Mugwort

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Mugwort, Artemesia vulgaris (ARTVU), is also called wild chrysanthemum

because of the shape of the lower leaves. The plant is a perennial that

spreads rapidly by rhizomes. The white wooly underside of the leaf is a good

ID characteristic and is visible even in the winter. It is a relative of

dusty miller.

 

---Parts Used Medicinally---The leaves, collected in August and dried in the

same manner as Wormwood, and the root, dug in autumn and dried. The roots

are cleansed in cold water and then freed from rootlets. Drying may be done

at first in the open air, spread thinly, as contact may turn the roots

mouldy. Or they may be spread on clean floors, or on shelves, in a warm room

for about ten days, and turned frequently. When somewhat shrunken, they must

be finished more quickly by artificial heat in a drying room or shed, near a

stove or gas fire, care being taken that the heated air can escape at the

top of the room. Drying in an even temperature will probably take about a

fortnight, or more. It is not complete until the roots are dry to the core

and brittle, snapping when bent.

 

Mugwort root is generally about 8 inches long, woody, beset with numerous

thin and tough rootlets, 2 to 4 inches long, and about 1/12 inch thick. It

is light brown externally; internally whitish, with an angular wood and

thick bark, showing five or six resin cells. The taste is sweetish and

acrid.

 

---Constituents---A volatile oil, an acrid resin and tannin.

 

---Medicinal Action and Uses---It has stimulant and slightly tonic

properties, and is of value as a nervine and emmenagogue, having also

diuretic and diaphoretic action.

 

Its chief employment is as an emmenagogue, often in combination with

Pennyroyal and Southernwood. It is also useful as a diaphoretic in the

commencement of cold.

 

It is given in infusion, which should be prepared in a covered vessel, 1 OZ.

of the herb to 1 pint of boiling water, and given in 1/2 teaspoonful doses,

while warm. The infusion may be taken cold as a tonic, in similar doses,

three times daily: it has a bitterish and aromatic taste.

 

As a nervine, Mugwort is valued in palsy, fits, epileptic and similar

affections, being an old-fashioned popular remedy for epilepsy (especially

in persons of a feeble constitution). Gerard says: 'Mugwort cureth the

shakings of the joynts inclining to the Palsie;' and Parkinson considered it

good against hysteria. A drachm of the powdered leaves, given four times a

day, is stated by Withering to have cured a patient who had been affected

with hysterical fits for many years, when all other remedies had failed.

 

The juice and an infusion of the herb were given for intermittent fevers and

agues. The leaves used to be steeped in baths, to communicate an

invigorating property to the water.

 

 

pat

 

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Shawn & Tracy Lake

herbal remedies

Sunday, February 26, 2006 6:28 PM

Herbal Remedies - mugwort

Hi,I'm wondering if anyone out there has mugwort that you would barter. I needabout two pounds of dried mugwort for dream pillows. If you can help me,please drop me an email. thanks. Tracy

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Mugwort? Go to: http://www.herbalcom.com

 

 

herbal remedies , " Shawn & Tracy Lake "

<stlake wrote:

>

> Hi,

>

> I'm wondering if anyone out there has mugwort that you would barter.

I need

> about two pounds of dried mugwort for dream pillows. If you can help

me,

> please drop me an email. thanks. Tracy

>