Mugwort

Mugwort is an aromatic herb with a long history in food, herbal medicine and ceremonial practices. The name refers to several related plants in the genus Artemisia, which also includes wormwood, sagebrush and tarragon. Mugworts are generally perennial plants, known for their fragrant foliage. [2,1]

The plant

Mugworts commonly have green or grey-green leaves, often with pale, hairy undersides, and small, inconspicuous flowers. Many spread through underground stems called rhizomes. Their habitats vary by species, from stream banks to drier, open ground. Several species are native to North America; common mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris, originated in Eurasia and North Africa and has become established elsewhere. [3,4,2,5]

Uses and cultural history

Mugwort has been used as a culinary herb, in herbal preparations and as an aromatic plant. Its leaves can retain their fragrance after drying, making them useful in sachets and other dried botanical preparations. [2,1]

Mugwort also has distinct roles in cultural traditions. In Chinese medicine, dried mugwort is used in moxibustion, a practice that applies heat by burning the herb near the body. Ethnobotanical accounts from Indigenous California document mugwort in bathing, washes and protective practices. These traditions involve different species, methods and meanings. [3,6]

Mugwort has longstanding associations with dreams, lucid states, protection, and cleansing. It also appears in folk witchcraft and traditional practices concerning menstruation and women’s health. These associations vary across cultures and periods. [8]

At Deschampsia

At Deschampsia, we choose mugwort for its calming character and its place in traditional cleansing herbal preparations. Aromatically, it brings depth while remaining uplifting, adding an airy quality to a blend.

We use mugwort in botanical infusions and aromatic preparations across our skincare, bath and body products, including Dream Balm, Dreamy Rose Aromatic Body Oil, and Dreamy Mugwort & Lavender Hydrosol. [7]