Mugwort

Mugwort

Scientific name: Artemisia vulgaris

Family: Sun Flower  (Compositae)

This mystical member of the Sun Flower family, it has been used since the middle ages as a ward against evils and ailments. It was thought that John the Baptist carried a wreath of Mugwort around him and it is from this the plant derived its common name “Saint-Johns root”.  This plant has many applications both celestial and practical.  In the garden Mugwort drives away insects, especially moths.  When about to go to bed Mugwort can be placed underneath pillows protects against nightmares, and also has been known to aid in the practice of lucid dreaming. It is this dreamlike quality that give the plant a reputation of being magical and interrelated with witchcraft.  In China therapeutic bars (moxa bars) are made from the pressed leaves, and are frequently used in acupuncture.  The leaves of the plant can be chewed, have a stimulating and ethereal effect on the brain. The flowers  Mugwort  can be used internally to bring back ones appetite after a case of indigestion.  Mugwort also useful as a treatment for arthritis and liver disorders. It has a well-documented use in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. The healing effect is attributed at the active compound Artemisinin, which is also renowned for its anti-carcinogenic properties.