Herb of the Week

Mugwort, Artemis vulgaris

Mugwort is a powerful medicinal herb that has been used for centuries in tradition and folk medicine worldwide.  From medieval times to Chinese practices, mugwort has been used to treat digestive issues, promote relaxation, and support woman’s health.  In Chinese medicine, mugwort has been used as a primary ingredient for moxibustion, in a blend of dried herbs burned over acupuncture points to promote healing.  Medieval Europeans used mugwort to expel negative energies from the body, Native American tribes used mugwort to cleanse and purify spaces and persons from illness and negative spirits.  

Digestion: 

Mugwort aides in digestion by stimulating the production of gastric acids. It helps to relieve bloating, indigestion, and loss of appetite.  Mugwort can be added to bitter tonics to be taken before meals to stimulate bile production and promote liver function and health. Mugwort is antifungal, antibacterial, and antiparasitic. When combined with other antiparasitic herbs may help to kill and eliminate parasitic infections, intestinal worms, and fungal infections. 

Women’s Health 

Mugwort helps to aid with menstruation and hormonal balance.  It helps to balance menstrual cycles, and ease symptoms of menopause.  An emmenagogue, Mugwort stimulates blood flow to the uterus and pelvic area, helping to relieve those with painful and irregular periods.   

Stress, Mood, and Anxiety: 

With mild sedative properties, mugwort helps to reduce stress, alleviate anxiety and elevate mood.  Used in teas and tinctures, mugwort aids with sleep and reduces insomnia. Mugwort can be used with lucid dreaming, enhancing dreams with meaning. 

Anti-inflammatory: 

Mugwort can be used to treat pain associated with arthritis and muscle aches.   

Liver Support: 

Mugwort can be used as a liver tonic to help cleanse the liver, promote bile production, and stimulate liver function.  Useful for people with sluggish digestion and liver related issues.  

Mugwort Folklore and Folk Magic

Mugwort, scientific name Artemisia vulgaris, has been deep-rooted in myth and legend within the domains of folk magic and herbal medicine.  It is especially true within the context to magic, revered for its potent properties and connection to the spirit realm, mugwort continues to inspire modern-day practitioners of magic who are eager to connect with their ancestral traditions and herbal wisdoms.

Mugwort continues to serve in several purposes in spiritual, ritual and spell practices.  It is an essential herb to have in one’s magic apothecary.  Mugwort’s corresponding energetics can be used in various workings and rituals to enhance dreams, commune with the dead, establish connect with spirit guides and the spirit realm, increase awareness and intuition, and protect against negative energies and influences.

Mugwort was integral to the Greek understanding of the lunar cycles, divination, protection and fertility, and was named after the goddess Artemis.  Similarly, in ancient Rome, mugwort was used in battle for protection, placed within the shoes of weary soldiers to offer safety and fend off exhaustion.  The Chinese used mugwort to ward malevolent spirits, as a medicinal herb to prevent disease, and to bestow blessings within the home.  The Anglo-Saxtons leeches (healers) used  mugwort as one of the “Nine Sacred Herbs of Wodin” to expel spirits and evil energies from the body, believing disease to be a spiritual ailment.  Mugwort is an excellent herb for expelling parasites from the body.  

Mugwort is widely used as a protective herb in magical workings, despite its reputation of being associated with medieval witches who used it in their “flying” ointments thought to aide in transformative rituals, hedge riding, shapeshifting and nefarious sorceries.  During this time, it was hung within the doorway to protect the home from said witches and negative spirits and placed under the doorway to repel unwanted visitors. Mugwort is associated with strength and protection of travels, as Saint John the Baptiste tied it to his waist ropes to ensure protection during his practices and travels.   

Mugwort has been used in smudging rituals to cleanse and purify sacred spaces, dispel negative energy, and restore balance by Native American tribes.  The smoke produced by burning Mugwort was believed to carry prayers and intentions to the spirit world as well as repelling ghosts and removing ghost sickness from the body.  

Spiritual Correspondences of Mugwort 

Divination and Dreamwork:   

Mugwort has incredible properties for enhancing dreamwork and intuition.  Placing a sprig of fresh mugwort beneath one’s pillow is said to promote prophetic dreams, astral protection and lucid dreaming.   Used as an incense, mugwort may help expand awareness in intention work and meditation. When consumed in a tea, Mugwort can aid in divination practices, expanding one’s psychic abilities and facilitating interpretations.   

Banishing and Protection: 

Mugwort is a protective herb and is used to help banish and dispel negative energies and influences, while also warding off evil spirits.  It can be used to banish negative energy in the home by burning it outside the front door to create a protective shield in the entry. Tying a fresh bundle of mugwort above the doors and windows can help protect the home from negative visitors.  Mugwort can also be infused into a tea, then sprayed onto items for protection.  

Cleansing and Ritual: 

Mugwort can be used in purification rituals, both energetically and spiritually.  The smoke can be used to cleanse ritual and sacred spaces and altar tools before and after workings. Burning dried mugwort during rituals can help dispel stagnant energy and remove spiritual obstacles, creating a sacred atmosphere.

Mugwort Correspondences:

• Gender: Feminine

• Planet: Venus

• Element: Fire

• Powers: Dreamwork, lucid dreaming, enhanced psychic abilities, astral projection, spirit communication, divination, spiritual growth, healing, purification, protection, warding, transition, love, and creativity

• Ritual Uses: Divination, healing rituals, warding and protection, cleansing of sacred spaces, transition and transformation rituals, creative workshops

• Magical Workings: Warding of negative energies, dream pillows, astral travel, anointing of divination tools and third eye, altar offerings, amulets and spell jars, spiritual baths, healing, smudging, love spells, inspiration spells, divination, meditation aid, house protection, protective talismans, new moon rituals, manifestation

DIVINATION TEA

This divination tea can help to open the third eye and enhance psychic abilities, prophetic visions, and dreamwork. It also helps to promote relaxation.  

2 Tbsp Mugwort 

1 Tbsp Cornflower 

1 Tbsp Lavender 

1 Tbsp Rose Buds 

1 Tbsp Hibiscus 

1 Tbsp Lemon Verbena 

1 Tbsp Lemon Balm 

1 Tbsp Passionflower 

Mix ingredients together.  Boil 1 cup of water, remove from heat, add 1 Tbsp of mixture to water, steep for 6-8 minutes.  Strain tea and drink in the evening.   

-Tria Prima Botanica