Mugwort
Mugwort
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is a plant species in the family Asteraceae. It is native to temperate Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and Alaska and is naturalized in North America, where it is often found in gardens, along roadsides and in waste places.
Pronunciation
Mugwort is pronounced as /ˈmʌɡwɜːrt/
Etymology
The term "Mugwort" is derived from the Old English mucgwyrt. Mucg was a kind of insect, and wyrt means "plant". The plant was so named because it was used to repel insects.
Description
Mugwort is a tall herbaceous perennial plant growing 1–2 m (rarely 2.5 m) tall, with a woody root. The leaves are 5–20 cm long, dark green, pinnate, with dense white tomentose hairs on the underside. The flowers are radially symmetrical with many yellow or dark red petals. The fruit is a small achene; seed dispersal is by wind.
Uses
Mugwort has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. It is often used as a culinary herb, especially in East Asia. It is also used in traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean medicine. In these traditions, it is often used in the form of moxibustion, a traditional medical practice that involves burning mugwort on particular points on the body.
Related Terms
- Asteraceae: The family of flowering plants that includes mugwort.
- Moxibustion: A traditional medical practice that involves burning mugwort on particular points on the body.
- Achene: A type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants, including mugwort.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Mugwort
- Wikipedia's article - Mugwort
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