Mugwort |
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| Common Name | Mugwort |
| Scientific Name | Artemisia vulgaris |
| Of Mugwort, whose other names are Felon Herb, Sailor's Tobacco, Smotherwood, Apple-pie, and Old Uncle Harry, John Gerard's Herball of 1597 says, "The traveller or wayfaring man that hath mugwort tied about him feeleth no weariness at all." The Pilgrims believed this, too, and it was said that a man who kept mugwort leaves inside his shoes could walk forty miles in a day. Greek legend has it the centaur Chiron taught the goddess of hunting and the moon the uses of mugwort, and she was so pleased with the herb that she gave it her name-Artemis. A strong tea made from the flowers and top leaves is thought to dissolve gallstones, regulate the menstrual cycle, and promote appetite and digestion-all because of mugwort's beneficial effect on bile production. CAUTION: Drinking more than 1 or 2 cups can lead to symptoms of poisoning. | |
| Plant | Perennial. This plant has a firm, downy, grooved, brown stem, with alternate, coarsely toothed, green leaves, which are white and downy underneath. Small greenish-yellow to red-brown flowers appear on spikes from July to October. |
| Height | 2 to 5 feet. |
| Soil | Any moist soil. This plant is considered a weed and can be found in ditches, in |
| Exposure | Full sun. |
| Propagation | Seeds planted during the third lunar phase. Also root division; mugwort's creeping roots cause it to spread quickly. |
| Care | Place plants 2 feet apart. However, mugwort's reputation as a weed is well deserved, and you'll want to give it plenty of space-perhaps grow it as a large shrub, for example-if you dare to introduce it into your garden. Each year, the circle of roots increases, and it is necessary to cut away many roots and seedlings to keep the plant from getting out of control. |
| Part used for Tea | Flowers, leaves. Some people brew a root decoction as well. |
| Taste | Tangy, refreshing. It was a favourite in England before Oriental tea was introduced. |
| How to Brew | INFUSION: 1 teaspoon of dried leaves or flowers, or 3 teaspoons of fresh herb, covered with 1 cup of boiling water. Steep to taste. |
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