Mugwort

Mugwort, also known as common mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), was extremely popular in the past. The Germanic peoples called the herb Mugwurz, which can be translated as "power root." It has been used for hundreds to thousands of years for women's ailments and, for example, menstrual pain. Nowadays, pushed back to roadsides and used mainly to season Christmas roast goose, few people recognize its healing power.

Mugwort can be found in almost all areas of the Northern Hemisphere. It grows especially frequently in Europe, milder parts of Asia, and North Africa. Humans have introduced mugwort to North America and Greenland.

You can find this plant, which belongs to the Asteraceae family, for example in the Alps. Otherwise, fallow forest areas or meadows are good places to look—mugwort often emerges as one of the first plants there.

We especially like to use mugwort for essential oils. The exact composition of the oil varies greatly depending on local conditions, with a significant difference between the European and Asian versions.

The essential oil largely contains camphor, thujone, linalool, myrcene, and vulgarol. Typical sesquiterpene lactones (short-lived terpenes) include vulgarin and pilostachyin. Plant pigments (flavonoids), coumarins, and carotenoids are also health-promoting.

Mugwort is often consumed as tea. The effects of mugwort tea can be diverse. It is also used as a spice. Some people even carry a bundle of mugwort, for example behind their waistband, to help with digestive issues.

As a spice, mugwort is used with fatty meat dishes. It has established itself as a seasoning for Christmas roast goose. Among other things, it contains numerous bitter substances that promote fat digestion. This potential effect of mugwort is therefore often used for digestive problems.

The aromatic substances from the herb are also often vaporized to produce perfume. In professional circles, mugwort essence is called “Essence d’Armoise.”

Some ingredients of mugwort can be toxic if taken for too long, so it should be consumed with care. However, mugwort is often applied to the skin, for example, to relieve menstrual pain or to stimulate blood flow to the uterus. Some mothers rely on mugwort’s effects to speed up childbirth. Pregnant women should therefore avoid drinking mugwort teas, but consumption may be sensible at the onset of labor in consultation with a doctor.

Mugwort can grow up to two meters tall. The plant is characterized by its herbaceous appearance with numerous stems growing straight upwards.

The upper side of the leaves is usually green, while the underside can appear whitish. Mugwort’s flowering period extends from July to August. Over time, the yellowish flowers turn into achenes, which are nut-like dry fruits. Anyone familiar with the typical mugwort scent will undoubtedly be able to identify the plant by it.