Mugwort
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Mugwort is a tall, herbaceous perennial that grows from 3-7 ft tall with leaves that are dark green on top and have a white, fuzzy underside. The grooved stems change from a light green to a dark purple as the plant grows and become woody over time. The flowers grow in clusters of tiny white to yellow heads arranged in racemose panicles. Mugwort is widely distributed around the globe, with Antarctica being the only continent where it is not found (Ohio State University, 2024).
Historical Use
As we can see in the snippet above, in 1578 Dodoens recorded the use of Mugwort was combined with almond oil and used as a poultice to treat stomach ache, and the juice of Mugwort combined with Rose Oil was used to treat joint pain, though we should take these with a grain of salt since it was also reported to prevent bites and stings from any “venemous beast.”
Modern Use
Traditionally, Mugwort has been used to induce labor, to treat intestinal distress, and as a sedative. Recently, Mugwort has also been investigated for possible use to treat Colic, menstrual cramps, high blood pressure, scar tissue, epilepsy, and sleep disorders. However, there hasn’t been significant evidence to support the use of Mugwort for any of these, or even the traditional uses. In addition, Mugwort has not been deemed safe to use through modern studies and is likely harmful for pregnant women (NatMed- Mugwort). While herbal preparations of the plant may not be safe, there have been recent studies into the biochemical properties of Artemisia vulgaris which have shown that the plant contains a number of chemicals that are of medicinal value. Mugwort contains chemicals being investigated for use as antiseptic, antioxidant, and anti-malarial agents. Isolates from Mugwort are also being studied for use in treating high blood pressure, liver damage, epilepsy, and cancer. Given this, Mugwort is considered one of the most broadly therapeutic plants known (Abiri et al, 2018).
Latest Research
- Therapeutic potential of Artemisia vulgaris: An insight into underlying immunological mechanismsby Laura Soon on November 4, 2019 at 11:00 am
Artemisia vulgaris is a traditional Chinese herb believed to have a wide range of healing properties; it is traditionally used to treat numerous health ailments. The plant is commonly called mugwort or riverside wormwood. The plant is edible, and in addition to its medicinal properties, it is also used as a culinary herb in Asian cooking in the form of a vegetable or in soup. The plant has garnered the attention of researchers in the past few decades, and several research studies have…
- Towards a better understanding of Artemisia vulgaris: Botany, phytochemistry, pharmacological and biotechnological potentialby Rambod Abiri on May 28, 2018 at 10:00 am
Artemisia vulgaris is one of the important medicinal plant species of the genus Artemisia, which is usually known for its volatile oils. The genus Artemisia has become the subject of great interest due to its chemical and biological diversity as well as the discovery and isolation of promising anti-malarial drug artemisinin. A. vulgaris has a long history in treatment of human ailments by medicinal plants in various parts of the world. This medicinal plant possesses a broad spectrum of…
- Inulin-type fructan and infusion of Artemisia vulgaris protect the liver against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injuryby Marília Locatelli Corrêa-Ferreira on February 6, 2017 at 11:00 am
CONCLUSION: VI and VPI had remarkable hepatoprotective effects in vivo, which were likely attributable to antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. The present findings support the traditional use of A. vulgaris infusion for the treatment of hepatic disorders.
- Actions of Artemisia vulgaris extracts and isolated sesquiterpene lactones against receptors mediating contraction of guinea pig ileum and tracheaby Gaudencio M Natividad on July 19, 2011 at 10:00 am
CONCLUSION: The presence of a specific, competitive histamine receptor antagonist and smooth muscle relaxant activity in Artemisia vulgaris extracts on the smooth muscle in ileum and trachea explains its traditional use in the treatment of asthma and hyperactive gut.
- Comparison of the effects of Artemisia vulgaris and Artemisia absinthium growing in western Anatolia against trichinellosis (Trichinella spiralis) in ratsby Ayşe Caner on March 8, 2008 at 11:00 am
Trichinellosis often causing diarrhea and more rarely fever, periorbital edema and myositis in human, is commonly treated with benzimidazole derivatives. The Artemisia genus has been found to be effective against a variety of parasites. In the present study, the efficacy against trichinellosis (Trichinella spiralis) of Artemisia vulgaris and Artemisia absinthium was examined for the first time in rats. The results of trichinoscopy and artificial digestion, during the enteral (adult) phase of the…
References
Abiri, R., Silva, A. L. M., de Mesquita, L. S. S., de Mesquita, J. W. C., Atabaki, N., de Almeida, E. B., Jr., Shaharuddin, N. A., & Malik, S. (2018). Towards a better understanding of Artemisia vulgaris: Botany, phytochemistry, pharmacological and biotechnological potential. Food Res Int, 109, 403-415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2018.03.072
Dodoens, R. (1578). A Nievve Herball, or, Historie of Plantes. G. Dewes.
Ohio State University. (2024). Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). Ohio Perennial and Biennial Weed Guide. https://weedguide.cfaes.osu.edu/singlerecord.asp?id=75