[botanical drawing of mugwort]

Why Mugwort?


The name "mugwort" (sometimes "motherwort") is applied to several members of the plant genus Artemisia in the Composite (sunflower) family. The name appears most directly applicable to the European common mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris L. Artemisia has known since ancient Greece, where it was called "the mother of herbs" and was sometimes hallowed to the goddess Artemis.

Mugwort is naturalized in Canada and the Atlantic states of the U.S., where it frequents old fields and gardens, roadsides, and waste places. Mugwort grows wild in Maryland, for example, just a couple of blocks from one of Mugwort Grove's frequent meeting places. (See scan of an actual leaf.)

Information in herbals must always be viewed with skepticism, of course, but this is what M. Grieve, in A Modern Herbal (1931), says about the plant:

      Mugwort is said to have derived its name from having been used to flavor drinks. It was . . . used to a great extent for flavoring beer before the introduction of hops. For this purpose, the plant was gathered when in flower and dried, the fresh herb being considered unsuitable for this object: malt liquor was then boiled with it so as to form a strong decoction, and the liquid thus prepared was added to the beer. Until recent years, it was still used in some parts of [England] to flavour the table beer brewed by cottagers.
      It has been suggested that the name, Mugwort, may be derived not from 'mug,' the drinking vessel, but from moughte (a moth or maggot), because from the days of Dioscorides, the plant has been regarded, in common with Wormwood [which mugwort resembles], as useful in keeping off the attacks of moths.
      In the Middle Ages, the plant was known as Cingulum Sancti Johannis, it being believed that John the Baptist wore a girdle of it in the wilderness. There were many superstitions connected with it: it was believed to preserve the wayfarer from fatigue, sunstroke, wild beasts, and evil spirits generally: 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.

The Oxford English Dictionary concurs with Grieves that the name is derived from mugwort's alleged use for warding off insects: it gives the etymology as from the West German word muggiwurti--from muggio for "midge" or "fly", and wurti for "plant." The first known appearance of "mugcwyrt" in print was in Saxon Leechdoms circa 1000 c.e.-- collected in the 1864-6 work, Leechdoms, wort cunning and starcraft of Early England—where it was labeled "Herba artemesia."

Mugwort is botanically related to tarragon, and in addition to being made into tea, is sometimes employed as an aromatic culinary herb, such as in stuffing for roasted geese.

Medicinal uses for mugwort were based on its stimulant and tonic properties in the nervous system, and its stimulating effects on the uterus (for induction of menstruation, or in very large doses, abortion), kidneys, and sweat glands. It also has a reputation as a mild hallucinogen.

As for how this name was chosen for our grove, the senior druid, Nathair bheag, says, "We were sitting around thinking about possible names for a protogrove, and all the tree names seemed too pretentious. When Patrick (Nightshade) suggested 'Mugwort,' we were amused. Hearing of mugwort's psychotropic properties and its role in bittering beer--most of those present were beer drinkers--sold us on the idea."

Mugwort tincture occasionally finds its way into our "waters of life" for rituals.