Growing Mugwort
Mugwort seeds germinate best with a cold treatment. Some herb gardeners will sow the herb seeds directly out in the garden in the late fall for germination the next spring. Others with mix the herb seeds with dampened peat moss and place the Mugwort seeds/coconut coir mixture in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 weeks before planting.
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| Mugwort |
Germination: up to 21 days
Days to Maturity: 80 days or more
Benefits and Uses of Mugwort
Mugwort has many medicinal properties such as stimulant, antibacterial, purgative, anthelmintic, nervine, antiinflammatory, hemostatic, antiseptic, expectorant, antispasmodic, emmenagogue, carminative, digestive, diaphoretic, and cholagogue properties. Because of these properties, it is also used to thin blood. Mugwort is used in the treatment called moxibustion where it is attached to acupuncture needles. It works on the affected area by releasing heat. This technique is very effective in treating breech babies to change their cephalic position during delivery.
Even though it has so many medicinal properties, it should not be used by lactating women as this herb can pass through milk to the infant. Since the leaves are bitter in taste, they are used as a bitter flavoring agent in foods to season meat, fish, and fat. It is also used on roasted goose which is done for Christmas. It is used by the Chinese and Japanese in many foods such as juices and rice cakes. It has many essential oils such as thujone, wormwood, and cineole. Mugwort also contains derivates of coumarin, triterpenes, and flavonoids. This herb has found its use as an insect repellent too to eliminate moths from fields and gardens. It is also used as a smudging herb for divination.
Even though it has so many medicinal properties, it should not be used by lactating women as this herb can pass through milk to the infant. Since the leaves are bitter in taste, they are used as a bitter flavoring agent in foods to season meat, fish, and fat. It is also used on roasted goose which is done for Christmas. It is used by the Chinese and Japanese in many foods such as juices and rice cakes. It has many essential oils such as thujone, wormwood, and cineole. Mugwort also contains derivates of coumarin, triterpenes, and flavonoids. This herb has found its use as an insect repellent too to eliminate moths from fields and gardens. It is also used as a smudging herb for divination.
Do not continue to take any Artemesias for more than 1 week. Break for several weeks before taking mugwort again as regular use of mugwort can cause nervous issues.
Available NOW at Mary's Heirloom Seeds
Available NOW at Mary's Heirloom Seeds
Harvest mugwort shortly before it flowers and hang the leafy steps upside down in a dry place away from sunlight to dry.
Collect the root in autumn. Wash and dry mugwort root thoroughly and lay it on a screen to dry. Do not let the roots touch one another or they may mold.
We have DIY Mugwort Tincture Kits at Mary's Tincture Shop!
Tincture kits include:
1 - 32 ounce Glass Jar with lid, 1 - 2 ounce Amber Bottle with dropper top,
2 customizable labels, 1 ounce of Organic Herbs (additional herbs available)
and Detailed Instructions
Infusion - 1 ounce dried herb to 1 pint boiling water. 5-10 minutes. Do not make steep for too long or it will become intolerably bitter.
TINCTURE: 1 ounce dried herb & 3-5 cups menstruum (liquid: vodka, everclear, ACV or vegetable glycerin)
**Complete instructions coming soon**
Disclaimer: Should not be taken if pregnant or nursing. Not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
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3 comments
First time growing mugwort. Is it OK to harvest it after it flowers.?
First time growing mugwort. Is it OK to harvest it after it flowers.?
A friend who recently started keeping bees gave me some honey he collected last fall. It was a taste I felt I remembered as a smell …
Then I remembered mugwort. I had collected it for smudging but I remembered it has been used to flavor ales ..
The honey was quite unique, and different too from the honey I got this spring from the same source .
I bought seeds for me and for him but I forgot to plant them😐.
I suppose I’m too late….will they be ok for fall?