Mugwort

   
Botanical name:
Artemisia vulgaris
Synonyms:
Felon Herb
Family:
Asteraceae, Aster family
Where to find this herb:
roadsides, disturbed areas, waste places. Europe, Asia, North America.
Part(s) used:
herb
Special constituents:
Volatile oil containing: linalool, 1,8-cineole, β-thujone, borneol, α- and β-pinene, nerol, neryl acetate, linalyl acetate, myrcene, vulgarole, α-, β- and γ-cadinol, cadinenol and others. Vulgarin, a sesquiterpene lactone. Flavonoids: quercetin-3-glucoside and others. Coumarin derivatives. Triterpenes.
Correspondance:
13 (Crowley); Venus (Culpeper); Venus/Earth (Cunningham); Neptune/Venus (Beyerl).
Uses:
Emmenagogue, diaphoretic, choleretic, anthelmintic, diuretic, stomachic, orexigenic.

Artemisia vulgaris

from seedoutdoorsgrows in the wild in N. Eur.incenseessential oil
Bijvoet Gråbynke, Grå Bynke
 
 

Description:
The name Mugwort comes either from Mug, that is, cup, because it was used to flavour beer; or from Moth, because it repels moths.

Mugwort grows on roadsides and is, according to tradition, the herb of the wanderer. If you are tired when walking, put some Mugwort leaves in your shoes. This statement originally comes from Plinius, but is seen in many herbals. For a more modern version, take a few leaves and chew on them!

One legend states, that if you dig under a Mugwort plant on the eve of Sct. Hans (23. June) before midnight, you will find a piece of burning coal. It will disappear at midnight, so you have to dig before then. Take the coal home, in silence, and it will protect you against all diseases.

Mugwort has a long tradition of being a herb of protection. According to legend, no wild animals can harm you if you carry Mugwort; no poison, sunstroke, or evil spirits can have any effect on you. This belief is found not only in Europe, but as far away as China (according to Cunningham). The protective powers of Mugwort makes it ideal to consecrate magical tools. You can also use Mugwort to cleanse/consecrate a room: Take a bundle of dried Mugwort stalks, tie them together and smudge.

A pillow made of Mugwort should promote prophetic dreams and ease astral projection.

Medicinally, Mugwort is taken as an infusion for amenorrhoea (absence of the menstrual period), anorexia and dyspepsia. Also for threadworm and roundworm infestation. In Chinese medicine, for nausea and vomiting. Avoid use during pregnancy though. The medicinal uses of Mugwort resemble those of Wormwood, but the latter is much stronger in taste and effect, and can be toxic in large amounts.

Mugwort can be used as a culinary herb, in small amounts, to add to meat dishes. This will ease digestion.

According to Culpeper, the fresh juice of Mugwort is a good remedy "upon the overmuch taking of opium".

The essential oil can be irritating to the skin. It is not much used in aromatherapy, due to the thujone content.

You can easily grow Mugwort in your garden, but most will prefer to harvest it in the wild, as it is abundant almost everywhere.