Mugwort:

Artemisia Vulgaris

Learn about Mugwort’s potent herbal dye qualities and curious multitude of colour possibilities

This plant holds such mystery and beguiling interest for so many, especially Women folk.

We seem to intuitively sense there is a depth of medicine in this plant that our souls yearn to know of and be with..

Working with this plant at the School of Intuitive Herbalism, I learned through the senses of my body, to understand some of her gifts and teachings

In a somatic embodied experience, beyond the limitations of words..

SCIENCE & CHEMISTRY

Taxonomy and Identification:

• Scientific Name: Artemisia vulgaris

• Family: Asteraceae (Daisy family)

• Common Names: Mugwort, Common Wormwood, Wild Wormwood, Felon Herb

Description:

• Mugwort is a perennial herb native to Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa but has spread to many parts of the world.

• It typically grows to a height of 1–2 meters and has dark green leaves with a silvery underside.

• The plant produces small, yellow or red flowers in late summer.

Chemical Composition:

• Mugwort contains several bioactive compounds:

  • Essential Oils: Thujone, cineole, camphor, and artemisia ketone, which give it a characteristic aroma.

  • Flavonoids: Such as quercetin, which contribute to its antioxidant properties.

  • Coumarins: Anticoagulant properties.

  • Tannins: Contribute to astringency and may have antimicrobial effects.

I’ve seen this plant so misused on Womens’ retreats and in different “therapeutic or conscious” contexts..

Leaving participants with overactivated minds or sleep deprivation hangovers after a restless night in spurious dreaming..

It’s important to know the cautionary advice & contraindications of a plant, before working with them..

Cautions & Contraindications

Even with natural dyeing, when we are making contact with the plant through our skin, inhaling its volatile oils in the air and through the steam of brewing dyes.. We are interacting with the plant and absorbing them into us.. For the sensitive ones among us, this can be just as powerful as drinking an infusion or taking a tincture may be to another..

Safety and Toxicology:

• Thujone Content: Mugwort contains thujone, which can be toxic in high doses, causing neurotoxic effects like seizures. However, typical culinary and medicinal use is generally considered safe.

• Allergenic Potential: Mugwort pollen is a common allergen and can trigger hay fever in sensitive individuals.

• Pregnancy and Lactation: Mugwort should be avoided during pregnancy as it can stimulate uterine contractions.

Mugwort is an emmenenagogue herb, which means it stimulates contractions in the uterus and induces menstrual flow.

For these reasons, Mugwort is not suitable for those wishing to conceive as it may induce miscarriage.

Some people are allergic to the Mugwort plant and therefore should not use this herb at all.

Mugwort is a member fo the Asteraceae family, which some folk are also allergic to in general.

** Mugwort is also a mild psychoactive herb - (a substance that promotes effects such as sedation and euphoria). Some people take it for its hallucinogenic effects. This plant stimulates the mind, hence the increase in dreaming and more intense and bewildering dreams for some. This is important to be aware of for those who suffer from any mental health issues, in the range from mild depression, anxiety and overthinking to psychosis.. It can be too activating and triggering and therefore best avoided.. Similarly, if you have trouble sleeping, this is not going to be the most beneficial herb for you..

BENEFITS AND USES

Some of the benefits of Mugwort may include:

• Relieving stress

• Boosting energy

• Improving sleep

• Relieving an itch

• Promoting blood circulation

• Relieving headaches

• Supporting liver health

• Easing digestion problem

• Repelling insects

• Relieving muscle aches

• Normalizing menstrual cycles

• Increasing urine output

TRADITIONAL & MEDICINAL USES

• Digestive Aid: Mugwort has been used historically to stimulate appetite, relieve indigestion, and promote bile production.

• Menstrual Health: It's traditionally used to regulate menstrual cycles and alleviate menstrual pain.

• Moxibustion: In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dried mugwort leaves are used in moxibustion, where the herb is burned near the skin to stimulate acupuncture points and improve circulation.

• Anti-parasitic: Historically used as a remedy for intestinal worms.

• Sedative: Mild sedative properties that can promote relaxation and sleep.

Modern Research and Potential Applications

• Anti-inflammatory and Antimicrobial Properties: Research suggests that mugwort extracts may have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, which could be useful in treating certain conditions.

• Antioxidant Activity: Due to its high flavonoid content, mugwort exhibits antioxidant activity, which helps in reducing oxidative stress.

• Potential Psychoactive Properties: Mugwort has been associated with vivid dreams and altered states of consciousness, although these effects are not fully understood and require further study.

FOLKLORE & STORY

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) has been cherished in folklore as a powerful protective herb, a tool for divination and dreams, and a companion on physical and spiritual journeys. Its associations with the moon, witchcraft, and healing have made it a staple in many traditions across the world.

Protection and Warding Off Evil:

• European Folklore: Mugwort was often used as a protective herb to ward off evil spirits, negative energies, and malicious entities. It was commonly hung above doorways or carried as an amulet to safeguard individuals from harm.

• St. John's Eve: In medieval Europe, particularly during the celebration of St. John's Eve (June 23rd), mugwort was woven into wreaths and worn on the head or around the neck to protect against evil spirits and disease. The belief was that this herb, combined with the power of the summer solstice, would provide strong protection.

Dreams and Divination:

• Dream Herb: Mugwort is famously known as a "dream herb" and has been used in various cultures to induce vivid and prophetic dreams. People would place mugwort under their pillows or burn it as incense before sleep, believing it could bring clarity, enhance dream recall, and open the gateway to the spirit world.

• Divination: Mugwort was used in divination rituals, particularly for scrying or crystal-gazing. It was believed that the herb could enhance psychic abilities, allowing individuals to see visions of the future or communicate with the spirit realm.

Mugwort and the Moon:

• Lunar Associations: Mugwort is often associated with the moon and lunar deities due to its silvery leaves and its use in rituals related to the feminine and the mysterious. In some traditions, it is linked to the goddess Artemis (after whom the genus Artemisia is named), who is the goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and the moon.

• Menstrual Cycles: Because of its connection to the moon and the female reproductive system, mugwort was used in rituals and herbal remedies to regulate menstrual cycles and honor the feminine aspects of nature.

Travel and Safe Journeys:

• Roman Soldiers: According to legend, Roman soldiers placed mugwort in their sandals to protect their feet from fatigue during long marches. This practice gave rise to the belief that mugwort could ensure safe travels and provide strength to those on a journey.

• Travel Charms: In medieval Europe, travelers would carry mugwort to protect them from wild animals, evil spirits, and thieves. It was believed to ensure a safe and smooth journey.

Witchcraft and Magic:

• Witches’ Herb: Mugwort has a long-standing association with witchcraft. Witches used it in rituals to enhance their magical abilities, for protection, and as an ingredient in flying ointments (salves believed to induce astral travel or out-of-body experiences).

• Banishing and Cleansing: Mugwort was often used in rituals to banish negative energies and cleanse spaces. Burning mugwort as a smudge was believed to purify an area and drive away unwanted spirits.

Herbal Medicine and Folk Healing:

• Healing Herb: Beyond its mystical uses, mugwort was also valued in folk medicine. It was used to treat various ailments, including digestive issues, menstrual discomfort, and to stimulate circulation. It was sometimes referred to as the “mother of herbs” for its wide range of healing properties.

• Moxibustion: In traditional Chinese medicine, mugwort is used in moxibustion, a practice where dried mugwort is burned near the skin to stimulate acupuncture points, believed to promote healing and well-being.

Harvesting Rituals:

• Special Rituals: Harvesting mugwort often involved special rituals and timing. It was sometimes gathered under the full moon or on specific nights like St. John's Eve to maximize its magical potency. The act of harvesting was considered sacred, with prayers or offerings sometimes made to ensure the herb's effectiveness.

EcologY

• Invasive Species: In some regions, mugwort is considered an invasive species, spreading rapidly and outcompeting native plants.

• Pollinator Support: Despite its invasive nature, mugwort flowers provide nectar for various pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

Colour & Pigments

For many years now I have been bermused and beguiled by an elusive bluey green jade colour that I spordically find in a cup of Mugwort tea left overnight…

I’ve tried on numerous occasions to discover what lead this cup of tea to become this colour, when so many others remained a steady green colour..

Was it the part of the plant used? The flower instead of the leaf or twig? Was it because it was boiled instead of gently heated or cold extracted? Was it because it was then left overnight? Was it the season or the mineral profile of the soil that this particular plant was picked from? Or something else?

Its remained a mystery to me for such a long time..

PRINTING INKS

DISCOVERING 3 DIFFERENT COLOURS..!

Last Summer, almost a year ago to the date, I spent a week as Artist in Residence at Hole & Corner Magazine, researching and developing the pigments in Mugwort, for printmaking and drawing inks.

I found 3 different colour pigments: yellow, olive green and emerald green - each extracted at different points in the extraction process, (in a similar way to Madder root which gives yellow, orange and red in succession)..

I used my standard hot extraction techniqe: Chopped the fresh plant, covered it in boiling water to activate the extraction process. Then filled the pot with more water and brought the temperature up to just below a simmer..

The first colour I found after 30 mins of brewing the plant matter was a golden yellow..

After a longer brewing period of about 60 mins or more, a deeper green colour began to emerge, more like a pale olive green..

I found that if I let the brew sit overnight (before reducing into an ink), this allowed more time for the deeper minerals in the plant to extract out into the water, giving a deep witchy emerald green.. Amazing..!!

JADE GREEN..!!

This year, we’ve been growing Mugwort in the dye garden at Southcombe Barn, where my creative studio and residential space is situated, here on Dartmoor in South Devon.

The altitude of the moor and cooler temperatures mean that plants tend to blossom and fruit later here than other places around the country..

Our Mugwort is just at that perfect point now of budding, yet not yet flowering.

Its the ripest time for picking and drying the herb for later use as tea or for smudge sticks.

Its also a great to harvest for dyeing and ink making.

I have also worked with Mugwort picked earlier, when in leaf, and later, when in flower, and even late into Winter when the herb is all dry and dead. I’ve found pigment available in all stages.

While now feels like the ripest time for its medicine and I’m curious to do more trails to see how the colour might change seasonally..

Perhaps you have done some experiments yourself and know more? I’d love to hear from you if so..!

In my recent experimetns with dyeing silk with Mugwort dye, I’ve found that the bluey green jade colour that I found in my tea cup on random occasions, seems to appear on the silk in a way I was not able to capture it as an ink..

The mottled patterns or vein lines of jade show where the fabric was emerging from the dye bath and exposed to the air.

This makes me consider that it may be a result of oxidisation - like indigo…!

Turning from green, to blue, in the air..

So curious…

Another thought is around the ph levels..

(My water here on Dartmoor is a higher acidity than I used to have in the water at my previous studio in Bristol, which is a very hard water and has a high alkalinity..)

I mixed some soda ash into the dye bath to see if I could get a more interesting depth of colour, having only found a pale yellow initially..

The dye instantly turned fom yellow to dark green.. Exciting..!

But it was during the hot dye process that these bluey green streaks of colour started to emerge around the contours of cloth exposed to the air above the surface of the liquid..

Is it the ph-levels? The affects of oxidisation, or perhaps also a connection to the mordant process? (I pre-mordanted the silk with alum and cream of tartar).

I have repeated the experiment three times now, with the same results.. I suspect the ph and oxidisation are the key factors, or perhaps the accumulation of deeper minerals around the contours..

I have not made a definitive judgemetn as yet, but will continue to experiemnt and let you know what I discover via my email newsletter :)

Thanks for reading..!

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