Latin name: Artemisia vulgarisGenus: Asterisk flowering plant: Humpback, Goosegrass, Virgo, Wild WormwoodPlant description: Persistent plant that can grow up to 1.50 m high. Lancet-like, pointed, small leaves, smooth on top, white-felted hairy underneath. Small, yellow or reddish single flowers.
Flowering time: June to September. Origin: Mugwort is a “weed” that grows frequently along roadsides, in undeveloped areas and along banks. Cultivation: The upper shoot tips are cut and air-dried.
Medicinally used plant parts
The upper part of the flowering herb and only the unwooded parts.
Ingredients
Bitter substances (Amarum aromaticum), essential oil.
Healing effects and use of mugwort
Conventional medicine hardly uses mugwort, preferring its stronger brother, wormwood. Mugwort has a rot-preventing effect (milder than wormwood), cleansing and promotes the flow of bile. It is often used for stomach and intestinal disorders with bad breath, bile and liver problems, general weakness and nausea. Of course, mugwort plays an important role as a spice in the kitchen. It makes fatty poultry dishes (for example roast goose) more digestible.
Preparation of mugwort
Pour a 1⁄4 l of boiling water over 1 heaped teaspoon of sliced mugwort, leave to stand for 2 minutes and strain. Drink 1 cup unsweetened 1 to 3 times daily. The tea tastes slightly bitter due to the bitter substances it contains, but this is what makes it so effective
Combination with other medicinal plants
As a spice for the kitchen, you can mix mugwort, basil, thyme and rosemary in equal parts and rub finely. Promotes digestion and helps to save salt.
Side effect
Not to be expected in normal dosage. Not during pregnancy. Allergies are rarely triggered.