Mugwort, considered a magical and feminine plant by the ancients, is traditionally used to regulate the hormonal cycle or bring back menstruation. Hippocrates already advised it for its emmenagogue properties. Discover in this article the benefits of this feminine plant.

Description de l’armoise en Botanique 

Artemisia vulgaris from its Latin name belongs to the asteraceae family.  It is also known as artemisia, fireweed or St. John's wort.

Mugwort is a perennial plant, 0.60 to 1 m tall and is fairly widespread throughout much of the northern hemisphere. It is generally found in uncultivated places, along roads or railroads, in the embankments. 

The Petit Larrousse plants that heal describes it this way: "Its many reddish stems bear deeply divided leaves that show a startling contrast between their dark green upper and whitish, cottony lower surfaces. From June to September, the tiny yellowish-green flowers stretch their loose clusters at the end of the branches. Their charm lies not in their appearance but in the sweet incense-like smell they give off when crumpled."

Principaux constituants de l’armoise

The armoise is mainly made up of flavonoids with antioxidant virtuess and in compounds of aromatic essences such as camphor, borneol (analgesic) and thujone (in tiny quantities) which is a molecule also found in wormwood and whose effects would be strongly toxic in high doses, thus causing convulsions, a certain inhibition even hallucinations.

But remember, it is the toxic properties of the plant that make it so effective. It is therefore extremely important to be aware that phytotherapy is not a "soft" medicine and that it must be carried out by a professional: doctor, pharmacist, herbalist or naturopath.

Les propriétés médicinales de l’armoise

As mentioned in the introduction, Hippocrates (460 BC - 377 BC) was already praising the emmenagogue properties of mugwort at that time. Thisplant of the feminine thus has the particularity of promoting the arrival of menstruation, harmonizing the blood flow as well as facilitating its flow.

In addition, mugwort also helps with detoxification of the liver, thereby calming the discomforts associated with this particular time.
 

L’amoise : nos conseils d’utilisation

To know : Its taste is very bitter... Mugwort is contraindicated during pregnancy. For the anecdote, Diego de Torres, great writer but also Spanish doctor of the XVII century, advised cataplasms of crushed mugwort leaves on the lower abdomen of the pregnant women to start the contractions at the time of the childbirth.
 

To promote the appearance of menstruation:

Prepare an infusion with half to one teaspoon of dried mugwort per cup. Let infuse for 5 minutes. Drink 1 to 2 cups per day.
 

To know: It tastes very bitter...

L’armoise en médecine traditionnelle japonaise et chinoise

In traditional Japanese and Chinese medicine, the moxa technique involves burning small piles of mugwort leaf placed in a cone on the skin at one of the 660 acupuncture points so that it burns slowly. The heat thus released stimulates or disperses the energy flow of the acupuncture point in question. 

L’armoise en cuisine

Another way to benefit from its properties is to incorporate it into your kitchen! The leaves are reminiscent of artichoke flavor and are used to make good fritters. In Japan, the leaves are blanched and then accompanied with toasted sesame and seasoned with soy sauce. The leaves are also used to flavor and color rice dumplings, mochi. 

Les légendes autour de l’armoise

Some say that mugwort is dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis, protector of women, animals and the wilderness. For others, it would be in homage to Atemisia, queen of Caria and widow of Mausoleus, whose mausoleum (that of Halicarnassus) she had built in her memory and which will become one of the 7 Wonders of the World in Antiquity. 

However, these two female characters are both reputed to be plant experts, in gynecology and protector of women.

In some regions of France, the tradition was to throw a bunch of mugwort into the fire for a year without lumbago!

The above advice does not replace a consultation with your doctor or your current or future treatment. For a personalized accompaniment, it is recommended to consult a naturopath who will be able to establish with your collaboration a protocol adapted in hygiene of life to the natural.