A dried cottony mass of it is burned directly on the skin to stimulate the immune system, promote circulation and to relax underlying nerves. In traditional Chinese medicine, Artemesia vulgaris is used in a therapeutic technique called moxibustion. Leaves placed under pillows at night are said to induce vivid dreams. Mugwort has been used to kill parasitic worms, as a digestive bitter and to promote sweating. It was believed to preserve the wayfarer from fatigue, sunstroke, wild beasts and evil spirits. John’s Plant, legend has it that John the Baptist wore a girdle of mugwort in the wilderness. Herbalists use the tea or tincture to treat liver and stomach disorders and First Nation North Americans brewed the tea for colds and flus, bronchitis and fevers they also used the dried leaves for smudging. It should be avoided during pregnancy and breast feeding. Mugwort, like motherwort has strong emmenagogic properties that can be used to lessen menstrual cramps and induce menstruation. Both are considered excellent nervines for treating insomnia, nervousness, hysteria and shaking. When it is not in flower, mugwort somewhat resembles motherwort and it shares some similar properties. It has angular reddish stems the bitter-tasting leaves have a sage-like aroma and they have a dense cottony underside. It grows up to 12 feet in our gardens and self-sows readily. Its nervine action is grounding and fortifying and eases symptoms associated with PMS.Īpothecary Garden, Low Maintenance, Drought Tolerant, Deer Resistant, Attracts Pollinators, Container Garden, Cut Flowers.Mugwort is native to Northern Europe and Asia and can also be found in many parts of North America. A specific for cold and congested tissues, a tea made from the leaves can be used as a pelvic steam to help bring warmth and circulation to the reproductive organs, helping to increase fertility, and help relieve pain due to menstrual disorders. It is also a great emmenagogue, useful when there is bloating and sluggishness and irritability. The tea can also be useful for this, and the gentle volatile oils contained in the herb also help as a carminative to aid in digestion. The tincture can be taken before meals to increase ‘digestive fire’. Mugwort is energetically warm, dry, and bitter. It is a herb for reflecting, dreaming, gentle movement and ease of vision. The silvery undersides of Mugwort’s leaves are symbolically linked to the Moon, and its character reflects that of the Moon: mysterious, subtle, deep and feminine. Its leaves are more delicate and not as strongly aromatic as other species. I find Artemisa vulgaris to be one of the more gentler Artemisias. The common name can be translated as Mug (as in cup) and Wort (meaning herb), referring to this use. Mugwort has been used in the past as a brewing herb for the production of fermented alcoholic beverages such as beer or mead. The herb can be used fresh or dried and made into cold or hot infusions, tinctured, or infused into honey or vinegar. The leafy stems and flowers of Mugwort are best harvested at their peak of potency when the plants are in early bud. Seeds germinate easily and can be direct sown in fall or spring, or started in flats in the spring and then transplanted out. Dark green pinnate leaves are silvery on the underside. Mugwort plants are perennial and can grow over 6ft tall given the right conditions. Mediterranean and parts of Eurasia and Africa.
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