Comments on: Moonwort: Notes on External Use

By: Kiva Rose

Kiva Rose — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:15:17 +0000

Well, Yarrow has thujone too So much depends on context. Rosemary is a nice safe plant, but try drinking a bottle of Rosemary essential oil (well, don’t really, very dangerous) or Lemon, it’s quite a different experience from Rosemary tea or Lemonade. Isolating constituents and ingesting concentrated (and sometimes synthesized) forms of them is just asking for serious trouble. Whole plants contains a multitude of constituents that all work together, almost always making them safer and better medicines than anything isolated.

Some artemisia spp like tridadenta should be used in small amounts because they’re so strong (and they’ll make you gag if you try it in large amounts, yech) but most artemisias are safe in any reasonable amount (a cup or two of tea, if you can get it down or a couple droppers of tincture several times a day).

By: Filly

Filly — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:12:14 +0000

Is it true that mugwort is mildly toxic? I’ve read that it contains thujone, and there are those that argue against its use. I’m not an expert… just wondering, so thought I’d ask someone who is.

By: Marcus

Marcus — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:36:02 +0000

I love the underated plant. I like to take a bit of mugwort and a pinch of vinilla pipe tobacca, roll them both together between my fingers, making a several little balls out of the mix, then I put it in a regular tobacco pipe and smoke it.

Very smoke. I actuall prefer it to the other plant, depending on what mood I want to be in.

By: Kiva Rose

Kiva Rose — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:04:50 +0000

I like the taste too, Amber, very intense and depending on the time of year, extremely bitter. I try to warn people though, because I have forgotten at times and had people freak out a little over the taste LOL

Kristena, I don’t think anyone else calls it that, it’s just what I’ve always called her, especially the A. vulgaris and A. ludoviciana….

SUCH a wonderful plant ally! So glad ya’ll enjoyed the post.

Darcey, I do love her for heartburn, I think that’s the first thing I used her for because you’d told me about that. She might be my favorite bitter, and definitely my favorite aromatic bitter.

By: Kristena 'dreamseeds'

Kristena 'dreamseeds' — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:21:32 +0000

Wow….that info is so helpful to me. I have some growing on my property and a friend who recently granduated with his bachelors in horticulture told me is is mugwort ~artemisia vulgaris.

There is Botrychium lunaria that is called moonwort too so I am glad you shared that:) I did not know that name moonwort is used for the same plant.

By: Amber Magnolia

Amber Magnolia — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:27:58 +0000

Mmmm, I LOVE mugwort! She was actually my primary initiation into herbwifery. A dear and magical friend introduced me to her on a summer solstice, and then later that day I met the woman who would years later become my teacher, at the prompting of that same dear friend.
Last fall I set out on a walk determined to find her growing near my home. And, of course, I did! Judith Berger says in Herbal Rituals that if you are on an herbal path, mugwort will show up (she tells the story of a student of hers who even found it growing in her 2nd story planter box!). This spring, at that same spot, the mugwort has at least quadrupled! I believe she is greeting me, thanking me for acknowledging her in the overlooked grove where she grows. And I certainly plan on giving thanks and expressing my joy at her existence by making all kinds of medicine from her.
Oh, and I also like the taste. I always eat a leaf when I visit mugwort. She opens me up to everything else around me. And makes my womb happy.
Thanks for the amazing knowledge you share.

By: shamana flora

shamana flora — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:21:52 +0000

Great post on this much underused friend. I remember way back when I suggested her to you. I’m so glad she was such a good friend then , and continuing on!
Yay for moonwort. Funny havent really used much since I left the desert, but there’s like 3 species of moonworts around here. May be going to get some springy type moonwort soon. Thanks for the reminder!

Have you ever tried it for heartburn? Works amazingly for heart burn with associated anxiety in the middle of night.