Health Benefits :

Botanical Name: Artemisia vulgaris

Mugwort is a plant that grows in Asia, North America, and Northern Europe. The plant parts that grow above the ground and the root are used to make medicine. Mugwort is a perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Mugwort

People take mugwort root as a “tonic” and to boost energy.

Herbal Actions:

• Diaphoretic : Substance that promotes sweating and thereby controls a fever
• Diuretic : Substance that increase urinary output
• Emmenagogue : Substance that imitates and promote the mensural flow

• Vitamins: Mugwort is a good source of vitamins A, E, and K along with several B vitamins.
• Minerals: Mugwort is loaded with various minerals. Calcium and iron are two of the more notable ones.
• Cineole: Cineole is a terpene found in mugwort that has numerous medicinal benefits.

Indications/prescribing:

Colic, diarrhea, constipation, cramps, weak digestion, worm infestations, and persistent vomiting. Mugwort is also used to stimulate gastric juice and bile secretion. It is also used as a liver tonic; to promote circulation; and as a sedative. Other uses include treatment of hysteria, epilepsy, and convulsions in children.

People take the rest of the plant for stomach and intestinal conditions including colic, diarrhea, constipation, cramps, weak digestion, worm infestations, and persistent vomiting. Mugwort is also used to stimulate gastric juice and bile secretion. It is also used as a liver tonic; to promote circulation; and as a sedative. Other uses include treatment of hysteria, epilepsy, and convulsions in children.

In combination with other ingredients, mugwort root is used for mental problems (psychoneuroses), ongoing fatigue and depression (neurasthenia), depression, preoccupation with illness (hypochondria), general irritability, restlessness, trouble sleeping (insomnia), and anxiety.

Women take mugwort for irregular periods and other menstrual problems.

Sometimes overlooked for more “flashy” herbs in this current day, mugwort is still a favorite of wise women. Mugwort has an affinity for the female reproductive system and is used as a uterine stimulant that can bring on delayed menstruation and help restore a woman’s natural monthly cycle.
As all the bitter herbs, mugwort is an excellent digestive stimulant and is quite effective taken before or after heavy meals to alleviate gas and bloating.

One of the more interesting traditional uses of mugwort is that of a dream herb. It is often used as one of the main ingredients in sleep pillows, and it said to bring the dreamer more lucid dreams. Mugwort is also often used as a smudging (burning) ceremonial herb. It is mildly sedative and useful in calming frayed nerves and easing stress. A combination of agrimony, mugwort and vinegar is an excellent treatment for sciatica or muscular stiffness Some people apply mugwort lotion directly to the skin to relieve itchiness caused by burn scars.

Mugwort was used to make beer

Mugwort was a predecessor to hops as a beer additive along with White horehound. Hops would not be widely used in beer until the end of the 15th century; before that mugwort was used. One of the legends surrounding mugwort stated that the herb’s name comes from the drinking vessel in which beer was consumed.

Mugwort a smoking herb

Mugwort has a long history of various uses in many countries. It was popular as a ‘magical herb’ during the Middle Ages. Smoking mugwort was also a popular alternative to Tabacco or cannabis by sailors who called it ‘sailor’s tobacco’.

Cullulla Road Natural Products grow Australian grown Mugwort for sale via website.

References :

Mugwort: A Medicinal Herb With A Beer History – SPICEography

Smoking Mugwort – Effects & Benefits – Smokable Herbs

Rosemarie

Naturopath, Herbalist, Iridologist, Equine herbalist