What to do with all that Mugwort in the Garden?
Lee sent me this lovely picture of her mugwort patch and asked me how to use this versatile herb. If you have been to my long table wellness days or taken my online courses, you know that I love to use herbs for wellness and joy!
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is an ancient herb with many uses. It was sacred to the moon goddess Artemis and used for protection, divination, and healing. It is also known as wormwood, sailor’s tobacco, cronewort, and moxa. It has a bitter taste and a pungent aroma.
Here are some ways you can use mugwort from your garden:
- Cook with it. Mugwort is a popular culinary herb in Asian cuisines. You can add it to soups, salads, rice cakes, dumplings, and mochi. It adds a unique flavour and aroma to your dishes.
- Dye with it. Mugwort can produce natural dyes in shades of green, yellow, and brown. You can use it to dye wool, silk, cotton, and paper. It can also create beautiful patterns and prints on fabrics and papers.
- Drink it. Mugwort tea can help with stress, insomnia, nausea, and menstrual cramps. It can also help get rid of parasites from your body. To make mugwort tea, steep the leaves in boiling water for 10 minutes. Drink a cup twice a day for a week or two as a gentle and effective parasite cleanse.
- Burn it. Mugwort can be used for moxibustion, a traditional form of heat therapy in Chinese Medicine. Moxibustion involves burning mugwort over specific points on the body to stimulate blood flow and healing. To make your own moxa, dry the mugwort leaves and grind them into a fluffy powder. You can shape the powder into cones or sticks and light them over the skin. Be careful not to burn yourself and only do this if you have been trained by a professional.
- Marinate it. Mugwort vinegar can be used for cooking and health. It can enhance the flavour of salad dressings and preserves. It can also relieve stress and cleanse parasites. To make mugwort vinegar, fill a jar with fresh mugwort leaves and cover them with apple cider vinegar. Let it sit for four to six weeks, then strain and use. You can take a small shot (15 ml) of mugwort vinegar mixed with water every day as a parasite cleanser.
Mugwort is a wonderful herb with many benefits and uses. You can experiment with different doses and combinations of mugwort and other herbs to suit your needs and preferences. However, be aware that mugwort can have some side effects, such as allergic reactions, hallucinations, or interference with medications. Consult your doctor before using mugwort if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have any medical conditions.
