mugwort

Mugwort, or Artemisia vulgaris, is a perennial herb in the family Asteraceae. It grows from a woody base to about 0.5–2 meters tall and has deeply lobed, gray-green leaves with a downy underside and a strong, bitter aroma when crushed. The small yellow-green flowers form loose heads in late summer and autumn.

Native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, mugwort has been naturalized in many temperate regions and commonly grows in disturbed soils, along roadsides, and at woodland margins. It is a hardy plant that can spread by seed and creeping rhizomes.

In culinary and traditional contexts, mugwort leaves are used to flavor foods such as breads, stews, and dumplings, and have been employed to season beverages including beer in historic European recipes. In traditional medicine, mugwort has been used for digestive complaints and as a bitter tonic; in Traditional Chinese Medicine it is used in moxibustion and for menstrual regulation. The evidence for efficacy is limited, and use should be cautious.

Mugwort pollen is a common allergen and can trigger hay fever or asthma in sensitive individuals. Safety considerations include potential skin irritation from essential oils and possible uterotonic effects, which warrants caution for pregnant individuals. The plant can be weedy in gardens and fields and may be confused with related Artemisia species.