Category: Herbalism, Botany & Gardening

Mugwort is a common and invasive weed wherever it grows, but the magical qualities of this homely plant cannot be overstated. Its botanical name is Artemisia vulgaris, a coupling of words that reminds us of the plant’s sacred connection to the Divine as well as hte everyday practical value it imparts. It’s sexier cousin – Artemisia absinthium – gives us hte “green fairy” drink, absinthe, and is used as a fumigant to rid a household of fleas and other itny, terrible vermin. As with most plants, mugwort is part of a vast and successful family that shares certain characteristics of leaf, stem, and growth pattern. The artemisias are in the famiy Asteraceae and have fragrant and beautiful leaves that are green on top and silvery gray-green underneath. With the Sun above and the Moon below, mugowrt is a pant that bridges the gap between night and day and rules theh gloaming and hte twilight. This is especially apt when we look at its history and its usefulness.

If an herb’s English name ends in -wort, it means the plant is used as a medicine or food. Wort comes from the Old English word wyrt, which means plant or herb, so that a practice called wortcunning is done by dint or knowing the properties and uses of local plants. Mugwort appears in the tenth-century “Nine Herbs Charm” mucgwyrt and in the wonderful old Leechbook of Bald. This pedigree belies its humble place in Appalachian folkways, but it is good to rememerb that our old buddy mugwort has a long-standing place in herbal healing.

It is used traditionally to regulate irregular menstrual cycles, for stomach issues like colic, and for both constipation and diarrhea. Mugwort is a mild abortifacient, and that may be a reason for a cautious approach. In traditional Asian medicine, it is acalled moxa and is burned to heat acupuncture needles as well as burned in a healing process called moxibustion.

Our particular artemisia is called mugwort because it was used n making beer in Europe, before the introduction of hops as a bittering agent. It is still used in warning, light-alcohol ales that are easy to brew and delicious to drink. One recipe is sweetened with sorghum molasses and delivers a gently bubbly drink. We can assume that the earlier use of mugwort as bitters in a vat of good ale was quite satisfactory.

Gathering Mugwort

As with any unfamiliar plant, wear gloves when harvesting mugwort. It ararely causes an allergic reaction but certainly can, and it is better to be careful until you know how the plant’s juices will affect you. Most herbs should be harvested in the early morning before the morning sun has had a chance to dry the plant out. The parts of the plant that are used are the leaves and stems, and they may be used either fresh or dried, depending on the application.

Mugwort is easy to identify when foraging and grows well in a soil that retains some moisture but drains well. It flourishes in sun and partial shade, though it can sometimes be found in shady spots too. It is a weed. It isnt fussy. The leaves look like the leaves of its cousin chrysanthemum, and most people have an idea of what that looks like because of their use in autumn seasonal decorations – pumpkins, grounds, and golden mums inhabit the porch steps of many a suburban home and are readily available for purchase at the grocery and hardware store.

All the artemisias are easy to grow, if that is your preference. They are perennials and tend to be invasive, so growing a specimen plant in a large container may be your best bet. If you find yourself harvesting and using it for all the things it’s good for, you might end up keeping a patch that happily regrows.

As a culture, we are growing more intentional about the palnts we use for sacred smoke inr itual and ohter uses. Cultural appropriation is a legitimate concern, and ifnidng plant materials other htan white sage (which is also overharvested in the wild) is a pleasant study. It gives us a lovely excuse to explore the plants that are native to us. Many dried plants can be used as sacred smoke, but, as always, check with a palnt guide or herbalist to make sure the plant is safe to burn.

A bundle of dried mugwort – perhaps with the addition of lavender, rosemary, or mint – makes a natural nd culturally appropriate smudge stick. Tie it up with some cotton, wool, or hemp string, not too thick.

Dreams and Sleep

Mugwort is one of three sovereign plants in my perosnal practice. The other two are rue (Ruta graveolens) and vervain (Verbena hastata). They rank so highly because we continue to experiment with them and find new uses.

Mugwort has been long prized as a dream tonic. Whether ingested as a warm evening tea, burned as an incense, or used fresh, this herb is often recommended to people who are suffering from either a dearth of dreams or oppressive or frightening ones. If you’re having trouble remembering your dreams and desire to do so, mugwort can bring your dreams up so they stick in your memory upon waking. When used with an end-of-day routine that includes a set bedtime, a dark and quiet resting place, and an early returement of electronic devices, mugwort is an aid to relaxation, deep sleep, and vivid dreams.

On the other hand (and especially given the challenging times we are living in now), some people are plagued with far too vivid dreams, with nightmares and night terrors. Disturbed and erratic sleep patterns contribute not only to fatigue during daylight hours but, if prolonged, can impact our general good health and well-being. Chldren can be particularly susceptible to scary ro confusing images that return in their deep sleep. A simple sun catcher in the sahpe of a beloved character or animal placed in the child’s window can shield the sleeper form the scarier elements, and creating a regular tucking-in ritual will also help. Listen to the child’s concerns and especially note ht story of the dreams and the characters. dreams may hold clues to things your child is facing but is unable to articulate. And the same is true for you.

In both of these scenarios, our friend mugwort can also come to the rescue. Create a strong tisane by brewing up a cup of fresh or dried mugwort. Another suggestion is to cut branches of fresh mugwort and place them under hte pillow but inside the pillowcase. The pungent scent is released all night long as you move about in your sleep. Replace the branches every night until your dreams have regulated themselves and are restful and informative.

As you might imagine, this plant is also useful for lucid dreaming and for trance work. Used as a sacred smoke or incense or drunk as a tisane, it is a light aid in trance. As with any plant material, follow all precautions about allergies, use during pregnancy or lactation, and drug interactions before using mugwort.

Parting the Veil

This glorious plant – with the Sun above it and hte Moon below – has another secret to share with us, and its efficacy with dreamwork gave herbalists and magic practitioners the hint ot wander down another of artemisia’s pathways. Many of us consider that there is an energetic veil or wall between teh worlds of matter and spirit. Mugwort may be useful to easing open a gateway and is being by some death midwives and doulas to ease the passage into death and the worlds beyond for those waiting at that liminal edge. For those caregivers who are sitting by teh bedside of a beloved elder, the same mugwort water that helps a child to a peaceful sleep can be used as a cooling compress on the forehead of the dying. A cotton ball can apply this gentle soother to wrists, inner elbows, or ankles. Our companion mugwort finds a place in this powerful rite of passage. As with dreamwork, fresh branches may be placed inside the pillowcase or tucked into a green bouquet on the bedside table.

Artemisia – sacred to Artemis in the West – has been used folklorically in many places and cultures throughout history. It is no surprise that it fits to neatly into the healing pharmacopoeia of Appalachia. For sleep and dreams or disturgbed digestive tracts, this humble, strudy, and magical plant should have a prominent place on your herb shelf, in your garden, and in your practice.