Ritual and Cultural Use:

Mugwort was considered the universal herb for protection and prophecy throughout the ancient world... It was used for pain and healing, protection, psychic powers and lucid dreaming. In ancient China and Japan, Mugwort was hungin open doorways to exorcise the spirits of disease. The ancient Europeans did the same to ward off evil spirits... It is always so fascinating when two diverse and unrelated cultures spontaneously use a herb in the same way!! Both these separate cultures also believed that the supernatural powers of mugwort were revealed by mermaids for the good of humankind...

Roman soldiers placed mugwort inside their sandals for endurance on long marches, and to prevent aching muscles...

Mugwort was once the staple ingredient in beer before hops was introduced. It was also known as sailor`s tobacco, as it was smoked at sea when tobacco ran out.

...Known as the visionary herb, mugwort is even used today for increasing psychic powers ... the herbal tea was, and still is used by women for late periods and, as it relaxes the uterus, natural teminations early in the piece without trauma, pain or guilt... It was just a late period (click here to read more about this ancient use of mugwort)

Effects:

The leaves may be smoked for a dreamy, relaxed high. Mugwort may be smoked at night to induce colourful and lucid dreaming. Also placed under pillow slips for astral travelling and fanciful dreams. 

Ray’s Rave:

Mugwort is one of the power herbs that got us more than interested in the positive effects of herbs. How amazing that some mugwort leaf placed under the pillow will induce colourful and lucid dreaming! For those sceptics out there, try it! One morning you will wake up after experienceing colourful, astral, medieval, meaningful, prophetic, pleasant, adventurous, flying, and/or lucid dreams!!

Smoking the herb directly into the lungs, or as an evening incense, assists these lucid dreams to take place. Drinking the calming, liver-cleansing tea before sleep seems to keep you longer in a conscious dream state (REM sleep).

Another secret of mugwort is that it can be smoked for pain. It can also be applied externally as a poultice for pain relief, boils, carbuncles, abscesses or tropical ulcers, and even makes a wondergul bath additive for relieving tired limbs, rheumatism and gout. Mugwort is the one herb used in moxa healing, especially favoured by Chinese doctors. In fact, you can do your own emergency moxa by rolling leaves of mugwort into a cigarette and holding the burning end near the painful area. It works!

Mugwort is also used by cannabis smokers as a mull mix to reduct the side effects of cannabis. Interestingly, Culpeper of the 17th Century also claimed that `Mugwort juice is a special remedy for excessive opium use` (yet to be trialled!). We even grow mugwort for our farm animals as a natural wormer, thus avoiding toxic chemicals for that purpose. Amazingly, they spontaneously chew a little from time to time...

Principal Medicinal Uses:

Bruising (removes blackness)

Childbirth and afterbirth

Digestive Stimulant

Food poisoning

Harm reduction of cannabis or tobacco

LIVER TONIC!!!

Menstrual cramps, delayed periods, irregular periods

Mushroom poisoning

Pain (tea, bathe, moxa, smoke)

Regulates hormones

Stress

Tropical ulcers (poultice)

Worms (also great for worming animals- mix into food)

Precautions:

WARNING: As mugwort relaxes the uterus it should never be drunk, smoked or even touched by expectant mothers...

DO NOT USE IN PREGNANCY!!!

This is a modified excerpt from Ray Thorpe's book: Happy High Herbs... Available through our online catalogue, or buy it as an ebook.