Mugwort

What it is

Mugwort is a common herbaceous plant of the daisy family (Asteraceae) that grows across much of the world; its dried above-ground parts (Artemisiae vulgaris herba) are the medicinal raw material. It contains an essential oil, flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones, and its oil can contain thujone and camphor. Burned mugwort is the 'moxa' used in moxibustion.

What the research says

Mugwort has long traditional use for digestive and gynaecological complaints, and laboratory and animal studies report antioxidant, antispasmodic and other effects. We found no randomised trial of mugwort taken by mouth in people. The best human evidence concerns moxibustion (burning mugwort near an acupuncture point to turn a breech baby), which is not oral use: a Cochrane review found a probable small benefit, and a separate trial found none. The main documented harm is allergy: mugwort pollen is a major allergen that cross-reacts with foods such as celery and spices, and people sensitised to it have had severe reactions after eating related products. Its essential oil can contain thujone, which EFSA lists as a substance of concern.

Evidence grade: Not supported by the research.

What goes wrong

Mugwort pollen allergy is linked to allergic reactions to plant foods (celery-mugwort-spice syndrome), ranging from mouth itching to severe anaphylaxis. (Source 1)

• Expert review, not systematic, Low certainty.
• Size: n/a.
• Who: people with weed pollen allergy.
• How long: n/a.
• Result: No rates given.
• Funding: not stated.

The symptoms of such pollen-food syndromes (PFS) or class 2 food allergies range from local oral allergy syndrome to severe systemic anaphylaxis.

A case report described anaphylaxis after eating honey from daisy-family flowers in a young woman sensitised to mugwort and related pollens. (Source 2)

• Case report, Very low certainty.
• Size: 1 patient.
• Who: 19-year-old woman with Compositae pollen allergy.
• How long: single exposure.
• Result: Angioedema, dyspnoea and collapse requiring hospitalisation.
• Funding: not stated.

ten minutes after eating bread and honey she developed angioedema of the lips and tongue, runny nose, cough, dyspnoea, and collapse

Two patients allergic to mugwort pollen had anaphylaxis after eating snails, suggesting a cross-reaction. (Source 3)

• Case series, Very low certainty.
• Size: 2 patients.
• Who: adults with mugwort pollen asthma/rhinitis.
• How long: n/a.
• Result: IgE-mediated anaphylaxis.
• Funding: no conflict declared.

This new entity representing cross-reactivity between AV and HA could be named Snail-Artemisia Syndrome.

A 2025 review warns that sesquiterpene lactones in daisy-family herbs, including Artemisia, can cause systemic reactions in sensitised people who swallow them. (Source 4)

• Expert review, not systematic, Low certainty.
• Size: n/a.
• Who: users of Asteraceae herbal medicines.
• How long: n/a.
• Result: No rates given.
• Funding: no conflict declared.

Moreover, SLs have the potential to incite systemic reactions, posing a risk to sensitized individuals upon ingestion.

In human blood cells in the laboratory, water and acetone extracts of mugwort damaged chromosomes (increased micronuclei) at all tested concentrations. (Source 5)

• Lab study in cells, Very low certainty.
• Size: n/a.
• Who: human lymphocytes in vitro.
• How long: n/a.
• Result: Increased micronucleus frequency at 10-250 µg/mL.
• Funding: not stated.

CBMN assay showed that aqueous extract of A. vulgaris significantly increased micronucleus (MN) frequency in the PBLs treated with all tested concentrations

Mugwort essential oil varies widely in composition between wild populations, with some oils containing about 9-11% trans-thujone. (Source 6)

• Lab study in cells, Very low certainty.
• Size: 15 wild populations.
• Who: plant samples.
• How long: n/a.
• Result: trans-thujone 8.9% and 10.9% in two oils.
• Funding: not stated.

trans-thujone (8.9 and 10.9%, two oils) and cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (10.4%, one oil)

EFSA (2019) position: thujones, camphor and 1,8-cineole in mugwort essential oil are listed as substances of concern, and one raw-material sample contained 268.5 mg/kg thujones. (Source 7)

• Official position, Certainty not rated.
• Size: single sample analysed.
• Who: n/a.
• How long: n/a.
• Result: Thujones 268.5 mg/kg in raw material.
• Funding: government (EFSA)

Thujones were detected at concentrations of 268.5 mg/kg, 1,8‐cineole 75.4 mg/kg and camphor 5.9 mg/kg in the raw material prior to extraction

EFSA (2019) found no information on contaminants in a mugwort tincture and could not conclude it was safe for consumers. (Source 7)

• Official position, Certainty not rated.
• Size: n/a.
• Who: n/a.
• How long: n/a.
• Result: Safety could not be concluded.
• Funding: government (EFSA)

No information on the concentrations of undesirable compounds in the tincture is given.

What the evidence supports

A 2020 review summarised mostly laboratory findings for mugwort extracts, including antioxidant, liver-protective and antispasmodic effects. (Source 8)

• Expert review, not systematic, Very low certainty.
• Size: n/a.
• Who: mainly in-vitro and animal studies.
• How long: n/a.
• Result: Descriptive.
• Funding: no conflict declared.

numerous authors have confirmed the beneficial properties of A. vulgaris herb extracts, including their antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antispasmolytic, antinociceptive, estrogenic, cytotoxic, antibacterial, and antifungal effects

What the evidence does not support

A 2026 systematic review of Artemisia species for metabolic disease found the human clinical evidence still limited. (Source 9)

• Systematic review, Very low certainty.
• Size: 28 Artemisia species (mostly animal and in-vitro)
• Who: mixed.
• How long: n/a.
• Result: No pooled human effect.
• Funding: no conflict declared.

However, clinical investigations into the effects of Artemisia on metabolic disorders in humans are still limited.

A randomised trial of 200 women found moxibustion (burning mugwort near an acupuncture point, not oral use) made no significant difference to breech position, overall or in first-time or experienced mothers. (Source 10)

• Randomized trial, Low certainty.
• Size: 200 women.
• Who: women at 33 weeks with a breech baby.
• How long: 2 weeks.
• Result: All women RR 1.05 (95% CI 0.8 to 1.38); nulliparous RR 1.17 (0.77 to 1.76); parous RR 1.0 (0.69 to 1.46). The authors state an RR > 1 favours moxibustion.
• Funding: none (stated)

Limit of this finding: The abstract says 'an RR > 1 favours moxibustion', which is the reverse of how a risk ratio for breech position would normally be read, and the closing bracket in that sentence has no opening bracket, so the direction convention is unclear. It does not change the conclusion: every confidence interval (all women 0.8 to 1.38, first-time mothers 0.77 to 1.76, women who had given birth before 0.69 to 1.46) includes 1, so no difference was shown in any group. Do not read any of these ratios as showing benefit or harm.

No significant difference regarding the incidence of breech position was found in the moxibustion group compared with the control group (risk ratio (RR) = 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8-1.38); nor in nulliparous (RR = 1.17, 95% CI: 0.77-1.76) or in parous women (RR = 1.0, 95% CI: 0.69-1.46); an RR > 1 favours moxibustion).

Where the evidence is mixed

Cochrane (2023): moxibustion (burned mugwort, not oral) plus usual care probably slightly reduces non-head-first babies at birth, but probably has little or no effect on caesarean rates. (Source 11)

• Systematic review, Moderate certainty.
• Size: 13 studies, 2,181 women.
• Who: pregnant women with breech baby.
• How long: varied.
• Result: Non-cephalic at birth RR 0.87 (0.78 to 0.99); caesarean RR 0.94 (0.83 to 1.05)
• Funding: not stated in abstract.

Adding moxibustion to usual care probably has little to no effect on the chance of caesarean section (6 trials, 1030 women; RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.05, I2 = 0%; moderate-certainty evidence).

Where the research disagrees

Whether moxibustion (burned mugwort) turns breech babies

• Coyle et al., Cochrane 2023, systematic review of 13 trials, GRADE: the combination of moxibustion plus usual care probably reduces the chance of non-cephalic presentation at birth (Source 11)
• Bue & Lauszus 2016, single RCT, 200 women: No significant difference regarding the incidence of breech position was found in the moxibustion group compared with the control group (Source 10)

How much

• Reference intake: No reference intake exists; mugwort is not a nutrient. We found no dietary reference value from any body. (Source 12)
• Upper limit: No upper limit for mugwort itself has been set in the sources we reviewed. EFSA's FEEDAP Panel (2019) could not conclude on the safety of a mugwort tincture for consumers. (Source 12)
• Studied: No trial of oral mugwort in people was found. Human trials used moxibustion (burning mugwort sticks near an acupuncture point) daily for about two weeks. (Source 10)

A common belief, and what the research shows

The belief: Mugwort is a proven herbal remedy for digestion and women's health.

What the research shows: The claimed benefits come mainly from tradition and laboratory work. A 2026 systematic review said 'clinical investigations into the effects of Artemisia on metabolic disorders in humans are still limited.' We found no oral human trials.

Questions and answers

What is it?

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is a common wild plant of the daisy family. Its dried leaves and flowering tops are used as an herb, a spice and, when burned, as moxa. (Source 8)

What does it do in the body?

Laboratory studies report many effects of mugwort extracts, but these have not been confirmed in human trials of mugwort taken by mouth. (Source 9)

Is it good or bad for you?

No benefit of oral mugwort is established in people. It is a strong pollen allergen that can cross-react with foods, and its oil can contain thujone, which EFSA lists as a substance of concern. (Source 1)

How do you get more of it?

Mugwort is used as a spice and sold as dried herb or tinctures; no trial has tested an oral dose in people. (Source 8)

If it is harmful, what reduces it?

For people allergic to mugwort pollen, related foods and products can trigger reactions; the literature describes reactions after eating cross-reacting foods such as celery, spices, honey and snails. (Source 1)

Why might someone be low in it or missing it?

Does not apply. Mugwort is not a nutrient, so there is no deficiency. (Source 8)

We searched: PubMed searches on Artemisia vulgaris; no deficiency concept exists for a non-essential herb.

Which whole foods contain it or feed it?

Mugwort itself is the food: it is used as a culinary spice. (Source 8)

What happens if you do not have it?

Nothing is known to happen; mugwort is not essential. (Source 8)

We searched: PubMed; no deficiency syndrome is described.

How can you test for it?

There is no test for mugwort intake. Skin prick tests and blood IgE tests are used to diagnose mugwort pollen allergy; in the case reports, skin prick tests were positive to mugwort. (Source 2)

References

1. Allergy. Pollen-food syndromes associated with weed pollinosis: an update from the molecular point of view. 2006. PMID 16512809, DOI 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2006.00994.x. Read the source
2. Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. Anaphylaxis to honey in pollinosis to mugwort: a case report. 2006. PMID 17274522. Read the source
3. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). Snail-induced anaphylaxis in patients with underlying Artemisia vulgaris pollinosis: the role of carbohydrates. 2024. PMID 38186194, DOI 10.15586/aei.v52i1.966. Read the source
4. Health Sci Rep. Allergic Potential of Medicinal Plants From the Asteraceae Family. 2025. PMID 39995792, DOI 10.1002/hsr2.70398. Read the source
5. Drug Chem Toxicol. Comparative study of the genotoxic activity of Artemisia vulgaris L. and Artemisia alba Turra extracts in vitro. 2022. PMID 34844486, DOI 10.1080/01480545.2021.2007025. Read the source
6. Nat Prod Commun. Compositional Variability and Toxic Activity of Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) Essential Oils. 2016. PMID 30807041. Read the source
7. EFSA Journal (EFSA FEEDAP Panel). Safety and efficacy of a tincture derived from Artemisia vulgaris L. (Mugwort tincture) when used as a sensory additive in feed for all animal species. 2019. PMID 32626167, DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5879. Read the source
8. Molecules. Significance of Artemisia Vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications Substantiated by Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies. 2020. PMID 32992959, DOI 10.3390/molecules25194415. Read the source
9. Medicine (Baltimore). Therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Artemisia species on metabolic diseases: A systematic review. 2026. PMID 42332507, DOI 10.1097/MD.0000000000049379. Read the source
10. Dan Med J. Moxibustion did not have an effect in a randomised clinical trial for version of breech position. 2016. PMID 26836801. Read the source
11. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Cephalic version by moxibustion for breech presentation. 2023. PMID 37158339, DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD003928.pub4. Read the source
12. EFSA Journal (EFSA FEEDAP Panel). Safety and efficacy of a tincture derived from Artemisia vulgaris L. (Mugwort tincture) (conclusions). 2019. PMID 32626167, DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5879. Read the source