Mugwort: Health Benefits, Uses & More!

As the pace of life accelerates, people’s pursuit of health becomes stronger. Today, let me introduce a magical herbal plant, praised by the ancients as the “longevity grass”—mugwort.

What is Mugwort?

Mugwort (scientific name: Artemisia argyi H. Lév. & Vaniot) is a perennial herbaceous or slightly semi-shrub plant with a strong aroma. The whole plant serves medicinal purposes by warming meridians, removing dampness, dispersing cold, stopping bleeding, reducing inflammation, relieving asthma, calming coughs, stabilizing pregnancy, and providing anti-allergy effects. Practitioners crush dried mugwort leaves into “moxa wool,” which they use to make moxa sticks for moxibustion. They also use the plant as a material for ink paste. Mugwort grows widely across Asia and Europe.

The Story of Mugwort

The culture of mugwort has a long history. As early as the “Book of Songs” era, mugwort was already an important plant for daily life. There is also a legend about the origin of mugwort. It is said that there was a famous doctor named Xiao Ai beside King Wu. One day, after suffering from diarrhea for many days, he collapsed in the military tent. Despite his illness, he went to treat a critically ill soldier and accidentally tripped over a pile of wild grass used to repel mosquitoes, getting burned in the process. Surprisingly, his pain was cured, but he was left with several scars. Inspired, he used the wild grass to burn specific parts of the soldiers’ bodies, and their conditions improved. King Wu praised Xiao Ai, but Xiao Ai humbly attributed the credit to the wild grass, saying, “This is the merit of the wild grass.” King Wu then declared that the wild grass would be named after Xiao Ai and Ai Hao (mugwort).

What Does Mugwort Look Like?

Plant Description

Mugwort is a perennial herbaceous or slightly semi-shrub plant with a strong aroma. It has a prominent, slightly thick and long main root with a diameter of up to 1.5 cm and many lateral roots. The plant often has horizontal underground rhizomes and vegetative branches. The stems are solitary or few, 80-150 (-250) cm high, with obvious vertical ribs, brown or gray-yellow, slightly woody at the base, herbaceous above, and have few short branches. The branches are 3-5 cm long. Both stems and branches are covered with gray cobweb-like soft hairs.

Leaves

The leaves are thick and papery, with gray-white short soft hairs and white glandular dots and small pits on the surface. Gray-white cobweb-like dense wool densely covers the underside. The basal leaves have long stalks and wither during the flowering period. The lower stem leaves are nearly round or broadly ovate, deeply pinnately lobed, with 2-3 lobes on each side. The lobes are elliptical or obovate-elongated, with 2-3 small serrations on each lobe. The middle stem leaves are ovate, triangular-ovate, or nearly rhomboid, 5-8 cm long, 4-7 cm wide, once or twice deeply pinnately lobed. The upper stem leaves and bract leaves are pinnately lobed, shallowly lobed, or not lobed, and are elliptical, elongated-lanceolate, lanceolate, or linear-lanceolate.

Flower Heads

Elliptical flower heads, 2.5-3 (-3.5) mm in diameter, are sessile or nearly sessile. Several to over ten of them arrange in small spike-like or compound spike-like inflorescences on the branches. These inflorescences usually form narrow, spire-like panicles on the stems, with the flower heads nodding after flowering. The involucral bracts are arranged in 3-4 layers, imbricate, with the outer bracts small, herbaceous, ovate or narrowly ovate, densely covered with gray-white cobweb-like wool on the back, and with membranous margins. The middle bracts are longer than the outer bracts, long ovate, and covered with cobweb-like wool on the back. The inner bracts are thin, almost hairless on the back. The receptacle is small.

Flowers

There are 6-10 female flowers with narrow tubular corollas, which have 2-lobed purple tips. The styles are slender and extend well beyond the corolla, with bifurcated tips. There are 8-12 bisexual flowers with tubular or goblet-shaped corollas that have glandular dots on the outside and purple tips. The anthers are narrowly linear, with sharply pointed triangular appendages at the top and inconspicuous small appendages at the base. The styles are about the same length as or slightly longer than the corolla, with bifurcated tips that bend outward after flowering, forming truncate ends with cilia.

Growing Area

Mugwort grows in Mongolia, Korea, Russia (Far East), and China. It spreads widely across China, except in extremely arid and high-altitude areas. Farmers cultivate it in Japan. Mugwort thrives in low to mid-altitude areas, on wastelands, roadsides, riverbanks, and hillsides. It also appears in forest-steppe and steppe areas, where it sometimes dominates the landscape.

Potential Health Benefits of Mugwort

Repelling Mosquitoes

Mugwort has a special aroma that effectively repels mosquitoes. Burning mugwort every night releases smoke that drives away mosquitoes. People can soak mugwort in water with calamus to mop the floor or boil it for application to the body. Hanging a dried mugwort stalk in a room can also repel mosquitoes, moths, and insects.

Calming Asthma and Coughs

Moxa has cough-relieving, asthma-calming, and phlegm-expelling effects, helping prevent and treat chronic bronchitis or asthma in the elderly.

Dispersing Cold and Dampness

Moxa has a bitter, spicy, and warm nature, entering the spleen, liver, and kidney meridians. It disperses cold and removes dampness, useful for treating rheumatic arthritis, migraines, menstrual disorders, and female coldness.

Warming Meridians and Stopping Bleeding

Mugwort enters the liver and spleen meridians, warming and dispersing cold, stopping bleeding, and warming meridians. It can treat various bleeding disorders caused by cold deficiency.

Antibacterial

Mugwort leaves have antibacterial and antiviral properties, inhibiting and killing most viruses and bacteria, and are effective for respiratory diseases. Burning mugwort leaves is a simple and effective way to disinfect and kill bacteria.

Anti-Allergy

Moxa can also have anti-allergy effects, treating eczema, dermatitis, and itching effectively.

Enhancing Immunity

Mugwort contains many chemical components, including essential oils, tannins, flavonoids, alcohols, polysaccharides, trace elements, and other organic compounds. These components help regulate the body’s nutritional needs, enhancing the body’s disease resistance.

How to Use Mugwort

Hanging for Repelling Mosquitoes and Antibacterial (Fresh Mugwort Leaves)

Mugwort has a strong aroma that mosquitoes and flies dislike, containing essential oils like eucalyptus oil, camphor, and limonene. Hanging mugwort leaves can repel mosquitoes and purify the air.

Soaking to Disperse Cold and Relieve Pain (Dried Mugwort Leaves)

Mugwort is warm in nature, good for warming meridians and dispersing cold. It can be used to soak feet for people who fear cold, have cold hands and feet, menstrual pain, or infertility due to cold uterus. However, it is not recommended to soak feet with mugwort daily, generally 2-3 times a week for half an hour each time.

Burning for Stabilizing Pregnancy and Stopping Bleeding (Mugwort Charcoal)

Compared to fresh mugwort leaves, mugwort charcoal is better at warming meridians and stopping bleeding, while fresh mugwort is better at dispersing cold and relieving pain. In modern urban life, people should avoid burning mugwort leaves directly. Instead, they can use boiling water or boil eggs with mugwort charcoal if needed.

Washing to Disperse Dampness and Relieve Itching (Dried Mugwort Leaves)

Mugwort also has the effect of dispersing dampness and relieving itching. It can be boiled in water for washing, treating eczema, dermatitis, and itching.

Moxibustion

Moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medicine therapy, involves burning mugwort leaves to stimulate acupuncture points. This practice is renowned for its wide range of health benefits. Firstly, moxibustion enhances blood circulation and promotes the smooth flow of qi, helping to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. It is particularly effective in treating chronic conditions such as arthritis and menstrual cramps. Additionally, moxibustion boosts the immune system by increasing white blood cell production, thereby enhancing the body’s natural defense mechanisms. It also aids in digestion by warming the digestive tract and improving gastrointestinal function. Furthermore, moxibustion can help to reduce stress and anxiety, leading to improved mental well-being. Its warming effect is beneficial for those with cold or stagnant conditions, providing a soothing and comforting sensation.

Precautions

• Use in Moderation: Moxa is beneficial, but overuse can lead to discomfort, especially for those with heaty or yin deficiency constitutions. Adjust the dosage and frequency according to individual needs when using moxa for moxibustion or foot soaking.
• Proper Storage: Store moxa in a dry, ventilated, and shaded place to prevent mold. If mold or a strange smell occurs, discard it immediately. To avoid volatilization of active components, keep moxa in sealed bags or containers.
• Fire Safety: Moxa is flammable. Be cautious when using moxibustion and ensure fire safety. Extinguish the fire after use and properly dispose of moxibustion ashes.
• Avoid Allergies: Although moxa is safe for most people, some may have allergic reactions. Conduct a skin test before use and stop using if redness, itching, or other symptoms occur, and seek medical advice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mugwort is a versatile and powerful herb with a rich history and numerous health benefits. From repelling mosquitoes and alleviating respiratory issues to warming meridians and enhancing immunity, its applications are diverse and effective. However, it is crucial to use mugwort in moderation and with proper precautions to avoid potential adverse effects.