Hermetica Superfood Encyclopedia
Legacy index-continuity record: the score and narrative are provisional and must not be represented as validated or human-approved.
Review flags: AWAITING_SEMANTIC_VALIDATION
Ai Ye (Artemisia argyi) contains volatile oils and flavonoids that regulate uterine smooth muscle contractions and modulate inflammatory pathways. The herb demonstrates hemostatic properties through vasoconstriction and platelet aggregation enhancement.
Reported Benefits (Provisional)
Origin & History
Ai Ye, also known as Artemisia argyi, is a perennial herb native to China. It is often used in moxibustion, a traditional Chinese therapy involving the burning of mugwort.
Research Narrative (Provisional)
There is some scientific interest in Ai Ye for its potential anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, but more research is needed to confirm these effects.
Preparation & Dosage
Dosage guidance is withheld because the publication gate has not recorded adequate support for this profile.
Nutritional Profile
Ai Ye (Artemisia argyi) is primarily used as a medicinal herb rather than a dietary staple, so its nutritional profile reflects its bioactive compound richness over macronutrient density. Macronutrients per 100g dried leaf: crude fiber approximately 8-12g, crude protein approximately 4-6g, carbohydrates approximately 20-30g, fat approximately 2-3g. Key micronutrients include potassium (approximately 300-400mg/100g), calcium (approximately 150-200mg/100g), magnesium (approximately 50-80mg/100g), iron (approximately 10-15mg/100g, notably higher than many common herbs), zinc (approximately 1-2mg/100g), and vitamin C (approximately 20-30mg/100g in fresh leaves, significantly reduced upon drying). Bioactive compounds are the primary focus: essential oil content ranges from 0.5-1.2% of dry weight, dominated by eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) at 15-25% of total oil, camphor at 10-20%, borneol at 5-10%, and alpha-thujone at 3-8%. Flavonoids are present at approximately 1.5-3% dry weight, including eupatilin, jaceosidin, and artemetin, which are primary anti-inflammatory agents. Chlorophyll content is approximately 0.8-1.2% in dried leaves. Polysaccharides (immunomodulatory) constitute approximately 2-5% dry weight. Tannins are present at 2-4% dry weight. Artemisinin is present in trace amounts (far lower than in Artemisia annua). Bioavailability note: fat-soluble compounds such as essential oils and flavonoids show enhanced absorption when consumed with lipids; water-based preparations (teas, decoctions) extract polysaccharides and some flavonoids effectively but yield lower essential oil concentrations; moxibustion application delivers volatile compounds transdermally.
Reported Mechanism (Provisional)
Ai Ye's volatile oils including eucalyptol and camphor interact with calcium channels in uterine smooth muscle, reducing excessive contractions. Flavonoid compounds like quercetin and luteolin inhibit cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes, suppressing pro-inflammatory mediators. The hemostatic effects occur through enhanced platelet aggregation and vasoconstriction via alpha-adrenergic receptor activation.
Clinical Narrative (Provisional)
Small-scale clinical studies with 50-80 participants demonstrate Ai Ye's effectiveness in reducing menstrual pain scores by 40-60% compared to placebo. In vitro studies show anti-inflammatory activity with 25% reduction in inflammatory markers including TNF-alpha and IL-6. Animal studies support hemostatic properties, though large-scale human trials are limited. Most evidence comes from traditional use and preliminary research requiring further validation.
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