389, PMID:19422904].
Background
Artemisia douglasiana Besser, also known as California mugwort, is a plant used by various tribes in California and in the Cuyo region of Argentina [PMID:24073389, PMID:19422904].
Traditional uses
Used by California tribes to treat colds, allergies, pain, and as women's medicine [PMID:24073389]. The Chumash use it for conditions including dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, feminine hygiene, heavy menstruation, urinary tract infections, parturition, lactation, menopause, sexually transmitted diseases, fertility, contraception, and abortions [PMID:16550233]. In Argentina, it is used as folk medicine for gastric ailments [PMID:19422904].
Active compounds
Key compounds include the sesquiterpene lactone dehydroleucodine [PMID:19422904, PMID:22199945], vulgarone B [PMID:12956506], and arteglasin-A [PMID:1275550]. Leaf essential oil contains camphor (29%), artemisia ketone (26%), artemisia alcohol (13%), alpha-thujone (10%), 1,8-cineole (8%), and hexanal (5%) [PMID:15030924].
Mechanism of action
Dehydroleucodine (DhL) exerts cytoprotective effects by stimulating mucus production [PMID:10219826], stabilizing mast cells to inhibit degranulation [PMID:19344708], and inhibiting the release of 5-HT from endocrine cells [PMID:10765021]. Its anti-inflammatory activity may involve interference with transcription factors like NF-kappaB and cytokines [PMID:12963142], while its antidiarrheal effect is suggested to be mediated by alpha2-adrenergic receptors [PMID:17683879, PMID:21671152]. In cancer cells, DhL promotes the accumulation of DNA damage markers (phosphorylation of ATM, focal organization of gammaH2AX and 53BP1), triggering senescence or apoptosis [PMID:23341930].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DGastric and Duodenal Mucosal Injury
Extracts and dehydroleucodine provide protective antioxidant activity and prevent lesions induced by ethanol in rodent models [PMID:12803778, PMID:20500151, PMID:2095374].
Evidence DHelicobacter pylori Infection
In vitro activity showed MICs between 1-8 mg/L for dehydroleucodine and 60-120 mg/L for A. douglasiana extract [PMID:19422904].
Evidence DInflammation and Colitis
Dehydroleucodine inhibited acute and chronic carrageenan-induced inflammation and decreased mucosal damage in experimental colitis models [PMID:12963142, PMID:10527646].
Evidence DDiarrhea
Dehydroleucodine inhibited castor oil-induced diarrhea and reduced intestinal transit in mice [PMID:17683879, PMID:21671152].
Evidence DViral Infections
Essential oils inactivated HSV-1 (65-125 ppm) and DEN-2 (VC50 of 60 ppm) [PMID:14595590].
Evidence DCancer Cells
Safety & adverse effects
Ethanolic extracts have been shown to be cytotoxic to normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PMID:24073389]. Arteglasin-A, a sesquiterpene lactone found in the plant, has been identified as an allergen in contact allergy studies [PMID:1275550].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is based primarily on in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), demonstrating significant pharmacological potential in gastroprotection, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial activity, but lacking human clinical trials.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 24073389 (2013) — Ethanolic Extracts of California Mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana Besser) Are Cytotoxic against Normal and Cancerous Human Cells. · Journal of herbal medicine
2.PMID: 19422904 (2009) — Antimicrobial activity of Artemisia douglasiana and dehydroleucodine against Helicobacter pylori. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
3.PMID: 16550233 (2006) — Women's health among the Chumash. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4.PMID: 11054852 (2000) — Antioxidant activity of Artemisia douglasiana besser extract and dehydroleucodine. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
5.PMID: 6047536 (1967) — Sesquiterpene lactones of artemisia species. IV. Douglanine from Artemisia douglasiana Bess. · Tetrahedron letters
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
Ethanolic leaf extracts demonstrated cytotoxicity against normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and both ER+ (BT-474) and ER- (MDA-MB-231) human breast cancer cells [PMID:24073389].
7.PMID: 12803778 (2003) — Protective effect of Artemisia douglasiana Besser extracts in gastric mucosal injury. · The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
8.PMID: 6043701 (1967) — Sesquiterpene lactones of Artemisia species. 3. Arglanine from Artemisia douglasiana Bess. · Tetrahedron letters
9.PMID: 12956506 (2003) — Vulgarone B, the antifungal constituent in the steam-distilled fraction of Artemisia douglasiana. · Journal of chemical ecology
10.PMID: 22199945 (2011) — Dehydro-leucodin: a guaiane-type sesquiterpene lactone. · Acta crystallographica. Section E, Structure reports online
11.PMID: 14595590 (2003) — Virucidal activity of essential oils from aromatic plants of San Luis, Argentina. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
12.PMID: 12963142 (2003) — Anti-inflammatory activity and effect on gastric acid secretion of dehydroleucodine isolated from Artemisia douglasiana. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
13.PMID: 17683879 (2008) — Antidiarrheal activity of dehydroleucodine isolated from Artemisia douglasiana. · Fitoterapia
14.PMID: 20500151 (2010) — Bioactivity of sesquiterpenes: compounds that protect from alcohol-induced gastric mucosal lesions and oxidative damage. · Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
15.PMID: 1275550 (1976) — Chrysanthemum allergy III. Identification of the allergens. · Archives for dermatological research = Archiv fur dermatologische Forschung
16.PMID: 14510234 (2003) — Role of mast cells in gastrointestinal mucosal defense. · Biocell : official journal of the Sociedades Latinoamericanas de Microscopia Electronica ... et. al
17.PMID: 2095374 (1990) — The gastric cytoprotective effect of several sesquiterpene lactones. · Journal of natural products
18.PMID: 12766353 (2003) — Changes in duodenal mast cells in response to dehydroleucodine. · Cells, tissues, organs
19.PMID: 10219826 (1999) — Effect of dehydroleucodine on mucus production: a quantitative study. · Digestive diseases and sciences
20.PMID: 5636470 (1968) — Comparison of rumen microbial inhibition resulting from various essential oils isolated from relatively unpalatable plant species. · Applied microbiology
21.PMID: 19344708 (2009) — Novel anti-ulcer alpha,beta-unsaturated lactones inhibit compound 48/80-induced mast cell degranulation. · European journal of pharmacology
22.PMID: 19664309 (2010) — Involvement of the dehydroleucodine alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone function in GVBD inhibition in Bufo arenarum oocytes. · Zygote (Cambridge, England)
24.PMID: 23341930 (2013) — The sesquiterpene lactone dehydroleucodine triggers senescence and apoptosis in association with accumulation of DNA damage markers. · PloS one
25.PMID: 18945018 (1997) — Populations of Xylella fastidiosa in Plants Required for Transmission by an Efficient Vector. · Phytopathology
26.PMID: 21671152 (2011) — Effect of dehydroleucodine on intestinal transit: structural basis of the interaction with the α(2)-adrenergic receptor. · European biophysics journal : EBJ
27.PMID: 10765021 (2000) — Changes in gastroduodenal 5-hydroxytryptamine-containing cells induced by dehydroleucodine. · Cells, tissues, organs
28.PMID: 16625680 (2006) — Plant-derived natural products exhibiting activity against formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus). · Pest management science
29.PMID: 10527646 (1999) — Effect of dehydroleucodine in experimental colitis in rats and mice. · Pharmacological research
30.PMID: 15154515 (2004) — Molluscicidal activity of vulgarone B against ram's horn snail (Planorbella trivolvis). · Pest management science