Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) has been used for centuries to help with pregnancy and menstruation-related issues. It is believed to have various health benefits, including pain relief, supportingliver health, easing muscle cramps, and improving digestion. Mugwort may also have antibacterial and antifungal properties.
The health benefits of mugwort come from its rich chemical makeup, with essential oils and various natural compounds that includeartemisininand camphor. That said, mugwort supplements may not be right for everyone, especially people who are pregnant or who are allergic to ragweed.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Verywell Health / Getty Images
Potential Benefits
Many people consider mugwort a common weed. It spreads aggressively and can take over large parts of a garden.Because it’s related to ragweed, people who areallergic to ragweedmay be allergic to mugwort, as well.
So, some people destroy mugwort when it turns up in their garden. But in certain parts of the world, it’s purposely grown to make herbal medicine. Mugwort may offer benefits with:
Historic Mugwort UsesRoman soldiers used to put mugwort in their shoes to ward off fatigue. St. John the Baptist was said to wear a girdle of mugwort to relieve stomach pain.
Historic Mugwort Uses
Roman soldiers used to put mugwort in their shoes to ward off fatigue. St. John the Baptist was said to wear a girdle of mugwort to relieve stomach pain.
Active Components
The parts of the mugwort plant that grow above the ground are used to make essential oil. Compounds in the oil—including camphor, pinene, andcineole—are said to have potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal effects.
A chemical called artemisinin is found in the root, stem, leaves, and blossoms of the mugwort plant. When eaten, artemisinin is said to cause gentle contractions of the uterus, which promote regular periods. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it’s sometimes used to induce labor.
Artemisinin is thought to have anti-cancer properties, but more research is needed on these promising effects.
Mugwort has leaves between 2 and 4 inches long with soft, gray, or white hairs on the undersides. The deeply lobed leaves look similar to those of chrysanthemums (a common garden flower) and ragweed seedlings. However, mugwort has a distinctive sage-like smell the others lack.
Conditions Treated
To date, there is little scientific evidence that mugwort can prevent or treat any medical condition. Even so, it is regularly used for:
In TCM, mugwort is used in the practice ofmoxibustion. This involves rolling mugwort into sticks or cones, igniting them, and waving it over the part of the body being treated. This is thought to enhance the effects of acupuncture.
A 2022 study suggests moxibustion may offer benefits in treating irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D).Further research is needed.
2:02Click Play to Learn More About Mugwort Tea
2:02
Click Play to Learn More About Mugwort Tea
Possible Side Effects
Mugwort is considered safe for most people. However, you shouldn’t use it if you’re pregnant because it may cause uterine contractions and bleeding.Due to the lack of safety research, you also shouldn’t give it to children or use it while breastfeeding.
Some types of psychoactive herbs may cause hallucinations, but it’s unlikely with mugwort.Some people use a mugwort “lucid dream tea” to control their dream experience, but the benefits are unproven.
Mugwort Allergy
People with a ragweed allergy should use mugwort with caution due to an increased risk of an allergic reaction.
Mild allergic symptomsto mugwort include:
Severe allergic symptomsto mugwort include:
Severe allergic symptoms are signs of a whole-body reaction calledanaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that can lead to shock and death if not treated immediately.
People allergic tocelery, birch, or carrot should be cautious with mugwort because it’s linked to “celery-mugwort-spice syndrome.“This is typically a milder allergy but in rare cases, it can cause anaphylaxis.
A small 2024 study of 79 people with a celery allergy tested them for their responses to specific celery, birch, and mugwort allergens, with 77% demonstrating an allergy to mugwort pollen.
Dosage and Preparation
Mugwort is used in cooking to flavor foods and beverages, including fish, meat, desserts, pancakes, soups, salads, and more. Mugwort was used in Europe to flavor beer long beforehopswere discovered.
You can buy mugwort online and in drugstores, natural food stores, and herbalist shops. It comes in many forms, including:
There is norecommended doseof mugwort in any form. With that said, mugwort supplements may be safest as the dose is more controlled. As a rule, do not exceed the dose on the product label.
When foraging for mugwort to make essential oil, be sure to harvest the plant when it’s just starting to bloom. This is when the flower contains the most potent oil content.
Your healthcare provider and pharmacist can give valuable guidance about herbal products like mugwort. Be sure to talk to them before starting anything medicinal.
Mugwort is considered an invasive species in some areas. It grows so fast that it’s illegal to grow it in some states.To avoid potentially heavy fines, check local and state regulations before cultivating mugwort.
Summary
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) is a plant related to ragweed that’s used to flavor food and as an herbal medicine. It is thought to boost energy, calm nerves, support digestion, relieve itching and pain, and promote regular periods, among other things. Evidence supporting these claims is lacking.
Mugwort is available as a dietary supplement, tincture, extract, essential oil, powder, or whole dried leaves. It is generally safe for use, although it may cause an allergic reaction in people with ragweed allergies as well as allergies to celery, carrot, or birch. There is no recommended dose.
Mugwort should not be used in children or people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
NC State Extension.Mugwort or chrysanthemum weed (Artemisia vulgaris).
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Allergy & Autoimmune Disease.w6 Mugwort.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Mugwort.
Kiani BH, Kayani WK, Khayam AU, Dilshad E, Ismail H, Mirza B.Artemisinin and its derivatives: a promising cancer therapy.Mol Biol Rep. 2020 Aug;47(8):6321-6336. doi:10.1007/s11033-020-05669-z
University of Missouri, Division of Plant Sciences.Weed ID guide: Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris).
Wang Z, Xu M, Shi Z, Bao C, Liu H, Zhou C,et al.Mild moxibustion for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea (IBS-D): A randomized controlled trial.J Ethnopharmacol. 2022 May 10;289:115064. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2022.115064
The Evergreen State College.Take back your uterus with this psychedelic herb of the ancient world.
Sugita Y, Makino T, Mizawa M, Shimizu T.Mugwort-mustard allergy syndrome due to broccoli consumption.Case Rep Dermatol Med. 2016;2016:8413767. doi:10.1155/2016/8413767
Deng S, Yin J.Mugwort pollen-related food allergy: Lipid transfer protein sensitization and correlation with the severity of allergic reactions in a Chinese population.Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2019;11(1):116-128. doi:10.4168/aair.2019.11.1.116
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Allergic reactions.
SŁowianek M, Majak I, LeszczyŃska J, et al.New allergens from spices in theApiaceaefamily: anisePimpinella anisumL. and carawayCarum carviL.Cent Eur J Immunol. 2020;45(3):241-247. doi:10.5114/ceji.2020.101236
Ballmer-Weber BK, Wangorsch A, Bures P, Hanschmann KM, Gadermaier G, Mattsson L,et al.New light on an old syndrome: Role of Api g 7 in mugwort pollen-related celery allergy.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2024 Sep;154(3):679-689.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2024.04.030
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
