Medieval Europe In the European Middle Ages, mugwort was used as a magical protective herb. Mugwort was used to repel insects – especially moths – from gardens. Mugwort has also been used from ancient times as a remedy against fatigue and to protect travelers against evil spirits and wild animals. Roman soldiers put mugwort in their sandals to protect their feet against fatigue and cramps. Mugwort is one of the nine herbs invoked in the
pagan Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm, recorded in the 10th century in the Lacnunga. Grieve's
Modern Herbal (1931) states that "in the Middle Ages, the plant was known as , it being believed that
John the Baptist wore a girdle of it in the wilderness...a crown made from its sprays was worn on St. John's Eve to gain security from evil possession, and in Holland and Germany one of its names is 'St. John's plant', because of the belief that – if gathered on St. John's Eve – it gave protection against diseases and misfortunes." In the
Isle of Man, mugwort is known as
bollan bane, and is still worn on the lapel at the
Tynwald Day celebrations, which also have strong associations with St. John.
China There are several references to the Chinese using mugwort in
cuisine. The famous Chinese poet
Su Shi in the 11th century mentioned it in one of his poems. There are even older poems and songs that can be tracked back to 3 BC. Some names include () or () in Mandarin. Mugwort can be prepared as a cold dish or can be
stir-fried with fresh or smoked meat. The
Hakka Taiwanese also use it to make
chhú-khak-ké (), doughy sweet dumplings. Mugwort is also used as a flavoring and colorant for a seasonal rice dish. In
traditional Chinese medicine, mugwort is used in a pulverized and aged form – called '''' in English (from Japanese ) – to perform
moxibustion, that is, to burn on specific
acupuncture points on the patient's body to achieve therapeutic effects. There is a belief that
moxibustion of mugwort is effective at increasing the cephalic positioning of fetuses who were in a
breech position before the intervention. A
Cochrane review in 2012 found that moxibustion may be beneficial in reducing the need for
ECV, but stressed a need for well-designed randomised controlled trials to evaluate this usage.
Germany In Germany, known as , it is mainly used to
season goose, especially the roast goose traditionally eaten for Christmas.
India The plant, called
nāgadamanī in
Sanskrit, is used in
Ayurveda for cardiac complaints as well as feelings of unease, unwellness, and general malaise.
Japan Mugwort – or – is used in a number of Japanese dishes, including
yōkan, a dessert, or
kusa mochi, also known as
yomogi mochi(よもぎ餅). Mugwort
rice cakes, or
kusa mochi are used for Japanese sweets called
daifuku (literally 'great luck'). To make these, take a small amount of mochi and stuff it or wrap it round a filling of fruit or sweetened
adzuki (red bean) paste. Traditional
daifuku can be pale green, white or pale pink and are covered in a fine layer of
potato starch to prevent sticking. When Japanese people smell the scent of mugwort, the first thing that often comes to mind is yomogi mochi. Mugwort is a vital ingredient of
kusa mochi (rice cake with mugwort) and
hishi mochi (lozenge rice cake), which is served at the
Doll Festival in March. In addition, the fuzz on the underside of the mugwort leaves is gathered and used in
moxibustion. In some regions in Japan, there is an ancient custom of hanging
yomogi and
iris leaves together outside homes in order to keep evil spirits away. It is said that evil spirits dislike their smell. The juice is said to be effective at stopping bleeding, lowering fevers and purging the stomach of impurities. It can also be boiled and taken to relieve colds and coughs.
Korea In both
North and
South Korea, mugwort – () – is used in soups and salads. A traditional soup containing mugwort and clams is (), made in spring from the young plants just before they bloom. Another dish is named (), in which the mugwort is mixed with
rice flour, sugar, salt and water and is then steamed. It is a common ingredient in
rice cakes, teas,
soups, and
pancakes.
North America Indigenous peoples of North America used mugwort for a number of medicinal purposes. Strong, bitter-tasting pasture sagewort tea was taken to treat colds and fevers. Mugwort was used in washes and salves to treat bruises, itching, sores, poison ivy, eczema, and underarm or foot odour. The leaves were dried, crushed, and used as a snuff to relieve congestion, nosebleeds, and headaches. Frequently, to improve taste and absorption, Mugwort Tea is made by crushing the leaves, and steeping with other ingredients. Tarragon plants were boiled to make washes and poultices for treating swollen feet and legs and snow blindness. Some tribes called western mugwort 'women's sage' because the leaf tea was taken to correct menstrual irregularity. It was taken to relieve indigestion, coughs, and chest infections. Western mugwort smoke was used to disinfect contaminated areas and revive patients from comas. Northern wormwood tea was taken to relieve difficulties with urination or bowel movements, to ease delivery of babies, and to cause abortions. ==Side effects==