1. Artemisia Vulgaris (Common Mugwort)
An ancient herb right in our backyards
By Katie Coleman
My best friend recently came to visit me from Arizona where she’s been avidly studying
plants, and she pointed out to me that there is mugwort growing all over my backyard.
The next day I went for a hike and found the same plant growing everywhere. I was
really inspired to learn more about this ancient medicinal herb, so I contacted Cats Tail
Farm Herbal Center & Botanical Sanctuary, a small botanical preserve and teaching
facility located just outside of East Aurora in the town of Marilla.
The eight-acre farm is owned by herbalist Marian Prezyna and her husband Dennis,
where they’ve been cultivating medicine and food, and offering workshops and tours of
their land. Marian taught me that although there are many variations of artemisia, the
“true” mugwort is named Artemisia vulgaris. Also known as common mugwort, this is a
perennial herb that’s part of the wormwood family, and it grows rampantly all over
Western New York.
Marian has been gardening for over fifty years and urges people to exercise caution
before working with any medicinal plants. “A little bit of learning can be very
dangerous,” Marian said. “Study with a person who will help you get to know the plant
really well. Get yourself a good field guide and identify the plant at least five times.”
Common mugwort has a silvery green color with a white underside, is aromatic, bitter
and spicy. It’s very high in thujone, a specific monoterpene constituent of a plant, which
in large amounts can be toxic. “Common mugwort may be used internally if done wisely
and under supervision,” Marian said. “If you’re pregnant, nursing, have any liver
problems, are on certain medications or blood thinners, you need to avoid it.”
Common mugwort is used in bitters, liquor flavored with plant extract as a digestive
assist, and is one of the premier herbs to temporarily remove parasites in your intestines,
and can help assist in the evacuation of worms in your digestive system. It is also used
externally as a muscle rub, prepared either in an infused oil or as a liniment, a medical
topical preparation generally composed of an herbal-infused oil or alcohol combined
together as a muscle rub. “I use it to temporarily alleviate pain from cold, stiff muscles,
muscle spasms, or sciatica. It can also temporarily alleviate restless legs,” Marian said.
Common mugwort is also used in sleep pillows to help with dream recall, many times
blended with other herbs such as lavender or hops. Its scent as well as spirit is known to
help you remembering your dreams the next morning. “Plants are like humans. They
have a spirit, an aura, and energy. You don’t always have to put the plant inside you, or
apply it on you for healing,” Marian said. “You can work with the energy of the plant.”
Common mugwort is also used in moxibustion, a traditional therapy in Eastern medicine
where sticks of dried mugwort are lit and burned very closely to energy points along the
body, many times performed by acupuncturists to facilitate healing.

2. There’s also ancient folklore associated with common mugwort: if it appears right outside
your backdoor and starts growing on its own it’s been considered a sign that you are a
healer or a wise woman, considered to have knowledge in herbal healing, magic charms,
or other traditional lore. It has also been used as an amulet, carried in a little pouch along
with other herbs as a very private and sacred form of protection or comfort.
It is said that, most likely in the Middle Ages, common mugwort was used before the
introduction of hops as an ingredient in brewing beer or ale for flavor. Any herb with the
name ‘wort’ in it has also been used at some point in its history for brewing beer or ale.
Marian stressed that herbs cannot be used to treat or cure any conditions. However, there
are many known medicinal benefits to common mugwort that can temporarily alleviate
problems if used safely and correctly. “As you start paying attention to plants you
become very familiar with their personalities and needs. Eventually you start recognizing
them as your teacher,” Marian said.
To learn more or contact Cats Tail Farm Herbal Center & Sanctuary, go to
www.catstailfarm.com, call (716) 652-8285, or email catstailfarm@rochester.rr.com.