7 Uses and Benefits of Mugwort Tea

mugwort tea

What are the most useful benefits of mugwort tea?

Mugwort has a captivating history, nowadays the benefits of mugwort tea are used for the digestive system and to help with inflammation.

But the Romans had some more innovative uses.

Roman soldiers used it in their sandals to ease foot fatigue and also took it as a mild psychedelic to enhance lucid dreaming.

Although it’s not among the most popular herbs in the modern world, it still has numerous features that need to be noted. 

Furthermore , it can be grown easily as making it instantly accessible and cheap. 

Let’s take a look at mugwort tea’s history, uses, and benefits.

What is Mugwort?

Artemisia vulgaris or mugwort is strongly associated with wormwood

Which is a powerful herb and among the best to remove parasites and is often employed as an insect repellent

Mugwort can mature into a six-foot-tall plant and bloom with reddish-brown or yellow flowers.

Both are members of the daisy family (the Asteraceae family).

wormwood

Mugwort can adapt to new habitats and become an invasive species, this makes it dangerous to biodiversity. 

Many people regard it as an annoying weed. 

Usually, mugwort leaves are harvested for use, they have a bitter taste with sage-like and minty undertones and also contain a well-versed flavor of subtle aniseed.

It also contains various minerals and vitamins along with dietary fibers, including: 

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin B1 and B2 
  • Iron 
  • Calcium
  • Phosphorus 

Although mugwort compounds are similar to wormwood, it’s not as powerful and bitter. 

Thus, it can’t be utilized against parasites or as an insect repellant

Rather, it is better used for women’s health and digestion.

The History of Mugwort

Mugwort has a long history of use, especially in Native American, traditional Chinese medicine, and spiritual use

It has also been valued among Romans and Greeks and was continuously used all over Europe to some extent.

Mugwort has a long history of use, especially in Native American, traditional Chinese medicine, and spiritual use

Apart from its health benefits, mugwort was also applied to produce a special kind of beer, to fight off evil spirits, and for lucid dreams

Further, it has numerous common names, including felon herb, crone wort, St. John’s herb, common wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), and chrysanthemum weed.

What is Mugwort Tea?

Mugwort tea is a caffeine-free herbal infusion from the leaves of the mugwort plant

Different kinds of mugwort leaves can be used as the main ingredients to make tea.

mugwort tea

For instance, the common mugwort employed for making tea is A. Vulgaris which is also specified as the “mother of mugwort.” 

This is because it is easily available in different parts of the world, including Asia, Europe, and even North America.

How do you Make Mugwort Tea?

Mugwort tea is easy to make.

The traditional way is to pour a cup of water into a pan and add 1-3 teaspoons of mugwort leaves in dried form. 

Simply, boil the water and strain it after turning off the heat.

7 Benefits of Mugwort Tea

Mugwort has been used for numerous medicinal purposes, including:

1. Helps in Digestion

A digestive aid is among the major benefits of mugwort tea. 

It’s regarded as a powerful digestive herb fortifying the appetite, easing bloating gas, indigestion, intestinal conditions, constipation, and travel sickness.

The leaves of this plant contain bitter compounds that have choleretic properties, which help in bile secretion and liver function. 

When enough bile is produced in our body, our digestion gets better, especially fats, and more nutrients can be absorbed from food.

2. Improves Menstruation

Mugwort also has traditional use as an emmenagogue that accelerates the mensural flow

This makes it great as a herbal medicine for women with an irregular or delayed mensural cycle.

The main function of mugwort is to enhance blood circulation in the pelvic region. 

It’s an essential part of a healthy cycle that has the extra benefit of reducing the pain in mensural cramps

These compounds also control hormone levels and irregular periods

However, pregnant women should avoid mugwort because emmenagogue can lead to a miscarriage.

3. Relaxes the Nervous System

The relaxing features of mugwort make it useful for calming the nervous system and lowering stress

It’s also useful for making your sleep better

You can use it as tea or place its leaves under the pillow at night to relax.

4. Enhances Dreaming

The most captivating use of mugwort is to enhance vivid dreams, yes the Romans were right, this actually works. 

Vivid dreams are the kind of dreams that seem real, and you recall them when getting up.

That’s why mugwort is also regarded as a “visionary herb” and has been used this way for millenia.

5. Reduces Arthritis Pain

A few small studies have mentioned the potential health benefits of mugwort for relieving pain, particularly arthritis. 

Some studies show mugwort’s use in the ancient Chinese technique, moxibustion.

Another shows its use as a liquid extract for osteoarthritis relief. 

Both cases have shown positive outcomes of lowering pain and improving mobility.

6. Helps with Menopause Symptoms

The benefits of mugwort tea are seen in both older and younger women. 

It can be a natural remedy for unwanted symptoms of the menopause.

Most scientific evidence comes from a small study in which mugwort has shown reduced severity and frequency of hot flashes.

7. Used in Moxibustion

Mugwort has been used in moxibustion for thousands of years due to its unique compounds.

Mugwort leaves are burnt over specific acupuncture points in specific shapes.

Moxibustion’s major benefit is to enhance blood flow and energy. 

Its also been useful for unborn babies in breech positions to reverse themselves. 

Scientific information has shown that moxibustion enhances fetal movement and the number of babies swapped to an accurate position before birth.

Potential Side Effects of Mugwort

Thujone is present in mugwort, a compound that can become compound at high doses

It can cause potential risks to people with allergic reactions to the active ingredients

Some of its adverse reactions include headaches, swelling of the face and lips, coughing, and mouth tingling.

If you encounter any of the symptoms mentioned earlier, you should stop using herbal tea and contact your healthcare provider to seek medical advice if the symptoms worsen.

Benefits of Mugwort Tea - The Bottom Line

The numerous health benefits of mugwort tea include relieving stress, digestive problems, and menstrual pain. 

However, there can be some side effects at large doses which need to be avoided. 

You should seek an expert opinion if you experience any side effects at all.

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