Medicinal Properties of Mugwort

Recommended doseage for Mugwort extract:

Adults = Take 0.5-1 mL  (10-20 drops)  up to 3 times a day.

Sold on a 1oz dropper bottle 

Digestive Aid

One of mugwort’s most celebrated medicinal uses is as a digestive tonic. The plant contains bitter compounds—principally sesquiterpene lactones—that stimulate saliva production and gastric juices, thus promoting healthy digestion. Traditionally, a tea made from mugwort leaves was employed to soothe stomach cramps, indigestion, and bloating. It is often cited as a remedy to increase appetite and support gastrointestinal function, especially in cases of sluggish digestion or flatulence.

·       Tea for Digestion: Mugwort tea, brewed from dried leaves, is said to ease symptoms of indigestion and support the breakdown of fats.

·       Carminative Properties: The herb has mild carminative action, helping to alleviate gas and abdominal discomfort.

Menstrual and Reproductive Health

Mugwort is renowned as an emmenagogue—a substance that stimulates menstrual flow. For centuries, women have used mugwort to regulate irregular cycles, relieve menstrual pain, and even to stimulate delayed menstruation. In some traditions, it was brewed into a tea or applied as a poultice to the abdomen.

Menopausal support: helps regulate menopause symptoms and hot flashes.

·       Menstrual Regulation: Mugwort may help to balance menstruation, reduce cramps, and ease symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

·       Labor Support: Historically, it was sometimes used by midwives to encourage labor or to assist with afterbirth expulsion, though such uses require caution due to the herb’s potency.

Note: Because of its action on the uterus, mugwort should not be used during pregnancy as it can potentially induce contractions.

Nervous System Support

Mugwort has traditionally been used as a nervine—an herb that calms the nervous system. It is associated with reducing anxiety, settling restlessness, and supporting sleep, particularly for those plagued by vivid or disturbing dreams. Some cultures placed mugwort beneath pillows or brewed it as a bedtime tea to encourage restful sleep and ward off nightmares.

·       Mild Sedative: The calming effect of mugwort can help ease stress and tension, though it is gentler than stronger sedatives like valerian or hops.

·       Dream Enhancement: Mugwort is renowned for its purported ability to enhance dreams, especially lucid dreaming and dream recall.

Antimicrobial and Anti-inflammatory Actions

Laboratory studies have supported some of mugwort’s traditional uses, demonstrating that extracts from the plant possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Mugwort contains volatile oils—such as cineole, camphor, and thujone—as well as flavonoids and coumarins, which may contribute to its effects.

·       Topical Uses: Poultices of mugwort leaves have been applied to minor wounds, bruises, and insect bites to reduce inflammation and prevent infection.

·       Fungal Infections: Some traditional healers used mugwort ointments or washes for skin conditions, including athlete’s foot and eczema.

Respiratory Health

Mugwort has been valued in folk medicine as a remedy for colds, coughs, and asthma. The herb’s aromatic nature can help clear congestion and support easier breathing when inhaled or used in steam baths. In European traditions, mugwort was sometimes incorporated into herbal smoking blends for similar purposes.

Potential Risks and Contraindications

While mugwort offers a range of potential benefits, it is important to recognize that the plant also contains thujone, a compound that may be neurotoxic in high doses. Individuals with allergies to other members of the Asteraceae family (like ragweed or chamomile) may also react to mugwort. Pregnant and breastfeeding individuals should avoid mugwort, and its medicinal use should be approached with respect and caution.

Magical Properties of Mugwort

History and Folklore

Mugwort’s reputation as a magical herb stretches back to antiquity and spans continents. In European folklore, mugwort was known as the “Mother of Herbs,” believed to offer protection against evil spirits, disease, and unwanted energies. Ancient Romans reputedly wore mugwort in their sandals to guard against fatigue, while medieval travelers carried sprigs for safety on long journeys.

Dreamwork and Divination

Perhaps mugwort’s most iconic magical attribute is its association with dreams and the spirit world. The herb has been used in the preparation of dream pillows and sachets to enhance dreaming, promote prophetic visions, and offer psychic protection during sleep. Mugwort smoke features in rituals of scrying, meditation, and divination, where it is believed to open the third eye and heighten intuitive perception.

·       Lucid Dreaming: Placing mugwort under the pillow or burning it as incense is thought to encourage lucid dreams and facilitate communication with the subconscious.

·       Vision Quests: Shamans and mystics used mugwort to aid in trancework, astral travel, or shamanic journeying.

Protection and Purification

Mugwort has long been regarded as a plant of protection and purification. Wreaths of mugwort were hung over doorways at Midsummer to ward off evil, and twigs were burned to cleanse a space of negativity. In Japanese tradition, mugwort (yomogi) is used in rituals and as an offering at shrines, while moxibustion in TCM is believed to clear energy blockages and harmonize the flow of qi.

·       Amulets and Charms: Carrying mugwort in a pouch or amulet is said to shield the bearer from harm, misfortune, or hexes.

·       Smoke and Smudge: Mugwort bundles are burned to purify people, objects, or spaces—much like sage in indigenous North American traditions.

Ritual and Seasonal Significance

Mugwort’s magical prominence is especially felt during solstice festivals and liminal times. In Europe, the herb is linked to Midsummer celebrations, where it is cast into bonfires for blessing and protection. In Wiccan and modern pagan traditions, mugwort is included in incense blends, ritual baths, and altar offerings to invoke the goddess or to accompany spells for healing and transformation.

Astrological and Elemental Correspondences

Mugwort is frequently associated with the planet Venus and the element of Earth, though some traditions ascribe it to the Moon for its connection to dreams and intuition. Its energy is seen as feminine, receptive, and nurturing, making it a favored herb for those seeking to enhance psychic abilities or connect with the divine feminine.