Mugwort

In medieval Europe mugwort was mater herbarum, the mother of herbs. It was applied to wounds, used against gout and to relieve tired legs, and taken for fever ^{1Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →}.

Its main role is as a bitter. The dried aerial parts are taken as a tea or tincture to stimulate gastric juices and bile, for poor appetite, flatulence and colic ^{1Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →}. Its second classical use is as an emmenagogue, a herb to bring on delayed or scanty periods. European folk medicine also used it to induce labour or miscarriage ^{1Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →}.

Infusions were used externally for rheumatic and leg pains and in sitz baths for haemorrhoids. It was taken for nervous complaints such as insomnia ^{1Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →}.

Folk practice also made it a protective and dream herb. It was hung over doorways, carried against fatigue on a journey, and drunk as a bedtime tea or put into a dream pillow to encourage vivid dreams. It was grown in North America as a medicinal plant, most often as a remedy for worms ^{32Reference 32Shultz · 2006Artemisia vulgaris Linnaeus — species description, habitat and distribution — floraView study →}.

Mugwort’s pale, felted leaves are dried and rubbed to a soft wool, then burned directly on or just above the skin in moxibustion, to warm acupuncture points ^{1Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →}.

The herb itself is also a Chinese medicine, prescribed for ulcers and diarrhoea ^{1Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →}.

Unani medicine uses several preparations of mugwort for liver complaints, and decoctions of the plant are taken for painful periods ^{1Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →}.

In Vietnam mugwort is used to treat arthritis and gout ^{4Reference 4Trinh PTN et al. · 2024AnimalAntioxidant, anti-inflammatory and xanthine-oxidase inhibitory activity of Artemisia vulgaris extract and fractions — mouse, in vivoView study →}.

A methanolic extract, and β-caryophyllene oxide isolated from it, reduced carrageenan-induced paw swelling in rats. Treatment lowered C-reactive protein and lipid peroxidation and restored antioxidant enzymes in a dose-dependent way ^{3Reference 3Kumar GS et al. · 2025AnimalAnti-inflammatory effect of Artemisia vulgaris methanolic extract and β-caryophyllene oxide on carrageenan-induced paw edema — rat, in vivoView study →}.

In mice, 96% and 50% ethanol extracts both reduced carrageenan paw swelling. Luteolin, apigenin and quercetin were isolated from the most active fraction ^{4Reference 4Trinh PTN et al. · 2024AnimalAntioxidant, anti-inflammatory and xanthine-oxidase inhibitory activity of Artemisia vulgaris extract and fractions — mouse, in vivoView study →}.

Two studies have isolated guaiane-type sesquiterpene lactones from the leaf and aerial parts that suppress nitric oxide in stimulated macrophages by lowering iNOS and COX-2. Their IC50 values were 0.9–3.6 µM, and most were more potent than dexamethasone ^{5,6Reference 5Chen XY et al. · 2022In vitroGuaianolide sesquiterpene lactones from Artemisia vulgaris as NO inhibitors in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages — in vitroView study →Reference 6Liu T et al. · 2022In vitroSesquiterpenoids and triterpenoids with anti-inflammatory effects from Artemisia vulgaris — in vitroView study →}.

The newly described lactone artemvulactone E blocked TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS and COX-2 through MAPK/JAK/STAT3–NF-κB inhibition and binding to TLR4, and reduced inflammation in zebrafish larvae ^{7Reference 7Zhao Z et al. · 2024In vitroArtemvulactone E from Artemisia vulgaris ameliorates LPS-induced inflammation in macrophages and zebrafish — in vitro, animal modelView study →}.

The essential oil eased chemically induced gut inflammation in zebrafish through the MyD88/TRAF6/NF-κB pathway ^{10Reference 10Meng R et al. · 2022AnimalEssential oil from Artemisia vulgaris alleviates enteritis in zebrafish via oxidative stress and inflammatory modulation — animal modelView study →}. A flavonoid-rich extract inhibited lipoxygenase ^{9Reference 9Lim JR et al. · 2024In vitroLipoxygenase inhibition by flavonoid-rich extract from Artemisia vulgaris — in vitroView study →}, and leaf terpenoids reduced inflammation in brain immune cells ^{8Reference 8Liu T et al. · 2023In vitroActivity-guided isolation of antiherpesvirus and antineuroinflammatory terpenoids from Artemisia vulgaris — in vitroView study →}.

All of this is preclinical, and the most potent lactones are isolated compounds rather than the tea or tincture people take.

Mugwort’s phenolics scavenge free radicals in DPPH, ABTS, reducing-power and hydrogen-peroxide assays. The ethyl-acetate flavonoid fraction was the most active, and chlorogenic acid, luteolin, rutin and myricetin have been identified in the active extracts ^{4,11Reference 4Trinh PTN et al. · 2024AnimalAntioxidant, anti-inflammatory and xanthine-oxidase inhibitory activity of Artemisia vulgaris extract and fractions — mouse, in vivoView study →Reference 11Teterovska R et al. · 2023In vitroAntioxidant activity of wild-growing phenolic-rich plants in Latvia — in vitroView study →}.

Aqueous extracts rich in all-trans-lutein also show antioxidant activity ^{12Reference 12Rossato Viana A et al. · 2024In vitroCarotenoid profile and antioxidant/cytotoxic activity of Artemisia vulgaris aqueous extract in oral carcinoma cells — in vitroView study →}. In diabetic rats, extract treatment raised total antioxidant capacity and lowered malondialdehyde and total oxidant status ^{13Reference 13Liza et al. · 2024AnimalArtemisia vulgaris extract reverses diabetic cardiomyopathy remodelling — rat, in vivoView study →}.

In a Latvian survey of wild plants, A. vulgaris had among the lowest polyphenol contents of the species tested ^{11Reference 11Teterovska R et al. · 2023In vitroAntioxidant activity of wild-growing phenolic-rich plants in Latvia — in vitroView study →}. At higher concentrations, aqueous extracts caused oxidative stress and DNA damage in oral cancer cells ^{12Reference 12Rossato Viana A et al. · 2024In vitroCarotenoid profile and antioxidant/cytotoxic activity of Artemisia vulgaris aqueous extract in oral carcinoma cells — in vitroView study →}.

The only whole-animal data come from diabetic rats. No measurement has been made in humans.

A hydroalcoholic extract killed breast cancer (MCF-7, SKBR-3) and chronic myeloid leukaemia (K562) cells through lysosomal calcium release, ferroptosis and necroptosis. It was more toxic to the leukaemia cells than to normal fibroblasts. The main compounds identified in the extract were artemisinin and caffeoylquinic acids ^{15Reference 15Zamarioli LDS et al. · 2024In vitroArtemisia vulgaris induces tumour-selective ferroptosis and necroptosis via lysosomal Ca²⁺ signalling — in vitroView study →}.

In leukaemia cells a methanol extract inhibited BCR/ABL activation and downstream AKT/MAPK signalling, and was more active against imatinib-resistant mutants than against the normal form ^{16Reference 16Chi HT · 2022In vitroArtemisia vulgaris inhibits BCR/ABL and promotes apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukaemia cells — in vitroView study →}.

An ethanolic leaf extract suppressed A549 lung-cancer cells through the Wnt3/β-catenin pathway ^{17Reference 17Tiwari RK et al. · 2023In vitroEthanolic extract of Artemisia vulgaris promotes apoptosis in non-small-cell lung carcinoma A549 cells via Wnt/β-catenin — in vitroView study →}. The isolated lactone psilostachyin C reduced the growth and spread of liver-cancer cells by blocking CREBBP-driven transcription ^{18Reference 18Jiang K et al. · 2024In vitroPsilostachyin C reduces malignant properties of hepatocellular carcinoma cells — in vitroView study →}. An extract also inhibited chemically induced transformation of Bhas 42 cells ^{19Reference 19Pitimontol P et al. · 2025In vitroInhibition of Bhas 42 cell transformation by Artemisia vulgaris — in vitroView study →}.

Two new eudesmane sesquiterpene glucosides from the aerial parts showed no meaningful cytotoxicity (IC50 >100 µM) ^{20Reference 20Hanh TTH et al. · 2023In vitroTwo new eudesmane sesquiterpene glucosides from the aerial parts of Artemisia vulgaris (cytotoxicity assay) — in vitroView study →}. In normal human lymphocytes, extracts protected against chemically induced genetic damage ^{31Reference 31Radović Jakovljević M et al. · 2024In vitroArtemisia vulgaris and Artemisia alba extracts reduce mitomycin-C-induced genomic instability in human lymphocytes — in vitroView study →}.

There is no animal tumour model and no human data, and the concentrations used may not be reachable by mouth.

In rats with diabetic heart disease, a methanolic extract given for 45 days lowered fasting glucose, HbA1c, insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL, and raised HDL and total antioxidant capacity. ECG and tissue examination showed reversal of damage to the heart and pancreas ^{13Reference 13Liza et al. · 2024AnimalArtemisia vulgaris extract reverses diabetic cardiomyopathy remodelling — rat, in vivoView study →}.

A concentrated A. vulgaris extract inhibited the starch-digesting enzyme α-amylase in the laboratory (IC50 8.6 µg/mL, against 3.5 µg/mL for acarbose). Chlorogenic acid, luteolin and rutin were identified in it ^{14Reference 14Neagu E et al. · 2023In vitroAntidiabetic and anti-inflammatory potential of Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia vulgaris and Trigonella foenum-graecum — in vitroView study →}.

This rests on a single animal study and an enzyme assay. There are no human blood-sugar data.

Hydro-distilled leaf oil from Manipur, rich in eucalyptol (1,8-cineole), sabinene and borneol, inhibited the fungi Sclerotium oryzae and Fusarium oxysporum and the bacteria Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. Its MIC was 0.3% against B. cereus and 0.63% against S. aureus ^{21Reference 21Singh NB et al. · 2023In vitroPhytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil from Artemisia vulgaris leaves — in vitroView study →}.

A methanolic extract showed strong antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against toxin-producing B. cereus (MICs 62.5–250 µg/mL) and lowered its toxin genes. Chlorogenic acid, luteolin and quercitrin were among its main constituents ^{22Reference 22Fareid MA et al. · 2025In vitroAntibacterial, antibiofilm and gene-suppressing activity of Artemisia vulgaris extract against Bacillus cereus — in vitroView study →}.

All of this is laboratory work. The oil, with its variable make-up, is not how the herb is taken, and no infection model has been tested.

Ethanolic extracts showed selective, dose-dependent activity against the protozoa Leishmania major (IC50 about 180 µg/mL against the intracellular form) and Trichomonas vaginalis (IC50 about 104 µg/mL). At non-toxic concentrations they cleared the parasites from infected cells ^{23Reference 23Aksoy T et al. · 2026In vitroAntiprotozoal activity of Artemisia vulgaris and Berberis vulgaris against Leishmania major and Trichomonas vaginalis — in vitroView study →}.

Against the liver fluke Fasciola gigantica, the extract reduced egg hatching and broke down the outer surface of adult worms ^{24Reference 24Nurlaelasari A et al. · 2023In vitroAnthelmintic activity of Artemisia vulgaris against ova and adult Fasciola gigantica — in vitroView study →}.

The essential oil also killed and repelled a plant-pest gall mite. Camphor made up about 29% of that oil ^{25Reference 25Kunnathattil M et al. · 2025In vitroChemical composition, acaricidal and repellent activities of Artemisia vulgaris essential oil — in vitroView study →}.

All of this is laboratory and tissue work, with no animal infection model.

Pregnancy. Taken in large doses, mugwort may cause miscarriage ^{1Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →}.

Essential oil. Large doses may cause nausea, vomiting and damage to the nervous system, and raised blood pressure has been reported. The European Food Safety Authority lists α- and β-thujone, camphor and 1,8-cineole in the oil as potentially harmful in food or supplements, while noting that most of the research concerns concentrated oil rather than weaker extracts ^{1Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →}. The oil’s make-up varies widely between populations ^{1,2Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →Reference 2Judžentienė et al. · 2016In vitroCompositional Variability and Toxic Activity of Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) Essential Oils — in vitroView study →}.

Allergy. Mugwort pollen is a main cause of hay fever and allergic asthma in northern Europe, North America and parts of Asia. The allergens Art v 1 and Art v 3 are the most important ^{1,27,28Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →Reference 27Frątczak A et al. · 2025Developmental and quantitative expression profile of the six pollen allergens of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)View study →Reference 28Nurpeissov T et al. · 2026RCTUltra-short recombinant Art v 1 immunotherapy in mugwort allergy — randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase I trial (NCT07317960)View study →}. Anaphylaxis has followed swallowing the pollen ^{1Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →}. People allergic to plants of the daisy family should avoid the herb ^{1Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →}.

Cross-reactions. Sensitised people can react to birch, grass and olive pollen, and to foods including celery, carrot, sunflower, hazelnut, kiwi, peach, mango and apple ^{1Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →}. Anaphylaxis to snail has been described in people with mugwort pollen allergy ^{30Reference 30Prados-Castaño M et al. · 2024Clinical trialSnail-induced anaphylaxis in patients with underlying Artemisia vulgaris pollinosis — case reportView study →}.

Diabetes. A review of the herb advises caution in diabetes, reporting that it can raise blood glucose ^{1Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →}.

Toxicity. Tea doses are not likely to cause side effects ^{1Reference 1Ekiert et al. · 2020ReviewSignificance of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications — reviewView study →}. The isolated lactone isosecotanapartholide caused no organ damage or deaths in mice at oral doses up to 1,600 mg/kg ^{26Reference 26Singh NB et al. · 2025AnimalToxicological evaluation of isosecotanapartholide from Artemisia vulgaris: acute and sub-acute oral toxicity — mouse, in vivoView study →}.

Drug interactions have not been studied.