Motherwort and Mugwort: Ancient Herbs for Modern Healing

Mugwort: Ancient Herb For Women's Health

Artemisia vulgaris

What is the magic of mugwort?

Artemisia ties a Mugwort plant to Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon, and the protector of the wilderness. I particularly love how the white hairs that cover the plant shine in the moon light.

Mugwort has been used for millennia in many cultures. It therapeutically treats sleeplessness and helps to induce dreaming. It has been used to ease menstrual pains, high blood pressure, and anxiety because it has a potent calming quality. For these qualities, mugwort is a favorite for traditional plant medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine has used mugwort, broken down and pressed into cones, burned on acupuncture points and is referred to as moxa or moxibustion. Buning moxa on individual acupuncture points has a therapeutic effect. It is used in this way to warm and stimulate the acupuncture point. It is known to regulate Qi energy and increase blood flow. By warming, it dispels dampness or coldness, both of which are known to cause pain and stiffness.

Mugwort benefits fertility by warming and treating the uterus. Mugwort has been used to stop or reduce bleeding and to calm the fetus throughout pregnancy. It may be used to allay delayed menstrual cycles, helping to regulate irregular cycles, by stimulating blood flow.

In India the plant has been used ayurvedically for cardiac issues. Many cultures have historically used mugwort culinarily. Because of its bitter taste, it eases digestion and may reduce acid reflux. Mugwort eases digestive issues.

How to Harvest Motherwort and Mugwort at Peak Potency

There is something deeply satisfying about walking through the garden in the early morning hours, when the dew still clings to the leaves and the air is filled with the fresh scent of growing things. This is when I prefer to harvest my herbs, before the heat of the day keeps us inside.

Both motherwort and mugwort reach their peak potency just before they flower. Think of it as the plant gathering all its strength before the grand finale of blooming. The leaves are full of life, the stems are sturdy, and the essential oils are at their most concentrated.

For motherwort, I watch for those early summer days when the flower buds are just beginning to form but haven't yet opened. The leaves should be that vibrant green that makes you want to reach out and touch them. For mugwort, I wait until late summer when those silvery-white undersides of the leaves catch the light like moonbeams - it's no wonder this plant is tied to lunar energy.

When I harvest, I use clean, sharp scissors and make thoughtful cuts about 6-8 inches from the top of each stem. I always leave enough plant material for the herb to continue growing - it feels like a conversation between myself and the plant, taking only what I need while ensuring its continued health.

I focus on the flowering tops and upper leaves of motherwort, and with mugwort, I gather the leaves and tender stems, leaving behind anything that feels woody or tough. There's a rule I follow that was taught to me by an old herbalist: never take more than one-third of any plant. This ensures that both the individual plant and the population as a whole remain healthy and vibrant.

After harvesting, I bundle small groups of stems together with rubber bands - they tighten as the stems shrink during drying, which I find quite clever. I hang these bundles upside down in my herb drying room, a warm, dry space with good airflow but no direct sunlight. Sometimes I'll strip the leaves from the stems and lay them flat on screens if they seem too delicate for bundling.

The herbs are ready when they crumble easily between my fingers and still hold their color and scent. This usually takes about two weeks, depending on the humidity. I store them in glass jars labeled with the herb name, harvest date, and where they were gathered. There's something deeply satisfying about a pantry lined with jars of herbs you've grown and harvested yourself.

Growing Motherwort and Mugwort in Your Medicinal Garden

Creating a medicinal garden has been one of my most rewarding endeavors. There's something powerful about stepping outside your door and having healing plants at your fingertips. Both motherwort and mugwort have become cornerstone plants in my garden, each with their own personality and growing preferences.

Motherwort, with its sturdy stems, is remarkably adaptable. I've found it thrives in partial shade to full sun and doesn't fuss about soil conditions too much. In fact, it seems to prefer the honest, well-draining soil without too much pampering. Rich, fertile soil can actually make it grow too lush and reduce its medicinal potency - sometimes plants, like people, are stronger when they face a little challenge.

When I first started growing motherwort, I learned that the seeds need a period of cold to germinate properly. I either sow them in fall and let winter do its work, or I give them a few weeks in the refrigerator before spring planting. The seeds need light to germinate, so I barely cover them with soil. Once established, motherwort is wonderfully self-sufficient and will often self-seed, creating new plants in unexpected places - nature's way of ensuring abundance.

Mugwort, on the other hand, is a plant that commands respect. It's incredibly hardy and can grow in poor soils where other plants struggle, but it has a wandering spirit. Those silvery leaves that shimmer in moonlight come with underground runners that can spread more enthusiastically than you might expect. I've learned to either grow it in containers or give it a dedicated space where its spreading nature is welcomed rather than problematic.

Both herbs actually prefer lean soil over rich garden beds. This goes against our instinct to pamper our plants, but these ancient herbs have thrived in wild, uncultivated spaces for centuries. They don't need our fussing - they need our respect and understanding of their true nature.

I've found that these herbs pair beautifully with other plants in my medicinal garden. Chamomile grows nearby, its cheerful flowers attracting beneficial insects. Lavender provides natural pest deterrence while complementing the calming properties of both motherwort and mugwort. I keep more aggressive spreaders like mint in separate areas or containers - every plant deserves its own space to flourish.

Throughout the growing season, I've learned to work with these plants' natural rhythms. In spring, I cut back the previous year's growth and sometimes divide overcrowded clumps of mugwort. A light layer of compost around the base of the plants is welcome, but I resist the urge to over-fertilize.

During summer, I've discovered that regular harvesting actually encourages new growth. I pinch flowers if I want the plant's energy to stay concentrated in the leaves, unless I'm planning to collect seeds. These herbs are remarkably drought-tolerant once established, needing water only during extended dry periods.

In fall, I allow some plants to go to seed if I want to expand my herb garden or share seeds with friends. After the first hard frost, I cut the plants back, leaving about four inches of stem for winter protection. Both herbs are hardy perennials that return year after year, becoming old friends in the garden.

There's something deeply satisfying about nurturing these ancient healing plants. They connect us to generations of herbalists who understood the wisdom of working with nature rather than against it. Each season brings new lessons, new harvests, and new appreciation for the simple magic of growing your own medicine.