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The Magic of Mugwort

Books and movies about magic and mysticism usually mention the mythical Mugwort plant! Its history is woven into many cultures, but especially the Europeans, for its use in casting out evil spirits that cause disease.

Mugwort's silvery-coloured leaves are reminiscent of the silvery colour of the moon and are a common trait of her family genus, Artemisia, goddess of the moon. 

Artemisia is known as the goddess of the hunt, moon, nature and childbirth, representing the beginnings and ending of life. She brings death only when the timing and circumstances are in correct alignment, but she also brings life as mugwort has been used by midwives for assisting in labour and birth for centuries.

A famous herbalist called Maude Grieve suggested the name 'mugwort'  originated from being used as either a flavoring agent in beer before hops came around or because the name derives from moughte (moth or maggot) since it was helpful in gardens to ward off moths. Mugwort is also known as cronewort. 

"As the village midwife once nurtured the heart of the community with compassion, knowledge, common sense, and magic, cronewort has soothed the pain of childbirth, eased the tenderness of aching joints, comforted bellies, and instilled vision among human beings for centuries with her knowing medicine."

 - Judith Berger, Herbal Rituals

Its cousin, wormwood, is known for its powerful ability to rid the body of parasites, hence its name. The gift of mugwort to get rid of parasites probably led to its use in rituals to cleanse bodies and places of unwanted energies. It can be used as incense or to burn the leaves and stems and as a smudge. Dry the plant, burn it and allow the smoke to cleanse your home.

Herbs can be cool, warm, moistening or drying in nature. Mugwort has a warmth when ingested and a bitter taste, making for an excellent digestive aid. The bitter taste stimulates the digestive juices to break down the food, and its warmth dispels gas. This herb is a balm for anyone with weak digestion or nervous dyspepsia (pain and burning, not heartburn)

This is an herb for women that is helpful for stagnant, slow, clotty, crampy, painful menses and has been traditionally used to increase labour and birth. This effect is noticeable in many pungent and/or bitter herbs as it warms the blood, improves its quality, and stimulates the heart. It should not be used by pregnant or lactating women.

People who love to dream and dissect dreams consider mugwort an oneirogen, which means it has the ability to enhance and promote dreams, bringing the sleeper into an REM state. Oneirogen is a Greek word that means "dream" and "to create."  Try taking some mugwort before going to bed and keeping a journal to write down any dreams to dissect the following morning. Sweet, magical dreaming!

Use mugwort for stress and confusion. It has a mild sedative effect on the nervous system and is commonly used in British herbalism for stress, nervousness, and anxiety. This nervine remedy is warm in nature, which makes it unique, as most nervine herbs are cooling in nature. 

Dorothy Hall profiles the Mugwort person as being "highly intelligent with complex thoughts that are difficult to describe, speech disorders and dyslexia, highly elevated senses, sensitivity to light and sound, with great difficulty getting deep sleep. It is suited to people in whom the intuitive, psychic, psychological, creative, and artistic side of the mind is highly developed, but who have trouble with expression or the world around them."

William LeSassier noted that this plant is suited for sensitive women who have been through abuse, poverty, difficult pregnancies, abortions with scar tissue in the womb, and obstetrics. Essentially, mugwort has a restorative effect on the injured female nature.

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