Flower Power: Living the Dream
Huntress, Trickster, Sage, Green Fairy
The first time I heard of mugwort was from a friend of mine who worked with herbs. He never claimed to be a teacher, just shared what he thought he knew. I say it that way because he told me mugwort stinks. He actually showed me the wrong plant.
I look at the (not) mugwort. And think, ok. No touch.
Later I discover the trick.
When I meet mugwort again with a new friend, I say “it stinks.”
This friend looks at me laughing saying “no.”
Oh. Oh?
He says, “Mugwort smells good, and it brings dreams.”
“I can’t remember my dreams.”
“Mugwort brings dreams.”
Hmm.
“You’ll probably remember your dreams because we had this conversation.”
And so it begins. A life long flirtation with the Artemisias, a plant family named after the Ancient Greek entity known as Artemis, the Huntress, Protector of Children, Protector of the Womb. Little did I know it all began in grade school with a group of friends hiding in the sagebrush at the end of the playground. I remember the pungent aromatics of the sagebrush.
And, yes, in case you are wondering, my dreams came back. Wildly. I learned reality itself is a kind of dreaming; a collective fiction we all weave together.
The Artemisias are profoundly altering. Not like the technicolor visions in Moulin Rouge, but a subtle change in my ability to see my dreams grow into reality. Dorothy Hall said mugwort improves the connection between the bowels and the brain. This might relate to the way these plants impact the HPA-axis - the line of communication between the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenals. Stimulate this axis with a plant like mugwort and the result is a relaxed body and a clear mind. Likewise, clear stagnation in the digestive tract, clear the mind.
This is post two in the Flower Power series, an educational project to support my dream of building a new space for the Trillium Center. The TC has outgrown the first classroom built here at BLD farm. I teach in other places now, but I’d like to return here, create a space, and bring people to the woods for healing, learning, forest breathing, grounding, connection, and revitalization. Subscribe and learn about the healing power of plants and support my dream of building a space in the woods. Or take a class at trilliumcenter.org. Learn more about visionary plants at herbs for the thinning veil. Paid subscribers receive credit toward classes, gratitude for generosity. Click subscribe now for details.
Species
The Artemisia plants are a genus in the vast family of Asters (also known as the Daisy or Sunflower family). Artemisias grow everywhere, except Antarctica. Common characteristics:
they mostly spread through rhizomes with roots growing sideways, just below the surface of the earth
they tend to shed chemicals that inhibit other seeds from germinating
they are aromatic and many are intensely bitter
many have tiny inconspicuous flowers arranged in a panicle
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) may have originated in Asia but spread throughout Europe and North Africa. It is naturalized in North America; sometimes considered invasive. It often grows along roadsides and railroad tracks. In NE Ohio mugwort easily grows to 5 or more feet. The leaves are rough and dark green on the top and velvety white green on the bottom. A native species Western mugwort (Artemisia ludoviciana picture above) is silvery on both sides and grows throughout North America. Plant it at your own peril.
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is notorious for its use in absinthe. It is a silvery Artemisia acclimated to rocky or sandy environments. Native to North Africa, naturalized in Europe and North America. Weedy in parts of Montana. It likes sandy soils in NE Ohio. It is the most bitter Artemisia in my experience, though sagebrush will also bring on that shuddering release of tension.
Sweet Annie (Artemisia annua) is perhaps the sweetest smelling Artemisia, but don’t be fooled, she is bitterbitterbitter. The plant is an annual but reseeds in the right setting.
Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is widespread throughout the western United States. It is sacred to many Native American nations, used in ceremony and healing.
Growing & Gathering
Purchase plants. Seeds are often available but the germination rate is low. Root cuttings work well, too. Mugworts grow well in a wide range of places. I have a little trouble keeping wormwood and Sweet Annie happy because the soil here is heavy with clay.
Many of the Artemisias in North America are quite successful and can be gathered by taking cuttings. Mugworts and Sweet Annie grow as single stalks from the spreading rhizomes and each stalk can be cut to the ground or cut halfway to encourage busy growth. Sagebrush and wormwood are often woody when older. Trim leaves and flowers. Don’t give them bad haircuts. You will have nightmares.
Archetypes
The Artemisias are a pantheon of visionary cousins, each with an impressive archetypal lineage. Artemisias are used in ceremony to induce dreams and visions throughout the world.
Sagebrush is one of the visionary Artemisias. Bundled into medicine sticks for burning during ceremony and to clear the mind. The wise old Sage of the west. Indigenous people of North America work with many Artemisias and Salvias (white sage, hummingbird sage, black sage) differentiating between the various plants by gender rather than by scientific families. Early settler ethnobotanists may have created confusing common names calling Artemisia family plants “sage” because the word sage means “wise one” in English and because both families of plants tend toward light silvery leaves and distinctive aromatics.
Mugwort is deeply associated with dreams. A mugwort pillow will release the aromatics for a dreamy state, while creating an aromatic aura to ward off evil spirits (i.e., lice and other creepy crawlies). Some traditions prescribe mugwort for nightmares, perhaps transforming nightmares to positive dreams.
When I was at the Elderberry School of Botanical Medicine…
A student places a bough of mugwort beside her bed. A few days later her partner complains about having crazy dreams. She exclaims, “It works!” He growls, “what works?” “The mugwort I put by the bed.” Without a word, he stomps up to the bedroom and throws the mugwort out the window.
It’s not for everyone.
Mugwort is also associated with reproductive health and thus the three stages of womanhood: fertility, pregnancy, and wise woman. This is a nod to Artemis, protector of women and children, birth, and the womb.
Working with Wormwood is an invitation to dance with the Green Fairy. And though sadly I haven’t met her yet, I often feel a sort of tickle in my forehead where some cultures place the “third eye” when I take wormwood tincture. Wormwood has a long history of use as a highly inebriating beverage. French soldiers in Algeria popularized absinthe when they brought home a longing for the bitters after taking it to ward off malaria. By 1860 or so absinthe was popular enough to elicit a precursor to happy hour, called the l'heure verte (the green hour).
A shift in perspective began when people felt that absinthe was negatively impacting the social fabric. Edgar Degas’ painting, L’Absinthe (above) does not portray the dreamy Green Fairy. Instead the absinthe drinker is sad, distracted, maybe even downtrodden. Whether the results were from overconsumption of alcohol in general, the times, or the chemicals unethically used to create a vibrant green color, it’s hard to tell. One by one, many countries began to ban the drink.
A resurgence of absinthe production began in the 1990s as a result of widespread recognition that absinthe poisoning was from chemicals introduced to create a vibrant green or enhance the ouzo effect, which creates a mysteriously milky concoction. Distilleries further demonstrated that the essential oil in wormwood, thujone, toxic if over consumed, is largely absent in the final product. So now we can seek the Green Fairy again!
Sweet Annie (Artemisia annua) battles the never-ending fevers of malaria. This plant is also called sweet wormwood or sweet sagewort. Ancient Chinese texts refer to the use of Sweet Annie for fevers, which prompted the scientist Tu Youyou to explore its use as a drug. Now Sweet Annie is a source of the malaria drug artemisinin, although mostly semisynthetic versions are prescribed today.
Materia medica
Understanding the archetypes improves the use of these plants. The stories above lend a sense of purpose to the healing while the associations and herbal information below help direct the healing. Materia medica means medical material in Latin and the following categories are how I create a study of a plant. My students use these categories in my 9-month Community Herbal Intensive.
Element: Air - invigorates the nervous system, releases tension, alleviates spasms, stimulates the lower digestive tract
Celestial Influence: Moon (visionary), Venus (relaxant, calming, antispasmodic)
Energetics: descending (cools and relaxes the body), ascending (stimulates the mind)
Taste(s): aromatic and pungent bitters
Vital or Herbal Actions: anti-inflammatory, liver stimulant, antispasmodic, nutritive (especially toasted mugwort), uterine stimulant, nootropic (cerebral stimulant), diaphoretic (when served hot), diuretic (when served cold)
Tissues or Organs Affected: liver, kidneys, nervous system and brain, digestion, female reproductive organs.
Used for: fevers, generalized inflammation or arthritis, parasites, digestion infections, indigestion, menstrual cramps, PMS, perimenopause/menopause symptoms, externally for bruising and arthritis.
Scientific Knowledge (how it might work, chemical constituents, nutrients, etc.): thujone is a monoterpene, a chemical in essential oils extracted from Artemisias; these plants are neuroprotective (possibly improving GABA-receptor function) and nootropic (i.e., improves cognitive function); artemisinin (often extracted from Sweet Annie) used as an antimalarial drug and with parasitic disease.
How to Use: toasted mugwort tea (method below); tincture; liqueur; infused oil; salve; bath; compress for throbbing headaches; mugwort flavored mochi can be found in Japanese market; moxibustion is an ancient method of burning mugwort charcoal near the body to create warmth and movement in the tissues, often used by acupuncturists and other traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.
Safety Category: do not use when pregnant, trying to conceive, or when nursing.
Contraindications: overuse of bitter plants tends to dry out peripheral tissues, like the skin and fascia and can lead to cold hands and feet
Warnings: the Artemisias are often used as emmenagogues or uterine stimulants, which allow the uterus to contract and empty, so avoid when attempting to conceive, pregnant, or nursing.
Allies: holy basil improves the quality of dreams with mugwort; aromatics like fennel and anise with a sweetener balance the bitterness
Adjuncts (when you don’t have it use this): black walnut or monarda for infections and parasites; motherwort for midwifery uses, menstruation, menopause; mints for digestive stagnation; holy basil for dreams; barberry or Oregon grape for infections
Antagonists: none known.
Preparing & Preserving
When I gather mugwort, or the other herbaceous Artemisias, I cut them near the base of the stalk. They spread through their roots, and they are nearly impossible to eradicate without constant mowing. The woody plants, like sagebrush, I gather by hand. I gently snap each twig off at the joint. I prefer to gather native North American plants without the use of metal to honor the indigenous way.
Although I often see people hanging plants in bundles to dry. I don’t. My area is too humid and I get better results by drying the plants in my solar dehydrator. I prefer to remove the leaves from the stalks before drying to speed up the process. Although they dry well on the stalk, it just takes longer. You can use an electric dehydrator or any other method that will work in your situation.
Healing Preparations
Toasted Mugwort Tea smells amazing during the process and in the jar, so well worth the effort. Above is a video demonstrating the process. I remove the leaves, then wilt the mugwort overnight, which allows the rest of the process to happen faster. The thujone and other intense aromatics will be released making a deliciously toasty beverage that is non-toxic.
Easy Absinthe
Traditionally absinthe is distilled. To create an easy absinthe at home without a distiller you just need alcohol and herbs. And for fun, get a set of fancy glasses, absinthe spoons (or use a small strainer), and sugar cubes.
Get a bottle of alcohol that suits you. It’s best to start out with an unflavored alcohol so that the herbs flavor it. I would use vodka (100 proof) or grain alcohol (190 proof) depending on dietary needs. Vodka is made from different things depending on the company. Some use wheat, some use corn, do your research depending on your food sensitivities. Grain alcohol is usually made with corn, but again check with the company. Get a regular 750 mL bottle. If you use the higher proof, you’ll end up diluting it.
Start with wormwood, fennel and anise seed. You’ll need only a small amount - 25-35 grams of each. If you have these herbs or spices, add smaller amounts (3-5 grams each): star anise, licorice root, lemon peel, hyssop, nutmeg, angelica root, coriander, lemon balm, marjoram, cardamon.
Make a basic tincture by covering the herbs and letting them soak for one month. Strain out. It’s time to try it!
This is the fun part. Put a shot of absinthe in a glass. Use the absinthe spoon or strainer to place a sugar cube over the glass. Slowly drip ice water on the sugar cube to dissolve it into absinthe. You’ll notice that the absinthe becomes cloudy as the water combines with the oils. Sip and relax!
Infused Oil
I prefer western mugwort, but any mugwort will work for an oil to soothe sore joints and bruises. I recommend using dried mugwort for many reasons, but this post is long enough, so I’ll leave it there. Grind the mugwort into a powder. Fill a 4 oz. jar 1/4 full with mugwort, then fill the jar halfway with oil: try almond, jojoba, or olive oil. Let stand overnight so that the mugwort can expand into the oil. Then top off the jar with more oil and place in a warm, dry, dark place for 2-4 weeks. Strain and apply as needed.
Bathing
Take a large handful of dried mugwort and put in a bowl. Cover with boiling water and let stand for 10-15 minutes, longer is fine, too. Fill up your bath then add the mugwort tea, or use a small jar or cup to pour the mugwort over yourself in the shower. Take a mugwort bath before bed to enhance your dreaming experience or use before a period of meditation or visioning.
This is post two in the Flower Power series, an educational project to support my dream of building a new space for the Trillium Center. The TC has outgrown the first classroom built here at BLD farm. I teach in other places now, but I’d like to return here, create a space, and bring people to the woods for healing, learning, forest breathing, grounding, connection, and revitalization. Subscribe and learn about the healing power of plants and support my dream of building a space in the woods. Or take a class at trilliumcenter.org. Learn more about visionary plants at herbs for the thinning veil. Paid subscribers receive credit toward classes, gratitude for generosity. Click subscribe now for details.
Leenie, I love that you call it "herbcrafting adventures"
Oh my! Korean method so intense! If I can figure it a way to slow roast like that, I will try this year.