Mugwort - Health Benefits and Side Effects

The Mugwort Plant (Artemisia vulgaris)
(Click on image to enlarge)
Attribution: Christian Fischer

Botanical Name of Mugwort: Artemisia vulgaris - Its name is derived from the Old English word muggiawort, which means ‘midge plant’
Other Common Names:
Common wormwood, felon herb, wild wormwood, naugthy man, chrysanthemum weed, old uncle Henry, cingulum Sancti Johannis, common artemisia, sailor's tobacco, Chinese moxa, old man and St. John's plant - NB: It should not be confused with St. John's wort.

Habitat:
Mugwort is native to Europe, Africa and temperate Asia and is today widely naturalized in most parts of the world. It ususally grows best in loamy soils that are nitrogenous and slightly alkaline. It prefers sunny places and it can easily be found along roadsides, weedy and waste areas.

Plant Description:
Mugwort is a tall shrublike perennial plant of the sunflower family. It has purple angular stems and can grow up to 5 feet tall. The leaves are dark green on top and have smooth texture, the underside is covered with dense white tomentose hairs. The flowers are small and yellow with a hint of green. This plant blooms from July to October.

Plant Parts Used:
Aerial parts, root.

Mugwort Supplements

Organic Mugwort Herb
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Therapeutic Uses, Benefits and Claims of Mugwort

Mugwort contains the constituents volatile oil, flavonoids, a sesquiterpene lactone, coumarin derivatives, and triterpenes.
Mugwort is most commonly used to treat disorders of the digestive tract and aid in all digestive functions and has been said to have properties which are antifungal, antibacterial, expectorant, and antiasthmatic. It is considered to be good herb for gastric disorder, stomac pain and bowel complains. It has been used for poor appetite, indigestion, travel sickness and stomach acidity.

The Herb Mugwort
(Artemisia vulgaris )
Kohler's Medicinal Plants - 1887

Mugwort is though to be effective in treating a wide range of parasitic infections, such as tapeworm, roundworm, and threadworm. It is also considered effective against parasites that infect the skin like ringworm.
Traditionally mugworth has been use to stimulate irregular or suppressed menstruation. It is beleved that it stimulates the uterus and that it is useful for for menstrual pain and cramps. Futhermore it has been used to induce miscarriage probably due to the herbs abilitly to interfer with mensturation.
Additionally mugwort has been used as a folk and herbal remedy for various ailments incluidng colds, epilepsy, colic, fevers, asthma, bronchitis, sciatica, kidney problems and there is some scientific indication that it can lower blood sugar levels.
Mugwort has also be used as an herbal remedy for nervousness, exhaustion, gout, bruises, chilblain and depression expecially when it is accociated with loss of appetite . This herb is said have mild narcotic and sedative properties which explain its uses to promote sleep in cases of insomnia. Because of its diuretic properties it is thought to have medicinal benefits for the liver, spleen, and kidney. It is also considered an excellent insect repellant.
This herb has mild purgative abilities and might therefore be helpful for constipation.
In folklore it is mostly famous for being considered a “dream” herb, enhancing remembrance of dreams, both during sleep and in trances, and precognitive dreaming or dreaming of future events.

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Dosage and Administration:

There is no established, proven safe or effective dose for mugwort. Traditionally it is mainly used as tea. 2 cups of mugwort tea using fresh leafs infused for 5-10 minutes in boiling water daily for six days has been recommended by herbalists. As a commercial supplement one to two capsules, two times daily with water is considered standard dosages. But the manufactures instructions should always be followed.

Potential Side Effects of Mugwort

Due to the fact that the preparation instructions and dosage amounts of mugwort have not been clearly defined it should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Mugwort contains a chemical called thujone, which is responsible for the medicinal properties of the plant. In large dosage thujone can be toxic so caution is advised.

It can cause miscarriages because it stimulates menstruation and should be avoided during pregnancy. Individuals that have sensitivity to mugwort pollen should avoid using it. Mugwort should not been used as a medicinal herb unless under the care and supervision of a licensed and qualified healthcare professional.

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