Mugwort Uses

For those of you who aren't familiar with this term, mugwort is a tall, woody plant which is found mainly in European countries and has spread to almost all parts of the world, because of travelers. Botanically, it is called Artemisia vulgaris, and was used as a medicinal herb and a flavoring agent in the olden times. Mugwort, a very common herb used in herbal medicine is known by various other names like Common Wormwood, Felon Herb, Wild Wormwood, Chrysanthemum Weed, Sailor's Tobacco and St. John's Plant.

This plant is a herbaceous perennial plant which is native to the temperate countries of Asia and Europe, and has an invasive property to grow as a weed. Known to be an effective alternative medicine there are many mugwort uses, even though it is as good as a plant growing at the sidewalk on the street. However, it contains thujone, which may prove to be toxic if used in large amounts. In the following paragraphs, you will read about more benefits of mugwort, so keep reading.

Uses of Mugwort

There many different medicinal herbs and their uses and mugwort is surely one of them. Mugwort has various types of uses, medicinal, physical and sometimes even mythical! The most basic use of mugwort is that it is used to make pellets rich in proteins for livestock, by cutting and dehydrating the crop. Even though it is used as food for livestock, the leaves flowers and sprouts are edible to humans as well. Other than adding flavor and a unique taste to foods and beverages, mugwort also has few other uses. Therefore, by caring for mugwort, you are not growing a harmful weed, but a partially useful plant. So, here are some benefits of mugwort discussed in the paragraphs below, take a look.

• Mugwort, being one of the most useful medicinal herbs, its components are available in capsules which are only to be used on prescription, so make sure you consult a doctor before consuming them. Another use of the mugwort is that it is very beneficial to treat intestinal and stomach disorders, like diarrhea, constipation, cramps, vomiting and severe flatulence.
• It also gives the body pain relief from basic pains and aches like muscle spasms, headaches, menstrual cramps and other types of body aches.
• In Ayurveda, when it is used in a special tea preparation, it improves the healing process of wounds and keeps the wounds away from infection. Conditions like epilepsy, chills during fevers, asthma, gout, infertility, dysentery, rheumatism and nosebleeds can also be controlled with the help of mugwort.
• Mugwort which is available in the oil form, can be used as an antibacterial and antifungal agent to treat snakebites or infestations. The oil is also used as a sedative for cases like mild depression, opium addiction, insomnia, anxiety, hysteria and restlessness.
• Another effective use is that the dried form of this herb also called moxa is known to treat cancer, and a few circulatory problems which are quite serious.
• During menstruation, mugwort is used in increasing the blood circulation to the uterus, thus stimulating menstruation. It gives effective relief from irregular menstruation and painful menstrual cramps.
• Apart from the medicinal mugwort uses, it is used in smoking, as an alternative to tobacco smoking. But since there is a poisonous substance present in the plant, smoking it in excess can be very harmful to the respiratory system.
• In herbal remedies it is used as an insect repellent, because of the toxic substance thujone, found in minute quantities in the herb. When it is to be used as a poison, the thujone is added in large amount and this keeps the pests away.

With this useful information about the mugwort uses, you can surely consult your physician about its benefits. The dosage of mugwort when taken in any form should be according to the prescription only, as an overdose can prove fatal.