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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Mugwort''
| image = ArtemisiaVulgaris.jpg
| image_size = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| genus = ''[[Artemisia (plant)|Artemisia]]''
| species = '''''A. vulgaris'''''
| binomial = ''Artemisia vulgaris''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
'''''Artemisia vulgaris''''' ('''Mugwort''' or '''Common Wormwood''') is one of several species in the genus ''[[Artemisia (plant)|Artemisia]]'' with names containing mugwort. It is also occasionally known as ''Felon Herb'', ''Chrysanthemum Weed'', ''Wild Wormwood'', or ''St. John's Plant'' (not to be confused with [[St John's wort]]). It is called ''Mogusa'' or ''Yomogi'' in Japan. It is native to temperate [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and northern [[Africa]], but is also present in [[North America]] where it is an [[invasive]] weed. It is a very common plant growing on nitrogenous soils, like weedy and uncultivated areas, such as waste places and roadsides.
Mugwort is a different species from Wormwood, but of the same genus, and containing some of the same chemical components. The Mugwort is closely allied to the Common Wormwood, but may be readily distinguished by the leaves being white on the under-surfaces only and by the leaf segments being pointed, not blunt. It lacks some of the essential oils of the Wormwood.
It is a tall [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]] growing 1-2 m (rarely 2.5 m) tall, with a woody root. The [[leaf|leaves]] are 5-20 cm long, dark green, pinnate, with dense white [[tomentose]] hairs on the underside. The erect stem often has a red-purplish tinge. The rather small flowers (5 mm long) are radially symmetrical with many yellow or dark red petals. The narrow and numerous capitula (flower heads) spread out in [[wikt:racemose|racemose]] [[panicles]]. It flowers from July to September.
A number of species of [[Lepidoptera]] (butterflies and moths) feed on the leaves and flowers; see [[List of Lepidoptera which feed on Artemisia]] for details.
==Etymology==
Mugwort is often said to derive from the word 'mug' because it was used in flavoring drinks. However, this may be a folk etymology. Other sources say Mugwort is derived from the old Germanic ''muggiwurti'', meaning "fly or knat plant", which refers to its use since ancient times to repel insects, especially moths.<ref>Lust, J. (2005) "The Herb Book" p.604</ref>
The [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] town of [[Chernobyl]] is named after the Ukrainian name for Mugwort.
==Related species==
There are other species in the genus ''[[Artemisia (plant)|Artemisia]]'' called mugwort:
*''[[Artemisia douglasiana]]'' – Douglas' Mugwort
*''[[Artemisia glacialis]]'' – Alpine Mugwort
*''[[Artemisia norvegica]]'' – Norwegian Mugwort
*''[[Artemisia stelleriana]]'' – Hoary Mugwort
*''[[Artemisia verlotiorum]]'' – Chinese Mugwort
Chinese mugwort (''A. verlotiorum'') is often confused with common mugwort (''A. vulgaris''). It has oblong reddish to brown capitula, its stems are green and the leaves broader, lighter colored and more dense on the stem. The plant has a stronger and more pleasant smell than that of the common mugwort (whose aroma is really light). It flowers very late in the summer, but reproduces mainly by [[stolons]], thus forming thick groups. Chinese mugwort shares the same habitat as common mugwort and both are very common.
==Uses==
[[Image:Koeh-016.jpg|thumb|right|19th century illustration]]
Mugwort contains [[thujone]], which is toxic. Pregnant women, in particular, should avoid consuming large amounts of mugwort. The species is little used now due to toxicity concerns, but has a number of recorded historic uses in food, [[herbal medicine]], and as a smoking herb.
===Food===
The leaves and buds, best picked shortly before the plant flowers in July to September, were used as a bitter flavoring agent to season fat meat and fish. In [[Germany]], known as Beifuß, it is mainly used to season goose, especially the roast goose traditionally eaten for [[Christmas]].
Mugwort is also used in Korea and Japan to give festive [[rice cakes]] a greenish color. After the cherry trees bloom in Korea, hordes of bonneted grandmothers collect wild mugwort. It is a common seasoning in Korean soups and pancakes. Known as a blood cleanser, it is believed to have different medicinal properties depending on the region it is collected.
In the [[Middle Ages]] Mugwort was used as part of a herbal mixture called [[gruit]], used in the flavoring of [[beer]] before the widespread introduction of [[hop (plant)|hops]].
===Herbal Medicine===
[[Image:Detail of mugwort mature leaf.jpg|left|thumbnail|A mugwort leaf with the pointed leaves characteristic of a mature plant]]
The plant contains ethereal oils (such as [[cineole]], or wormwood oil, and [[thujone]]), [[flavonoid]]s, [[terpene|triterpenes]], and [[coumarin]] derivatives. Chewing some leaves will kill the fatigue and stimulate the nervous system. It was also used as an [[anthelminthic]], so it is sometimes confused with wormwood ([[Absinth Wormwood|Artemisia absinthium]]).
Mugwort is used in the practice of [[traditional Chinese medicine]] in a pulverized and aged form called [[moxa]]. The British RCT yielded results that indicate that [[moxibustion]] of mugwort was indeed effective at increasing the cephalic positioning of fetuses who were in a [[breech birth|breech position]] before the intervention. Since it also causes uterine contractions, it has been used to cause abortion. It also plays a role in Asian traditional medicine as a method of correcting breech presentation. This method is termed [[moxibustion]]. A study of 260 Chinese women at 33 weeks of pregnancy demonstrated cephalic version within two weeks in 75% of fetuses carried by patients who were treated with moxibustion, as opposed to 48% in the control group.<ref>Cardini, F., and W. X. Huang. JAMA 280(18): 1580-1584, November 1998</ref> It has also been shown that acupuncture plus moxibustion slows fetal heart rates while increasing fetal movement.<ref>Neri, I., et al. Journal of the Society for Gynecological Investigation 9(3): 158-162, May-June 2002</ref> Two recent studies of Italian patients produced conflicting results. In the first, involving 226 patients, there was cephalic presentation at delivery in 54% of women treated between 33 and 35 weeks with acupuncture and moxibustion, vs. 37% in the control group.<ref>Neri, I., et al. Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine 15(4): 247-252</ref> The second was terminated prematurely because of numerous treatment interruptions.<ref>Cardini, F., et al. BJOG 112(6): 743-747, June 2005</ref>
===Folklore & Witchcraft===
In the Middle Ages, mugwort was used as a magical protective herb. Mugwort was used to repel insects, especially moths, from gardens. Mugwort has also been used from ancient times as a remedy against fatigue and to protect travelers against evil spirits and wild animals. Roman soldiers put mugwort in their sandals to protect their feet against fatigue.
Much used in witchcraft, mugwort is said to be useful in inducing [[lucid dreaming]] and [[astral travel]]. Consumption of the plant, or a [[tincture]] thereof, prior to sleeping is said to increase the intensity of dreams, the level of control, and to aid in the recall of dreams upon waking. One common method of ingestion is to smoke the plant. Colloquially, this practice is known as "Having a tasp."
== References ==
<references/>
== External links ==
*[http://www.erowid.org/herbs/mugwort/ Erowid's Mugwort Vault]
*[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Artemisia+vulgaris Plants for a Future: ''Artemisia vulgaris'']
*[http://www.bibliomania.com/2/1/66/113/21123/1.html Mugwort in Culpeper's 'The complete herbal']
*[http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mugwor61.html Mugwort in Mrs Grieve's 'A modern herbal']
*[http://www.liberherbarum.com/Pn0078.HTM Mugwort at Liber Herbarum II]
{{Wmog|Artemisia vulgaris}}
{{Commons|Artemisia vulgaris}}
[[Category:Artemisia]]
[[Category:Abortifacients]]
[[Category:Herbs]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Mugwort''
| image = ArtemisiaVulgaris.jpg
| image_size = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| genus = ''[[Artemisia (plant)|Artemisia]]''
| species = '''''A. vulgaris'''''
| binomial = ''Artemisia vulgaris''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
'''''Artemisia vulgaris''''' ('''Mugwort''' or '''Common Wormwood''') is one of several species in the genus ''[[Artemisia (plant)|Artemisia]]'' with names containing mugwort. It is also occasionally known as ''Felon Herb'', ''Chrysanthemum Weed'', ''Wild Wormwood'', or ''St. John's Plant'' (not to be confused with [[St John's wort]]). It is called ''Mogusa'' or ''Yomogi'' in Japan. It is native to temperate [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and northern [[Africa]], but is also present in [[North America]] where it is an [[invasive]] weed. It is a very common plant growing on nitrogenous soils, like weedy and uncultivated areas, such as waste places and roadsides.
Mugwort is a different species from Wormwood, but of the same genus, and containing some of the same chemical components. The Mugwort is closely allied to the Common Wormwood, but may be readily distinguished by the leaves being white on the under-surfaces only and by the leaf segments being pointed, not blunt. It lacks some of the essential oils of the Wormwood.
It is a tall [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]] growing 1-2 m (rarely 2.5 m) tall, with a woody root. The [[leaf|leaves]] are 5-20 cm long, dark green, pinnate, with dense white [[tomentose]] hairs on the underside. The erect stem often has a red-purplish tinge. The rather small flowers (5 mm long) are radially symmetrical with many yellow or dark red petals. The narrow and numerous capitula (flower heads) spread out in [[wikt:racemose|racemose]] [[panicles]]. It flowers from July to September.
A number of species of [[Lepidoptera]] (butterflies and moths) feed on the leaves and flowers; see [[List of Lepidoptera which feed on Artemisia]] for details.
==Etymology==
Mugwort is often said to derive from the word 'mug' because it was used in flavoring drinks. However, this may be a folk etymology. Other sources say Mugwort is derived from the old Germanic ''muggiwurti'', meaning "fly or knat plant", which refers to its use since ancient times to repel insects, especially moths.<ref>Lust, J. (2005) "The Herb Book" p.604</ref>
The [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] town of [[Chernobyl]] is named after the Ukrainian name for Mugwort.
==Related species==
There are other species in the genus ''[[Artemisia (plant)|Artemisia]]'' called mugwort:
*''[[Artemisia douglasiana]]'' – Douglas' Mugwort
*''[[Artemisia glacialis]]'' – Alpine Mugwort
*''[[Artemisia norvegica]]'' – Norwegian Mugwort
*''[[Artemisia stelleriana]]'' – Hoary Mugwort
*''[[Artemisia verlotiorum]]'' – Chinese Mugwort
Chinese mugwort (''A. verlotiorum'') is often confused with common mugwort (''A. vulgaris''). It has oblong reddish to brown capitula, its stems are green and the leaves broader, lighter colored and more dense on the stem. The plant has a stronger and more pleasant smell than that of the common mugwort (whose aroma is really light). It flowers very late in the summer, but reproduces mainly by [[stolons]], thus forming thick groups. Chinese mugwort shares the same habitat as common mugwort and both are very common.
==Uses==
[[Image:Koeh-016.jpg|thumb|right|19th century illustration]]
Mugwort contains [[thujone]], which is toxic. Pregnant women, in particular, should avoid consuming large amounts of mugwort. The species is little used now due to toxicity concerns, but has a number of recorded historic uses in food, [[herbal medicine]], and as a smoking herb.
===Food===
The leaves and buds, best picked shortly before the plant flowers in July to September, were used as a bitter flavoring agent to season fat meat and fish. In [[Germany]], known as Beifuß, it is mainly used to season goose, especially the roast goose traditionally eaten for [[Christmas]].
Mugwort is also used in Korea and Japan to give festive [[rice cakes]] a greenish color. After the cherry trees bloom in Korea, hordes of bonneted grandmothers collect wild mugwort. It is a common seasoning in Korean soups and pancakes. Known as a blood cleanser, it is believed to have different medicinal properties depending on the region it is collected.
In the [[Middle Ages]] Mugwort was used as part of a herbal mixture called [[gruit]], used in the flavoring of [[beer]] before the widespread introduction of [[hop (plant)|hops]].
===Herbal Medicine===
[[Image:Detail of mugwort mature leaf.jpg|left|thumbnail|A mugwort leaf with the pointed leaves characteristic of a mature plant]]
The plant contains ethereal oils (such as [[cineole]], or wormwood oil, and [[thujone]]), [[flavonoid]]s, [[terpene|triterpenes]], and [[coumarin]] derivatives. Chewing some leaves will kill the fatigue and stimulate the nervous system. It was also used as an [[anthelminthic]], so it is sometimes confused with wormwood ([[Absinth Wormwood|Artemisia absinthium]]).
Mugwort is used in the practice of [[traditional Chinese medicine]] in a pulverized and aged form called [[moxa]]. The British RCT yielded results that indicate that [[moxibustion]] of mugwort was indeed effective at increasing the cephalic positioning of fetuses who were in a [[breech birth|breech position]] before the intervention. Since it also causes uterine contractions, it has been used to cause abortion. It also plays a role in Asian traditional medicine as a method of correcting breech presentation. This method is termed [[moxibustion]]. A study of 260 Chinese women at 33 weeks of pregnancy demonstrated cephalic version within two weeks in 75% of fetuses carried by patients who were treated with moxibustion, as opposed to 48% in the control group.<ref>Cardini, F., and W. X. Huang. JAMA 280(18): 1580-1584, November 1998</ref> It has also been shown that acupuncture plus moxibustion slows fetal heart rates while increasing fetal movement.<ref>Neri, I., et al. Journal of the Society for Gynecological Investigation 9(3): 158-162, May-June 2002</ref> Two recent studies of Italian patients produced conflicting results. In the first, involving 226 patients, there was cephalic presentation at delivery in 54% of women treated between 33 and 35 weeks with acupuncture and moxibustion, vs. 37% in the control group.<ref>Neri, I., et al. Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine 15(4): 247-252</ref> The second was terminated prematurely because of numerous treatment interruptions.<ref>Cardini, F., et al. BJOG 112(6): 743-747, June 2005</ref>
===Folklore & Witchcraft===
In the Middle Ages, mugwort was used as a magical protective herb. Mugwort was used to repel insects, especially moths, from gardens. Mugwort has also been used from ancient times as a remedy against fatigue and to protect travelers against evil spirits and wild animals. Roman soldiers put mugwort in their sandals to protect their feet against fatigue.
Much used in witchcraft, mugwort is said to be useful in inducing [[lucid dreaming]] and [[astral travel]]. Consumption of the plant, or a [[tincture]] thereof, prior to sleeping is said to increase the intensity of dreams, the level of control, and to aid in the recall of dreams upon waking. One common method of ingestion is to smoke the plant. Colloquially, this practice is known as "Having a tasp."
== References ==
<references/>
== External links ==
*[http://www.erowid.org/herbs/mugwort/ Erowid's Mugwort Vault]
*[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Artemisia+vulgaris Plants for a Future: ''Artemisia vulgaris'']
*[http://www.bibliomania.com/2/1/66/113/21123/1.html Mugwort in Culpeper's 'The complete herbal']
*[http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mugwor61.html Mugwort in Mrs Grieve's 'A modern herbal']
*[http://www.liberherbarum.com/Pn0078.HTM Mugwort at Liber Herbarum II]
{{Wmog|Artemisia vulgaris}}
{{Commons|Artemisia vulgaris}}
[[Category:Artemisia]]
[[Category:Abortifacients]]
[[Category:Herbs]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]