MUGWORT

Artemisia vulgaris: Compositae

PLANET: Venus

ELEMENT: Earth

TASTE: bitter, pungent	VIPAKA: pungent
WARMTH: heating	DOSHAS: V-P-K+

MERIDIANS: liver, spleen, kidney

ACTIONS: bitter digestive tonic, nervine, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, antiseptic, anthelmintic, emmenagogue, hemostatic, chi tonic.

INDICATIONS: shaking, nervousness, insomnia, flu, intestinal parasites and worms, delayed menses, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, infertility, sciatica, convulsions, hysteria, epilepsy, depression, mental exhaustion, insomnia, gout, rheumatism, fungal infections, "Sama Vata conditions" such as arthritis or nervous conditions

PRECAUTIONS: Can cause miscarriage if taken internally during pregnancy; smudging is safe. Contraindicated in high Pita and uterine infection or inflammation

CONSTITUENTS: volatile oil, see below, VULGARIN, a sesquiterpene lactone, quercitins, coumarin derivatives, sterols

PREPARATION AND USE:
-steep one ounce in one pint boiling water for ten minutes for infusion; take 1 tsp tid
-take infusion hot at beginning of a cold or flu
-dilute 10 drops tincture in water and take before meals as digestive tonic
-with ginger and pennyroyal to promote menses
-use infusion as a wash for external or vaginal fungal infections
-bound into wands for moxibustion, an oriental technique to increase local circulation to ease pain of arthritis, injuries, and bruises

USE IN MAGIC:
-smudging for purification
-burned in incenses or drunk in elixirs for sight
-used in dream pillows
-used in amulets and burned for protection; when carrying mugwort, you cannot be harmed by poison, wild beasts, or sunstroke
-used in many traditions to keep evil spirits away
-carried to increase lust and fertility
-used in Midsummer rituals
-sacred to Diana
-taken twice daily as a magical tonic, heightens one's psychic awareness
-place in shoes for strength on long walks or runs: pick at dawn saying, "Tollam re artemisia, ne lassus sim in via"
-used to cleanse crystals and other tools of divination

USE IN PERSONAL GROWTH:
-smudging and visionary herb
-grants insight and peace, especially in times of change

"With trust I accept the changes that bring about my growth and healing."

THE ESSENTIAL OIL

INDICATIONS: "should not be used in aromatherapy internally or externally": oral toxin due to high thujone content, abortifacient, irritant to skin

USE IN MAGIC: psychic awareness, astral projection, cleansing crystals and visionary tools

THE FLOWER ESSENCE

PATTERNS OF IMBALANCE: Unable to harmonise psychic forces, tendency to hysteria or emotionality, overly active psychic life out of touch with the physical world.

"The soul is only half alive if it does not experience itself when asleep. The body may vegetate during sleep, but the soul has the capacity to awaken to another dimension of life. Mugwort enhances the receptive quality of the psyche, allowing greater awareness of dreams, so that the Self can gain greater insight about the affairs of daily life, and can access guidance and direction from the spiritual world. This essence particularly helps the soul to navigate within the flow of psychic life, so that it is neither lost or overwhelmed. It helps to balance transitions between day and night consciousness, assisting the individual to remain connected in a healthy way with the practical and physical world. This balance is very important, for when the moon forces become too predominant or inappropriately expressed, the soul becomes irrational, hysterical, or overly emotional. Mugwort helps to direct the psychic life into its proper sphere, gradually opening the soul to expanded consciousness."

Flower Essence information quoted from Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz, Flower Essence Repertory, The Flower Essence Society, Nevada City, CA. ISBN 0-9631306-1-7