mugwort - artemisia vulgaris
Active Ingredients
Flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones, coumarins, thujone (high levels are toxic) and borneol.
Description
Mugwort, scientifically known as Artemisia vulgaris, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, which also includes sunflowers and daisies. It is native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and Alaska, but it has been naturalized in many other regions worldwide. Mugwort typically grows in disturbed areas, such as roadsides, fields, and waste areas, and it thrives in a variety of soil types.
Mugwort typically grows to a height of 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6 feet), although it can sometimes reach up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) in optimal conditions. The plant has sturdy, erect stems that are grooved and often reddish-brown in color. Its leaves are deeply lobed and alternate along the stem, giving the plant a feathery appearance. The leaves are dark green on the upper surface and silvery-white or downy underneath, with a pungent aroma when crushed. Mugwort produces small, inconspicuous flowers arranged in dense spikes or panicles at the ends of the stems. The flowers are typically yellowish-green to reddish-brown in color and lack petals, resembling small buds.
Mugwort is adaptable to a wide range of environmental conditions and can be found in various habitats, including disturbed areas, meadows, woodland edges, and along streams.
What can you use if for?
• Mugwort is used to control the rhythm of menstruation.
• It has been used to reduce the ferocity of menstruation.
• It promotes digestion.
• Is commonly used against cramps.
• Some studies suggest that mugwort may have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects, although more research is needed to confirm its therapeutic benefits and safety.
How to use it?
INTERNAL
Infusion: put 25 grams of plant material in 1 liter of boiling water. Drink 3 cups a day for mensuration regulation.
or
Powder: Dry the leaves and turn it into a powder. Add 3 grams in a hot drink.