Artemisia vulgaris - or commonly known as Mugwort, is a clump-forming, rhizomatous, perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae family. It's leaves are deeply lobed and divided, bright green on top, and soft silvery on the underside. The plant was used to flavor beer before hops were cool, and has a long and rich history of use throughout the ages.
The genus Artemisia was named after the Greek Moon Goddess Artemis. She is known to be the Goddess of the hunt, wild animals, the forest, childbirth, and fertility. She is identified by the Romans as the Goddess Diana. She is known a patron of women, and Artemisia vulgaris is known as an herbal ally for women because of some of its most known and beneficial properties.
Mugwort has been naturalized to many parts of Europe, Asia, and the Americas. It was thought to have been brought by medical practitioners, by seed, because of its beneficial medicinal, spiritual, and magickal properties. In medieval folklore Mugwort was known to protect the wearer from fatigue and was commonly put into the shoes of travelers to ward off weariness. It is said that Saint John the Baptist wore of girdle of Mugwort while in the wilderness to protect him from fatigue, wild beasts, sunstroke, and evil spirits. It was also said that wearing a crown of Mugwort of St. John's Day would protect the wearer from evil spirits for the coming year. Some Native American Indians rubbed Mugwort on their bodies to protect them from ghosts.
Medicinally, Mugwort has been used for centuries to treat a wide variety of ailments. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Mugwort is highly valued, dried and aged, and burned over various acupressure points, known as Moxibustion. In Europe, Mugwort was used to treat problems with menstruation, and was one of the first birth control methods because it is an abortifacient and emmenagogue, and helps to bring on a missing period (amenorrhea). It also helps to ease painful periods (dysmenorrhea), premenstrual syndrome, and has been reported to ease the transition into menopause by helping to reduce hot flashes. Obviously this herbal ally is not for use in pregnant women who wish to remain pregnant. Other properties of Mugwort include bitter digestive tonic, antirheumatic, nervine, antiparasitic, anthelmintic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, and it even has been used to treat asthma by dilation of the bronchioles.
Mechanisms of action
There are many biologically active compounds found in A. vulgaris that make it a beneficial medicinal herb. Some of the compounds found in Mugwort are including, but not limited to, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpene lactones, flavonol glycosides, coumarins, and polyacetylenes. Adams, Garcia, and Garg (2012) found that one of the sesquiterpenes found in Mugwort appears to work through a serotonergic action which make it especially beneficial to women. Khan and Gilani (2009) found that Mugwort exhibited antidiarrheal effects through anticholinergic action, validating its use to combat diarrhea, and abdominal colic. They also reported its effect on calcium channels validating its historic use for the treatment of asthma by demonstrating bronchodilatory effects. An article from the Food Research International Journal (Abiri, et. al, 2018) took an in depth look at the various biological compounds of A. vulgaris and it is summarized in the diagram below.
There is an abundance of evidence for the efficacy of Mugwort as a beneficial herbal ally for any natural medicine practitioner. Aside from its many medicinal uses, Mugwort has a rich history in folklore and magic. Aside from its uses for protection from evil spirits, wearines, and fatigue, Mugwort was said when burned, as an incense or smoke, to help cleanse negative energy.
In some magickal traditions, Mugwort is used for divinatory purposes. Often reported to induce lucid dreaming, Mugwort can be placed into a sachet and placed under the pillow of the dreamer. An infusion or tea can be made and ingested before sleep to help induce prophetic dreaming. A smudge stick of mugwort can be burned around the sacred space before engaging in other divinatory practices to help enhance the rituals.
Patti Wigington of Learn Religions suggests these things you can do with Mugwort to enhance your Magickal practice:
🌿Use mugwort baths or incense in rituals focusing on treating depression.
🌿Make a set of smudge sticks using dried mugwort, to use in ritual settings bringing about prophecy or divinatory needs.
🌿Place mugwort under your pillow to prevent astral attacks, or to ward off psychic attacks from those who would do you harm.
🌿Plant mugwort in your garden to attract the Fae.
🌿Burn mugwort as part of an incense blend celebrating Litha.
🌿Make a wash by steeping fresh mugwort in hot water, and then use it to clean your magical space or your ritual tools.
🌿Make protection oil for your home and property with mugwort.
🌿Create a magic broom or besom with mugwort woven into it, and use it to sweep negative energies from your home.
Mugwort is one of those herbs that should be in every witch's cabinet. Do you use mugwort, medicinally or magically? Let me know in the comments! <3
Reference
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris, Artemisia douglasiana, Artemisia argyi) in the Treatment of Menopause, Premenstrual Syndrome, Dysmenorrhea and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Wigington, Patti. "How to Use Mugwort in Magic." Learn Religions, Apr. 17, 2019, learnreligions.com/using-mugwort-in-magic-2562031.
Antispasmodic and bronchodilator activities of Artemisia vulgaris are mediated through dual blockade of muscarinic receptors and calcium influx
Towards a better understanding of Artemisia vulgaris: Botany, phytochemistry, pharmacological and biotechnological potential
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