AKA: Artemisia Vulgaris, common wormwood, common mugwort, Douglas Mugwort, felon herb, Chinese Moxa, St. John’s herb, chrysanthemum weed, sailor’s tobacco

Native to Europe, Asia and North Africa , Mugwort is a plant with purple stalk that grows up to about three feet and produces dark green leaves that have a cottony down underside. It is considered to be an invasive weed in North America and likes to grow in uncultivated areas with high nitrogen content in the soil such as roadsides and waste areas. The plant is thought to get its name from its use as a drink flavoring, once being used to flavor beer before hops was introduced.

It is primarily used as a pasture, hay, or silage crop, cut and dehydrated to make protein rich pellets for livestock; however, fresh alfalfa flowers, leaves, and sprouts are also eaten by people. 

Benefits and Uses  

• Stomach problems
• Menstrual complaints
• Aches and pains
• Antibacterial and Antiseptic

Mugwort has been used to treat various stomach and intestinal disorders including colic, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, and cramps. It has also been used to treat a wide array of conditions such as headaches, nose bleeds, muscle spasms, epilepsy, circulatory problems, chills, fevers, rheumatism, asthma, dermatitis, dysentery, gout, and infertility.  Herbalists claim  that mugwort oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties using it to treat worm infestations and snakebites. It has also been used as a sedative for neuroses, hysteria general irritability, restlessness, insomnia, anxiety, mild depression, anorexia and opium addiction. The dried herb, which is called moxa has also been used to treat cancer (moxibustion treatments)

Mugwort works as an effective emmenagogue,  increasing blood circulation to the pelvic area and uterus which helps stimulate menstruation. This makes the herb an useful remedy for painful or irregular menstruation. The herb has also been used in a compress to help promote labor and assist in afterbirth expulsion.  A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the use of moxibustion was successful in reversing 75% of 130 fetuses that were in breech birth positions.

Mugwort can also be added to bath water to act as a soothing treatment for aching muscles and joints and clinical trials have shown that the crushed leaves were effective in helping get rid of warts. An infusion of the herb may also help in getting rid of pinworms. Other uses for mugwort leaf include its use as a tinder, being able to hold a smoldering fire, and it has also been smoked as a nicotine free tobacco alternative. In the American Southwest, Native Americans used a form of mugwort as rub in order to prevent poison oak.

Dosage

Take two to three capsules twice a day with other or food.

Warnings

Since it is a uterine stimulant, pregnant or nursing women should not take mugwort. Mugwort also contains thujone which is a toxic. Prolonged use or overuse should be avoided.

coming soon....