Mugwort Herbs

Other Common Names

• Due to a superstition of Europeans from the Middle Ages, mugwort is often called St. John's plant. People also refer to it as felon herb, Sailor's tobacco, artemisa and wild wormwood.

Habitat

• Mugwort is native to Africa, Asia and Europe, but can be found as an invasive weed in North America. It prefers a sunny spot with well-drained, loamy soil with a slightly alkaline pH. Spots with plenty of nitrogen in the soil, such as roadsides, hedge banks and uncultivated, weedy wastelands sometimes produce mugwort plants too.

Folklore History

• A crown of mugwort was worn on St. John's Eve in medieval Europe to ward off fatigue, evil spirit visitations and possession. The American Indians used it medicinally and ritualistically, particularly to keep away ghosts and dreams of the dead.

Uses

• People used to flavor drinks, such as beer, with mugwort, and sometimes people still brew tea with it. The leaves are often used in salads and contain antibacterial properties. It can also be used as an incense and an inducer of lucid dreaming.

  Artemisia has a reputation for relief with various health issues, such as: cleaning toxins from the blood; aiding digestion; and alleviating sore throats, bronchitis, sores, infections, asthma, colds, epilepsy and menstrual cramps.

Effects

• This herb has a slightly toxic but pleasantly stimulating effect. It's also mildly euphoric, similar to the effect of cannabis. In fact, some Mexicans smoke mugwort herb as an alternative to cannabis. With wild wormwood consumption, you may experience an increase in the intensity of your dreams, an ability to control your dreams, and better recall what happened during your dreams after you wake up.