The health benefits of mugwort essential oil can be attributed to its properties as an anti-epileptic, anti-hysteric, cordial, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, nervine, stimulant, uterine, and a vermifuge substance.
Mugwort can be considered both famous and infamous. In China, its medicinal properties were used to treat various ailments, while in European countries like England and others, it was used in witchcraft and black magic. Mugwort essential oil is extracted by steam distillation of leaves, buds, and flowering tops of the Mugwort tree, which has the scientific name Artemisia Vulgaris [1]. The various components of this essential oil obtained from the plant are alpha thujone, beta thujone, cineole, camphene, and camphone.
Health Benefits of Mugwort Essential Oil
The various medicinal properties which provide us with health benefits of this oil are summarized below.
Anti-epileptic and Anti-hysteric
A study published in the journal Oncotarget in 2017 notes the use of mugwort for treating epilepsy in traditional herbal medicine in the United States. The soothing and the relaxing effects of this oil on the brain and the nervous system makes it calm down epileptic and hysteric attacks when they occur, while in the long run, it can even cure epilepsy and hysteria to a great extent. [2]
Emmenagogue
Blocked menstruations can be restarted with the help of this essential oil and can be made regular. Furthermore, other problems associated with periods, such as fatigue, headache, abdominal pains, and nausea can also be tackled with the help of this oil. This essential oil can also help avoid early or untimely menopause.
In the book The Western Herbal Tradition: 2000 Years of Medicinal Plant Knowledge, the authors mention that mugwort was traditionally used for delayed menstruation and pre-menstrual syndrome. [3]
Cordial
This oil has a warming effect on the body, which can be used to counter the effects of cold temperatures and moisture in the air. It also helps to fight infections.
Digestive
The Essential Oil of Mugwort is very efficient in curing digestive disorders that result from an abnormal flow of digestive juices or microbial infections. It regulates or stimulates the flow of digestive juices to facilitate digestion, along with inhibiting microbial infections in the stomach and the intestines to cure digestive disorders.
Diuretic
This property may be a great help for those who are suffering from chronic renal failure and an accumulation of water in the body or those who are suffering from renal calculi, obesity, hypertension, and symptoms associated with the accumulation of toxins in the body, such as rheumatism, arthritis, and gout. Being a diuretic, mugwort essential oil increases urination, both in frequency and quantity, which helps remove excess water, salts, fat (urine contains fats up to 4% of the total urine), and toxins like uric acid. This gives effective protection from the symptoms discussed above and makes the body feel lighter. This also facilitates digestion and increases appetite.
Nervine
This oil acts as a tonic for the nerves. It is effective in treating nervous afflictions and disorders, as well as in strengthening the nerves. Being a relaxant and a stimulant at the same time, this essential oil sedates the nerves’ afflictions and relaxes them in cases of shock or hyper-reactivity, while also stimulating them to make us more active and alert.
Stimulant
The effect of a stimulant can be seen on all the organs and the systems functioning in the body. Mugwort essential oil stimulates almost all the functions in the body, including circulation, the secretion of hormones and enzymes from endocrinal glands, the discharge of bile and other gastric juices into the stomach, the stimulation of nervous responses, neurons in the brain, palpitations, respiration, peristaltic motion of the intestines, menstrual discharges and the production and secretion of milk in the breasts. Many of these effects are due to its stimulating effects on certain hormones that regulate bodily functions.
Uterine
This oil maintains proper health of the uterus. It maintains proper uterine discharges and stimulates the production of certain hormones that keep the uterus functioning properly and safe from the effects of aging. It also protects you from uterine ulcers and tumors.
Vermifuge
The Essential Oil of Mugwort kills intestinal worms due to its toxic nature, but it should be administered in very mild doses to children. It is effective on both roundworms and tapeworms. Worms hinder normal growth and the absorption of nutrients in the body, making the body weak. Mugwort Oil can re-establish a normal growth pattern and bring strength back to the body by eliminating these worms. [4]
Other Benefits
It is used to treat amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea. It is also used to improve concentration and memory, particularly when mixed with essential oils of rosemary and sage.
A Few Words of Caution
This oil is toxic, irritant, neurotoxic, and abortifacient. That means, in common words, that it is poisonous, causes irritations, has toxic and narcotic effects on the brain and the nervous system and can cause abortions. It should never be used during pregnancy.
Blending: Mugwort essential oil forms fine blends with the essential oils of cedarwood, clary sage, Lavandin, oakmoss, patchouli, pine, rosemary, and sage.