Mugwort

Lore & Background

Mugwort has been used in many cultures as a traditional medicine, spiritual, and culinary ingredient since at least the Iron Age. In contemporary culture, mugwort is a common ingredient in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean traditional medicine, where the leaves are used directly as a food ingredient, or to obtain oil extracts, tinctures, or burned in moxibustion. The mugwort plant has been used as an anthelminthic, and is sometimes confused with wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Mugwort has also been used in folk medicine to relieve sleeplessness, menstrual cramps, induce abortion, and for malaria.

In the European Middle Ages, mugwort was used as a magical protective herb. Mugwort was used to repel insects – especially moths – from gardens. Roman soldiers put mugwort in their sandals to protect their feet against fatigue and cramps. Mugwort is one of the nine herbs invoked in the pagan Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm, recorded in the 10th century in the Lacnunga. In the Isle of Man, mugwort is known as bollan bane, and is still worn on the lapel at the Tynwald Day celebrations.

In East Asia, mugwort is used in a variety of dishes and traditional practices. In Japan, mugwort (yomogi) is used in kusa mochi and hishi mochi, and there is an ancient custom of hanging yomogi and iris leaves together outside homes to keep evil spirits away. In Korea, mugwort (ssuk) is used in soups, salads, rice cakes, teas, and pancakes. In China, mugwort is used in cuisine and in moxibustion, where it is burned on acupuncture points.

Reader's Guide

Mugwort holds significance as a versatile plant with deep historical roots in medicine, cuisine, and spiritual practices across Europe and Asia. Its use in moxibustion within traditional Chinese medicine continues to be studied, with a 2012 Cochrane review noting potential benefits for reducing the need for external cephalic version in breech pregnancies, though it stressed a need for well-designed randomised controlled trials. The plant's essential oils, containing compounds like thujone and camphor, have insecticidal properties, and its leaves have been used as a bitter flavoring agent for food and drink, including beer before hops. In medieval Europe, mugwort was associated with protection against evil spirits and fatigue, and it remains a cultural symbol in the Isle of Man. The plant's adaptability and wide range of uses—from culinary herb to medicinal ingredient to incense—demonstrate its enduring legacy across diverse cultures. However, the presence and concentration of thujone varies by species and growing conditions, which affects its safety and applications. Mugwort's role in both traditional and contemporary contexts highlights its importance as a botanical resource with both practical and symbolic value.

Did You Know?

• The Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm mentions mucgwyrt, and a folk etymology derives mugwort from the word 'mug'.
• Mugwort was used to flavor beer before the introduction of hops.
• In the Isle of Man, mugwort is known as bollan bane and is worn on the lapel at Tynwald Day celebrations.
• The downy hairs on the underside of mugwort leaves can be scraped off and used as effective tinder.