Plant of the day Artemisia vulgaris (Mugwort)

It has stimulant and slightly tonic properties, and is of value as a nervine and emmenagogue, having also diuretic and diaphoretic action. The Genus name Artemisia is from the Goddess Artemis who was the Goddess of the Hunt, Wild Animals, Childbirth, Virginity and Young Girls. Many of the plants in this genus heal the female reproductive system. The leaves and flowering stalks should be gathered just at blossoming time, usually between July and early September. The root is gathered after the flowering time in late autumn. The root is washed and dried and the leaves and flowering stalks dried in a dry and dark and warm place. Mugwort is an ancient herb. Know to have been used in Ancient Egypt and Greece, Anglo-Saxon tribes believed that Mugwort was one of the nine sacred herbs given to the world by the God Woden. There are several references to the Chinese using Mugwort in cuisine and the famous Chinese poet Su Shi in the 11th century mentioned it in one of his poems. There are even older Chinese poems and songs that mention Mugwort that can be traced back to 3 BC. Native Americans rubbed the leaves on their body to keep ghosts away or would wear a necklace of Mugwort to prevent dreaming of the dead. In the Middle Ages a crown made from Mugwort was worn on St. John's Eve to gain security from evil possession and in Holland and Germany it was believed that if gathered on St. John's Eve it gave protection against diseases and misfortunes. Mugwort is considered a magical herb, with special properties to protect road-weary travellers against exhaustion. The Romans planted Mugwort by roadsides where it would be available to passers-by to put in their shoes to relieve aching feet and also protect them from sunstroke, evil spirits and wild beasts. For that reason, St. John the Baptist was said to have worn a girdle of Mugwort when he set out into the wilderness. Equally, a garland or belt of Mugwort can be worn while dancing around the fire during summer solstice celebrations, with the herb then being thrown into the fire to ensure continued protection throughout the coming year.   Some of the magic in Mugwort is in its reputed ability to protect against nightmares and induce prophetic and vivid dreams when the herb is placed near the bed or under the sleeper's pillow and it is also reputed to give lucid dreams and hallucinations if drunk as a tea or smoked. Mugwort added to a bath is a good relaxant. As this herb stimulates the uterine muscle it must not be used by pregnant women. Care should also be taken in its use as ingestion of Mugwort for 10 consecutive days can result in illness and sometimes death. Nine Herbs Charm A snake came crawling, it bit a man. Then Woden took nine glory-twigs, Smote the serpent so that it flew into nine parts. There apple brought this pass against poison, That she nevermore would enter her house.