MUGWORT or WORMWOOD

Description

Vivaceous plant, erect, scented, very branched, perennial; 60-120 cm high. Leaves are dark green on their upper side and tomentose white on the reverse, with numerous tiny capitulae of reddish-brown color, arranged in large dense bunches, foliate. Erect capitulae, ovoid, 3-4 mm long with yellow flowers that form a long pyramidal raceme, with involucral bracts covered by dense tomentum, with wide scarious margin. Basal leaves, 5-8 cm, largely pedunculate, pinnatifid; cauline leaves toothed and embracing, segments of last order lanceolate. Fruit is a glabrous achene.

Widespread ruderal species in Europe, Asia and North America. It grows in non-cultivated areas, roadsides, banks, etc. preferably in the northern half of Spain.

Blooming takes place during summer. Harvesting of the leaves takes place before blooming, whereas harvesting of the flowering apex is carried out during blooming. Fast drying in the shade.

Part used

Leaves and flower apex. Sometimes the root, too.

Indications

• Lack of appetite, flatulence, hepatobiliary dyskinesia, gastrointestinal spasms, vomits. Constipation or diarrhea.
• Dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea.
• Helminthiasis.
• Irritability, nervous strain, insomnia, anxiety and restlessness.

Bibliography

British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, 1983.

Pharmacopée Française IX Édition.

Plantas Medicinales.  Thérapeutique-Toxicité. Christiane Vigneau.  Masson,  Paris 1985.

Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Norman Grainger Bisset (Ed). Max Wichtl. CRC Press.1994.

Plantas Medicinales y Drogas Vegetales para infusión y tisana. Edición española a cargo de: Salvador Cañigueral, Roser Vila, Max Wichtl.1998.

Plantas Medicinales.  Margarita Fernandez y Ana Nieto. Ed Universidad de Navarra.  EUNSA 1982.

Matière Médicale (tomo III).  RR Paris- H. Moyse. Masson 1981.

The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Therapeutic Guide To Herbal Medicines. Mark Blumenthal. American Botanical Council 1998.

Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Jean Bruneton. Lavoisier Publishing.

Fitoterapia: Vademecum de Prescripción. B. Vanaclocha, S. Cañigueral.Editorial Masson, 4ªedición.

Plantas Medicinales. El Dioscórides Renovado. Pio Font Quer.

Guía de Campo de las Flores de Europa. Oleg Polunin. Ediciones Omega S.A. Barcelona, 1977.

Farmacognosia. J Bruneton. Editorial Acribia 2ª edición.