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Mugwort Monograph

botanical name: Artemisia Vulgaris

Common Name

Mugwort, St. John's plant, sailor's tobacco, wild wormwood

Family

Asteraceae

Parts Used

Leaves, root

Native To

Europe, Asia, northern Africa

Harvesting Guidelines

Mugwort is best harvested before the plant begins to flower, when its volatile oils and medicinal compounds are most potent. Leaves can be collected from both first- and second-year plants, ideally in late spring to early summer, before the flowering stalk appears. Flowers, if used, should be harvested just as they open in midsummer. The root is typically dug in fall or early spring from first-year rosettes. All parts should be dried in a shaded, well-ventilated area to preserve their potency.

Mugwort, also known as Artemisia vulgaris, has a long history of use in ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Its name is said to be derived from the Greek goddess Artemis, who was known as the protector of pregnant women and new mothers. Mugwort was highly valued for its medicinal properties, particularly for its ability to alleviate menstrual and pregnancy-related ailments. As a result, it played an important role in religious rituals dedicated to goddesses such as Isis, Artemis, and Diana.

Traditional and Indigenous UseMugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) has been honored across time and culture as a plant of healing, protection, and prophecy. Its name is derived from Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon, wilderness, and childbirth. Ancient Greeks used it to ease menstrual pain, stimulate menstruation, and support childbirth. Roman soldiers placed mugwort in their sandals to protect against fatigue. In Egypt, it was associated with the goddess Isis and used in ceremonies related to fertility and the female body.

Among Indigenous peoples of North America, such as the Chumash and Paiute, mugwort was used both ritually and medicinally. The dried leaves were burned in purification rituals to ward off negative energies or evil spirits, and the smoke was inhaled to induce visions or sacred dreams. It was also employed medicinally to treat colds, fevers, respiratory conditions, and as a poultice for wounds and inflammation. Mugwort’s presence in sacred and practical medicine alike reflects its bridging of the physical and spiritual realms.

Historical and Folk UseIn European folk medicine, mugwort was considered the “mother of herbs.” It was hung in doorways to ward off evil, slipped under pillows to inspire lucid dreaming, and sewn into amulets for protection during travel. It played a key role in midsummer festivals, often tossed into bonfires to banish illness and misfortune. In medieval times, it was a staple in the herb garden, used to aid digestion, expel worms, and stimulate appetite. In many parts of Europe, it was also used as a flavoring in beer before hops became standard—hence the name "mug-wort."

Mugwort's role in the dream world made it a central plant in folk magic. It was often included in dream pillows or smoked before sleep to invite meaningful dreams and visions. In traditional Korean medicine and East Asian moxibustion, mugwort (known as ssuk in Korean and ai ye in Chinese) is burned over acupuncture points to stimulate circulation and heal reproductive imbalances.

Modern UseToday, mugwort continues to be valued for its support in menstrual health, digestion, and nervous system balance. Herbalists use it to ease delayed or painful menstruation, calm anxiety, and relieve digestive sluggishness. It is a popular plant in spiritual and ritual practices—burned as smudge, infused in oils, or added to bathwater to energetically clear the body and mind.

It remains a key herb for lucid dreaming, astral work, and ancestral connection. Mugwort can be brewed as tea, infused into oil for massage, made into tinctures, or smoked in blends. It is also used in modern moxibustion therapy and herbal steam treatments. However, its thujone content makes it potentially toxic in large amounts, especially once the plant begins flowering.

Scientific ResearchScientific interest in mugwort has focused on its anti-inflammatory,

antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, as well as its traditional use in women’s health.Research highlights mugwort’s potential in easing dysmenorrhea, with compounds acting as mild uterine stimulants and muscle relaxants.

• A comprehensive review on Artemisia vulgaris published in Frontiers in Pharmacology discusses its effects on the nervous and digestive systems, validating traditional applications.

• The plant’s volatile oils—including cineole, camphor, and thujone—have demonstrated antimicrobial and antifungal activity in vitro, though internal use must be moderated.

• Mugwort is also being studied for its potential to modulate allergic responses and inflammation in asthma and dermatitis.

Selected Study:"Significance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications Substantiated by Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies." Frontiers in Pharmacology. Link

Adult Dose

• Tea: 1–2 teaspoons dried leaf per cup of hot water, steeped 10–15 minutes in a covered vessel

• Tincture: 1–2 mL up to three times daily

• External Use: Infused oil for massage, salves, or dream pillows

• Incense: Dried leaf burned as smudge or fumigant

Safety Mugwort should not be used internally during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue and uterine-stimulating effects. Prolonged or high-dose internal use is not recommended due to the presence of thujone, which can be neurotoxic in excess. Allergic reactions may occur, particularly in individuals sensitive to ragweed or other members of the Asteraceae family. Not for use in epilepsy.

Actions: Emmenagogue • Bitter • Nervine • Digestive Tonic • Antimicrobial • Mild Anodyne • Antispasmodic • Aromatic

Energy: Warming • Drying • Bitter • Pungent

References

Significance of Artemisia vulgaris L. in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications – Frontiers in Pharmacology

California Native American Uses of Plants – Ethnobotany Database

Hoffman, D. Medical Herbalism (2003)

Grieve, M. A Modern Herbal

Moore, M. Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West

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