The stems and leaves of mugwort contain different chemical components. For health preservation, mugwort leaves are primarily used. Their key chemical component is volatile oil, which exhibits antibacterial, antiviral, bronchodilatory, antitussive, expectorant, hemostatic, anticoagulant, and sedative effects. Additionally, the volatile oil in mugwort leaves has excellent permeability and moisturizing properties, helping to promote blood circulation. This makes it particularly suitable for sensitive or damaged skin.
Five Practical Ways to Use Mugwort
Beyond consuming mugwort, modern health practices commonly include moxibustion, mugwort fumigation, foot soaks, and baths.
Mugwort fluff is shaped into cones or sticks. When ignited, it delivers medicinal fumes or gentle heat to acupoints or affected areas. The resulting thermal stimulation and medicinal properties travel through meridians to warm channels, dispel cold, invigorate qi and blood, expel wind pathogens, tonify qi and yang, strengthen spleen and kidney functions, and bolster the body's defenses against pathogens.
The gentle heat from burning moxa sticks penetrates the skin, offering pronounced effects in warming meridians, dispelling cold, and alleviating pain. Combined with mugwort's antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it warms meridians and expels internal cold and dampness. Women experiencing chronic cold hands/feet or menstrual cramps can daily soak feet in mugwort-infused water. This not only boosts circulation but also treats athlete's foot—achieving dual benefits.
When used during bathing, mugwort's essential oils evaporate with steam, dispersing through the respiratory tract to kill bacteria and viruses. Moreover, the residual essential oils form a natural protective layer on the skin after bathing, not only relieving prickly heat and refreshing the skin but also repelling mosquitoes with its pleasant fragrance.
Five Practical Ways to Use Mugwort
Recommended Mugwort Wellness Remedies
1. Mugwort and ginger foot soak: Effective for treating wind-cold colds, arthritis, bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma.
2. Mugwort and safflower foot soak: Improves blood circulation and alleviates numbness or blood stasis in hands and feet.
3. Mugwort and salt foot soak: Suitable for those with upper body heat, alleviating red eyes, toothaches, sore throats, irritability, heat-cold imbalance, and leg swelling.
5. Liver and kidney yin deficiency is a primary cause of dark circles under the eyes. Soaking feet in mugwort water effectively dispels internal heat, thereby nourishing yin, tonifying the kidneys, and clearing excess heat. Soak several times daily; results are typically noticeable after about one week of consistent use. During this period, drink plenty of warm water, avoid cold foods, and ensure adequate rest.
That concludes our introduction to five simple mugwort remedies. We trust you now have a solid understanding. Finally, we sincerely wish you good health and happiness.