Artemisia vulgaris

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Compositae

Genus

Artemisia

Life cycle

perennial

Height

1.2 m

Spread

0.7 m

Fertility

Wind

Flower type

hermaphrodite

Pollinators

Wind

Uses

Edible uses

Leaves - raw or cooked^{[14][31][3][27][10]}. Aromatic and somewhat bitter^[24]. Their addition to the diet aids the digestion and so they are often used in small quantities as a flavouring, especially with fatty foods^[13][24]. They are also used to give colour and flavour to glutinous-rice dumplings (Mochi)^[13][24]. The young shoots are used in spring^[29]. In Japan the young leaves are used as a potherb^[13]. The dried leaves and flowering tops are steeped into tea^[13]. They have also been used as a flavouring in beer, though fell into virtual disuse once hops came into favour^[28].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

Mugwort has a long history of use in herbal medicine especially in matters connected to the digestive system, menstrual complaints and the treatment of worms^[22]. It is slightly toxic, however, and should never be used by pregnant women, especially in their first trimester, since it can cause a miscarriage^[30][22]. Large, prolonged dosage can damage the nervous system^[26]. All parts of the plant are anthelmintic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, expectorant, nervine, purgative, stimulant, slightly tonic and used in the treatment of women's complaints^{[28][30][4][18][6][7][11][17]}. The leaves are also said to be appetizer, diuretic, haemostatic and stomachic^[9][19][20]. They can be used internally or externally^[19]. An infusion of the leaves and flowering tops is used in the treatment of nervous and spasmodic affections, sterility, functional bleeding of the uterus, dysmenorrhoea, asthma and diseases of the brain^[9][23]. The leaves have an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus typhi, B. dysenteriae, streptococci, E. coli, B. subtilis, Pseudomonas etc^[9]. The leaves are harvested in August and can be dried for later use^[28]. The stem is also said to be antirheumatic, antispasmodic, and stomachic^[19]. The roots are tonic and antispasmodic^[23]. They are said to be one of the best stomachics^[28]. They are harvested in the autumn and dried for later use^[28]. The leaves, placed inside the shoes, are said to be soothing for sore feet^[22]. The compressed dried leaves and stems are used in moxibustion^{[9][11][19][20][22]}. Another report says that the down from the leaves is used^[28].

Material uses

The fresh or the dried plant repels insects, it can be used as a spray but caution is advised since it can also inhibit plant growth^[15]. A weak tea made from the infused plant is a good all-purpose insecticide^[17]. An essential oil from the plant kills insect larvae^[19]. The down on the leaves makes a good tinder for starting fires^[2].

Environment

Range

Throughout most temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, including Britain.

Habitat

Common on hedgebanks and waysides, uncultivated and waste land^[28][30][8].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

light shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 3+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerances

drought

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

tolerant

Propagation

Cultivation

Easily grown in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a sunny position and a moist soil^[1][5][16]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil^[25]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.8 to 8.2. Established plants are drought tolerant^[16]. Mugwort is an aggressive and invasive plant^[5], it inhibits the growth of nearby plants by means of root secretions^[15][17]. The sub-species A. vulgaris parviflora. Maxim. is the form that is eaten in China^[12]. There are some named varieties^[16]. 'White' is a taller plant than the type species, growing to 1.5 metres. It has a strong, rather resinous or \"floral\" taste similar to chrysanthemum leaves and is used in soups or fried as a side dish^[13]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer^[21].

Related plants

• Artemisia abrotanumSouthernwood
• Artemisia absinthumWormwood
• Artemisia annuaQing Hao
• Artemisia anomala

References

1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

   ↩

2. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

   ↩

3. Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2

   ↩

4. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

   ↩

5. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

   ↩1↩2

6. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

   ↩

7. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

   ↩

8. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

   ↩

9. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4

10. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

11. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2

12. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

13. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

14. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

15. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

16. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

17. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

18. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

19. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

20. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3

21. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

22. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

23. Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993-00-00

    ↩1↩2

24. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

25. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

26. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

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27. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

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28. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

29. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

30. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

31. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

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