"Remember, Mugwort, what you made known,
What you arranged at the Great proclamation.
You were called Una, the oldest of herbs,
you have power against three and against thirty,
you have power against poison and against infection,
you have power against the loathsome foe roving through the land."
-Nine Herbs Charm, 11th century

Family: Asteraceae (Composite)
Other names: motherwort (not to be confused with Leonurus cardiaca), chrysanthemum weed, artemis herb, moxa, cronewort, sailor's tobacco, St. John's plant
Name meaning: The etymology of mugwort is uncertain; mug may refer to its use in flavoring drinks in the past, but this is probably a folk etymology. More likely, it may derive from moughte (moth or maggot) because it was believed to ward off moths. The ending -wort means plant. Artemisia comes from the Greek goddess Artemis, goddess of the moon, the hunt, and chastity, applied to this genus because these plants were considered sacred to her. Vulgaris means common.
Origin: Native to Eurasia and Africa; invasive alien in North America. Mugwort can develop into thick stands which spread and outcompete native species.
Range: In addition to its native range, in North America mugwort is mostly found in the East and in the Pacific Northwest.
Habitat: Old fields, waste places
Life cycle: Perennial; spreads by rhizomes rather than seeds
Description: For all of mugwort's mystical associations, it's a rather inconspicuous plant. It can grow to 4 ft tall, but usually remains around 1 or 2 ft high. It branches towards the top into many spikes of small greenish flowers. The leaves are alternate, green on the top and white and fuzzy on the bottom. The lower leaves are finely dissected with pointed lobes, while the upper leaves usually have three or so lobes, some of the smallest near to the top being linear.
Similar plants: There are many other plants in the Artemisia genus which appear similar, the most important of which is wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). In general wormwood can be distinguished by its rounded or blunt lobes rather than the pointed lobes of mugwort, and wormwood is hairy on both sides of the leaf rather than the bottom only as mugwort is, but there is a great deal of variation and in some cases it may be difficult to distinguish.

Uses

Edible: A tea can be made from the leaves and flowers, and the leaves are also sometimes used a spice, usually with meat dishes. Mugwort was once used to flavor beer. (See warning below.)

Medicinal: Mugwort has been used by many as an emmenagogue, meaning to stimulate menstruation, taken by those with irregular or suppressed menses. It has been suggested that mugwort stimulates the uterus, which agrees with some of the other uses of mugwort: as a tonic during labor and to relieve menstrual cramps. Because of its ability to induce menstruation, it has also been used as an abortifacient (to induce miscarriage). It has also been used for epilepsy, colds, fevers, bronchitis, colic, sciatica, kidney ailments, and as a diuretic, diaphoretic, appetite stimulent, and nerve tonic. The volatile oil in the leaves make a good remedy for indigestion, upset stomachs, and other stomach ailments. Research shows it may lower blood sugar.

Utilitarian: Used to repel insects, either by hanging the plant around the home, or by applying the tea to your skin. Place sachets of mugwort leaves in closets or bureau drawers to keeps moths away from your clothes. The fuzz from the underside of the leaves can be used as tinder for starting fires.

Magical: Mugwort has long been used to promote vivid, lucid, and prophetic dreams. It can be taken as a tea or smoked before bedtime, branches can be hung near the bed, or the crushed leaves and flowers can be put in a sachel or pillow to place on or near the bed. I have used mugwort for this purpose and have experienced more vivid dreams. Be warned: vivid dreams can mean nightmares. (See also warning below.) In addition to its use with dreams, mugwort is associated with psychic powers in general, and is often burned before crystal ball gazing and other forms of divination, and used for astral projection. It is also used for protection, by hanging the plant over doorways either in whole branches or crushing the leaves and flowers to put in a sachel, often along with other herbs. Mugwort has been worn on the body to protect travellers from wild animals and thieves, and is placed in the shoes to keep up strength while travelling. Some people rub the plant over their ritual tools in consecration or to increase their powers, particularly divination tools. Mugwort is sometimes ritually smoked, usually in combination with other herbs, and it has a nice smell, which makes a good herb for smudging. Mugwort is considered a sacred herb of Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon, the hunt, and chastity, which gives it its scientific name. Because of this the plant is also associated with the Moon and young women.

Warning: One of mugwort's main chemicals is thujone, which contributes to the medicinal properties, but can also be toxic in large doses or over a long period of time, so use with caution. Due to its ability to stimulate menstruation, it has the potential to cause miscarriages and should not be used during pregnancy. If you intend to use it to cause miscarriage, consult a doctor first because the safety of this method has not been established. Also, the leaves may cause dermatitis in some people.

Where to find mugwort

Mugwort is readily obtainable in the wild; it's non-native in North America so you don't need to worry about overharvesting if you live here (though it may still be illegal to harvest from public lands; check your local laws). Mugwort is also easily obtained from herbal suppliers like Frontier, and many magical supply websites and catalogs carry it, such as Capricorn's Lair.