Mugwort - Artemisia vulgaris

Other Names:
	Artemisia latifolia Ledeb. / Artemisia officinalis Gatteran
	Mugwort, Douglas Mugwort, St. John's Plant, common wormwood, mugwort, Wegwood (UK?) Mother wort, Maiden wort, Felon herb
	armoise vulgaire, couronne de Saint Jean
	Bijvoet, Gewone bijvoet
	Beifuss, Gemeiner Beifuss, Echter Beifuss, Gewöhnlicher Beifuss, Jungfernkraut, Gänsekraut, Gürtlerkraut, Thorwurz, Mugwurz; formerly also Beyfuss, Buck, Sanct Johanns Gürtel, Sonnenwendgürtel, Himmelker
	Amarella, Artemisia, Assenzio selvatico
	Almindelig Gråbynke, Grå bynke Bynke, Uægte Malurt, Vild Malurt
	Pujo
	Burot
	Gråbo
	Sisim, Corona de San Juan, ~Cintura de S. Jose
	Pelyněk černobýl
	Bylica / Bylica pospolita
Ch	艾 葉 - ai ye (A. vulgaris var Indica)
	Yomogi ( よもぎ )
	Tinisas
Note	Artemisia dracunculus (Tarragon) has also on occasion been cited as 'Mugwort', and A. vulgaris has been referred to as 'Motherwort' (Leonorus cardiaca). Also note the potential for confusion with St John's Wort

Botany:

Taxonomy: Family - Asteraceae

Habit:  Aromatic, up to 6' tall. Deeply cut leaves dark green on top, almost white & fuzzy underneath. Small flowers in erect panicles (5 stamens).
Propagation: Easily raised from seed. Plant division in spring or fall.
Harvesting: As it begins to flower in summer. Dry in shade.

Distribution: Native Algeria & Tunisia North to Finland; Ireland East to China. Widely naturalized elsewhere.

Composition - (Saponins), Alpha-Thujone, Alpha & Beta-Pinene, Cineon. All of which contra-indicate internal use.

Uses: 

Many species of Artemisia have been used in Eurasia, Asia, and North America as a potent herb for medical, ritual, and magical uses.

Culinary: 

Buds used to flavour tough & strong meats. (German source)

Spiritual

• (European traditions):
• Current/contiued use: Used in pillows to induce vivid dreams (cf Hops).  In neo-pagan traditions (synhesizing with native spirituality) one of the five sacred herbs (with Tobacco, Sage, Sweetgrass, and Cedar)
• Folklore/historical: Put into the shoe for protection and to prevent fatigue on long journeys. Mugwort tea said to  induce clairvoyance. Rub fresh leaves on magick mirrors and crystal balls to strengthen divinitory powers. Add to scrying, clairvoyance and divination incenses. In the Middle Ages it was considered one of the strongest protective plants. Hanging it in the house is reputed to protect against lightning, while putting it under the doorstep is supposed to ensure that no unwelcome person will enter. Wearing a wreath of it on St John's Eve was said to protect one from evil possession.
• Properties: Correspondences: Venus, Air, Sun.
• (American Aboriginal traditions): Used in sweatlodges and as smudge. Flowers and stems can be used green or dried in smudge. Flowers smudged to keep insects bugs and bad spirits away. (Note that in many traditions, insects and bad spirits can be synonymous)  A powerful medicine which must be treated with respect. A. absinthium was considered too strong or even poisonous in North America and was neither smoked nor smudged.^{(Guédon, 2000)}
• (Asian traditions): hung to ward of evil spirits during the Dragon festival (5th day of the 5th moon)

Cosmetic/Aromatic:  

Used in baths to relieve aches. Sagelike smell repels moths.

Medicinal

• (European traditions):  Currently of limited use as other, safer, herbs can fill the same roles. Leaf tea formerly used as diuretic. During Culpeper's time, considered one of the primary women's herbs, also for pains of the sinews & cramps; and 'pains in the Neck' (sic)
• (American Aboriginal traditions): Medicine for colds, fevers, and flus. Flowers smudged to keep insects bugs and bad spirits away.
• (Asian traditions) in China, used in moxibustion.

Last edited 8 February 2002