Herbs & Botanicals · Herbs · Old women's-health and gut herb of the daisy family, with very little human research on the herb itself

Mugwort

Q: Does mugwort work for anything?

There is not enough research to say. NCCIH states there is not enough evidence to know whether mugwort is safe or useful for any health condition. The best evidence is for moxibustion in breech babies, which is a different technique from taking mugwort.

Q: What is the difference between mugwort and moxibustion?

Moxibustion burns mugwort near the skin and works through heat on an acupoint. The Cochrane review of breech-baby moxibustion cannot tell us whether tea or capsules are safe or useful, and no oral trial was found.

Q: Can mugwort turn a breech baby?

Moxibustion, not oral mugwort, probably lowers the chance of a breech baby at birth a little (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.99, moderate-certainty), but not the caesarean rate. A Danish trial found no effect. Talk with a midwife or doctor before trying it.

Q: Is mugwort safe in pregnancy?

No. NCCIH says mugwort should not be used during pregnancy. Traditional use for women's health and a rat study showing blocked implantation are the reasons for caution. No human pregnancy safety data were found.

Q: Is mugwort safe while breastfeeding?

Not enough is known, so avoid it unless a clinician agrees.

Q: What is celery-mugwort-spice syndrome?

People allergic to mugwort pollen can also react to celery, especially celery root, and some spices, because of shared allergen proteins. In 79 people with celery allergy, 77% had IgE to mugwort pollen, and 49 had whole-body reactions. Anyone with this pattern should avoid mugwort products and see an allergy specialist.

Q: Can mugwort cause allergy if I am allergic to chamomile or daisies?

It can. Mugwort and chamomile cross-react: in 24 mugwort-sensitised people, 13 reacted to chamomile tea in a challenge. Mugwort is also named among daisy-family plants suspected of whole-body skin reactions.

Q: What is thujone and why does it matter?

Thujone is an oil component that blocks the brain's GABA-A receptor and causes convulsions in animals at high doses. The amount varies: one raw plant sample had about 268.5 mg/kg and none was found in the tincture batches tested. A review gives a rough allowable intake of 3-7 mg per day.

Q: Could mugwort trigger seizures?

No human case was found, but thujone lowers the seizure threshold in animals. People with epilepsy or on seizure medicine should avoid mugwort.

Q: Does mugwort interact with medicines?

Evidence is theoretical or from animals and cells: seizure and calming medicines (thujone's GABA-A action), drugs cleared by CYP2A6/3A4/2B6, hormone treatments and diabetes drugs. Ask a pharmacist.

Artemisia vulgaris L. · also called Mugwort, common wormwood, felon herb, beifuss (German), armoise commune (French), artemisa (Spanish)

Mugwort is a daisy-family plant whose aerial parts have been used in Chinese, Hindu and European medicine for gut and gynaecological problems. Burning it near the skin is called moxibustion. Evidence for taking it by mouth is almost absent, and it carries real cautions in pregnancy, allergy and for people at risk of seizures.

General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update October 25, 2026 · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made

About Mugwort

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is an old daisy-family herb with very little human research. The moxibustion evidence for breech babies is a separate technique. Allergy, pregnancy and thujone cautions are the best-documented points.

What it is

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is a daisy-family plant that grows across Europe, parts of Asia and Africa, and North America. The herb used is the aerial parts. Its main chemical groups are essential oil, flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones.

Medieval Europe called it the 'mother of herbs'. Traditional Chinese, Hindu and European medicine used it for gut and gynaecological problems.

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Traditional and current uses

NCCIH says mugwort is promoted by mouth for anxiety, menstrual cramps, high blood pressure and insomnia, and on the skin in a mix for raised scars. We found no human trial of oral mugwort for any of these.

Southeast Asian women's health traditions list it among the most often reported plants.

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Moxibustion is a separate topic

Moxibustion burns mugwort close to the skin at acupoints. The best-studied use is for breech babies, where a Cochrane review found a small effect on baby position but not on caesarean rate. It tells us nothing about swallowed mugwort. We cover it separately and label it each time.

Allergy shots made from mugwort pollen are another separate product.

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What the research shows

Little human research exists on the herb itself. NCCIH says there is not enough evidence to say mugwort is useful or safe for any condition. The studies we found are of moxibustion, of Artemisia extracts where the species was not named, and of allergy treatments. Everything else is lab or animal work.

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At a glance

Traditional uses history, not proof

Gut and gynaecological complaints in traditional Chinese, Hindu and European medicine
Women's health uses in Southeast Asian traditions
Moxibustion on acupoints, including for breech babies

Studied for research

Breech baby position (moxibustion), moderate
Blood pressure (moxibustion), very low
Blood sugar (Artemisia extracts, species unstated), very low
Period problems, anxiety and sleep: no human trial found

Main compounds

Essential oil (varies: davanones, germacrene D, 1,8-cineole, camphor, thujones)
Flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones
Pollen allergen Art v 1 (pollen, not the herb)

Common forms

Dried aerial parts as tea or powder
Extracts and tinctures
Essential oil (concentrated; riskier)
Moxa sticks or cones for burning near the skin

Research links: NCCIH: Mugwort usefulness and safety · EFSA opinion on mugwort tincture (animal feed) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library

The plant and its history

Accepted scientific name: Artemisia vulgaris L.
Naming authority: L. (Linnaeus); ACCEPTED in the GBIF backbone (key 3120946), exact match; species rank, active, in NCBI Taxonomy (taxid 4220). Checked 2026-10-25.
Synonyms: Artemisia indica var. heyneana Wall.; Artemisia vulgaris var. coarctica Besser; Artemisia parvifolia Besser
Common names: Mugwort (English); Common wormwood (English); Felon herb (English); Gemeiner Beifuss (German); Armoise commune (French); Bijvoet (Dutch); Assenzio selvatico (Italian); Gra-bynke (Danish)
Botanical family: Asteraceae (daisy family, also called Compositae)
Classification: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Asterales > Asteraceae > Artemisia > Artemisia vulgaris
Native range: NCCIH: native to Europe and parts of Asia and Africa; now grows in many parts of the world, including North America.
Habitat: Not verified in the sources read.
What the plant looks like: Roots: Not verified in the sources read.; Stems: Not verified in the sources read.; Leaves: Not verified in the sources read.; Flowers: Not verified; the herb used is the aerial parts (Artemisiae vulgaris herba) per the 2020 review.; Fruit: Not relevant to medicinal use.
Cultivation: The 2020 review mentions micropropagation studies. Otherwise not verified.
Harvest and processing: Not verified. A Serbian study found oil yield and composition change when dried plant is stored for a year.
Look-alikes and adulterants: Name: Artemisia absinthium (wormwood); Note: A different species with its own EU monographs; used in absinthe. GBIF and the sources read treat it as separate.; Name: Other Artemisia species used for moxa; Note: Trial abstracts name A. vulgaris, but regional moxa may come from other Artemisia species. Not verified in the sources read.; Name: Ragweed (Ambrosia); Note: A different daisy-family genus with unrelated main pollen allergen (Amb a 1 vs Art v 1) but shared profilin; relevant to cross-reactions.
Sustainability and conservation: Not assessed in the sources read.

Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof

Tradition or era	Documented use	Source
Medieval Europe	Called the 'mother of herbs' in the Middle Ages (2020 review and NCCIH).	p32992959
Traditional Chinese, Hindu and European medicine	Used to regulate the gut and to treat gynaecological problems (2020 review; NCCIH).	p32992959
Southeast Asian women's health traditions	Among the most often reported species for fertility, menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth uses.	p24269772
Chinese moxibustion	Burned near acupoints such as BL67 for breech baby; 'moxa' is the Japanese name for A. vulgaris according to the 1998 JAMA trial.	p9820259
Modern regulation	The 2020 review says the European Pharmacopoeia lists the species as a potential homeopathic raw material. No EU herbal medicine monograph found. Wikipedia-only claims were not used.	p32992959

Traditional use shows how a plant was used. It does not show that a supplement works or is safe today.

What is inside, and how it may work

What the plant contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.

Main compounds

Compound	Family	Where it is concentrated	Activity studied	Level of evidence
alpha-Thujone PubChem 261491	monoterpene ketone	Aerial parts and essential oil (variable) Thujones about 268.5 mg/kg in one raw plant sample; not detected in five tincture batches (EFSA)	Blocks GABA-A receptors in lab and animal tests; convulsant at high doses. ^{10 8 20}	Laboratory research
beta-Thujone PubChem 91456	monoterpene ketone	Aerial parts and essential oil (variable) Included in the EFSA thujone total	Thujone isomer; the lab work focused on alpha-thujone. ^{10 20}	Laboratory research
1,8-Cineole PubChem 2758	monoterpene	Essential oil 16.4% in one Lithuanian oil	Oil component; oils rich in it were toxic to brine shrimp. ¹⁴	Laboratory research
Camphor PubChem 2537	monoterpene ketone	Essential oil The abstract names camphor acetate at 10.4% in one oil	Oil component linked to toxicity in the shrimp assay. ¹⁴	Laboratory research
Davanones PubChem 519782	sesquiterpene	Essential oil 13.8-45.5% in six oils	Main component of a davanone chemotype. ¹⁴	Laboratory research
Germacrene D PubChem 5317570	sesquiterpene	Essential oil 9.1-30.5% in four oils	Main component in some oils. ¹⁴	Laboratory research
Sesquiterpene lactones (class)	sesquiterpene lactones	Herb	Reported in the herb; daisy-family sesquiterpene lactones can sensitise skin. ^{11 19}	Laboratory research
Flavonoids (class)	flavonoids	Herb	Reported in the herb alongside antioxidant and antispasm activity in lab studies. ¹¹	Laboratory research
Art v 1 (pollen allergen, protein)	defensin-like glycoprotein	Pollen	Major mugwort pollen allergen; closely linked to celery Api g 7 allergy. ^{25 1}	Human data

Mechanisms, receptors and pathways

Target or pathway	Gene or receptor	What was found	Level
GABA-A receptor inhibition	GABA-A receptor	alpha-Thujone inhibited all tested receptor types, most strongly those for tonic inhibition. ^{8 20}	Laboratory research
Thujone metabolism	CYP2A6, CYP3A4, CYP2B6	Human liver preparations metabolise thujone mainly via CYP2A6. ²⁰	Laboratory research
IgE cross-reaction between mugwort pollen, celery and birch	Art v 1, Api g 7, profilin	Shared proteins explain mugwort-celery-spice and birch-mugwort-celery syndromes; Api g 7 IgE correlated with Art v 1 (r = 0.86). ^{1 2 25}	Human data
Oestrogen-like and anti-implantation action	Not identified	Leaf extract raised uterine weight in spayed young rats and blocked implantation. ²⁴	Animal research
Fetal activity after moxibustion	Not identified	Mothers counted more fetal movements with moxa at BL67 (48.45 vs 35.35). ⁵	Human data
Chromosome damage (micronuclei)	Not identified	A. vulgaris extracts increased micronuclei in human lymphocytes. ²¹	Laboratory research

Absorption, metabolism and elimination

Absorption: Not studied for mugwort herb in people in the sources read.
Distribution: Not studied.
Metabolism: For thujone, human liver preparations use CYP2A6 mainly, then CYP3A4 and CYP2B6.
Elimination: Not studied.
Bioavailability: Unknown; the thujone review names human bioavailability as a key gap.

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Isolated compounds versus whole extracts

Mugwort herb is a mixture of essential oil, flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones, and the mix varies by plant, place and storage. Thujone results come from the isolated compound or from other products, so they should not be assumed for any given mugwort product. Moxibustion burns the herb and gives smoke and heat, which is another exposure from tea or capsules.

Nutritional composition

Mugwort is used as a herb and flavouring; the 2020 review says it is a valued spice in the food industry. It is not a notable source of nutrients in the sources read.

10benefits and uses looked at

29studies and sources checked

Moderate certaintybest evidence rating found

8lab markers tracked in trials

1 moderate certainty4 very low certainty5 not enough evidence

What is Mugwort good for?

The main proposed uses and how strong the human evidence is for each. 'Insufficient' means no human trial was found. Moxibustion and allergy-shot rows are different products from mugwort taken by mouth.

Turning a breech baby (moxibustion, a different technique)Moderate certaintyMoxibustion means burning mugwort near a point on the little toe; it is not taking mugwort by mouth. A Cochrane review of 13 trials (2,181 women) rates the evidence moderate-certainty that it probably lowers the chance of a non-head-down baby at birth (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.99), but it probably does not change the caesarean rate. A Danish trial of 200 women found no effect. Side effects were poorly reported. Not a guide to swallowed mugwort. Period problems and women's healthNot enough evidenceTraditional use only. We found no human trial of mugwort tea, capsules or extract for periods. NCCIH says there is not enough evidence for any condition. A rat study of a leaf extract showed stopped implantation and an oestrogen-like effect, which is a reason for caution, not a benefit. Anxiety and sleepNot enough evidencePromoted for anxiety and insomnia, but no human trial was found. Thujone, a mugwort component, blocks the brain's calming GABA-A signal in lab tests, which does not support a calming action. Blood pressure (moxibustion on the foot)Very low certaintyA review of Chinese trials found moxibustion at a foot point plus drugs lowered systolic pressure by 4.91 mmHg more than drugs alone (95% CI -7.54 to -2.28), with no clear diastolic effect. Trial designs differed, and it is a heat technique, not an oral herb. Blood sugar and insulin resistanceVery low certaintyA meta-analysis of six trials of Artemisia extracts found a lower insulin-resistance score (HOMA-IR) but no clear change in fasting glucose, insulin or HbA1c. The species were not stated, so it may not apply to mugwort. Appetite in people on dialysisVery low certaintyOne trial of 58 people on haemodialysis found an Artemisia capsule for six weeks improved an appetite score more than placebo. The species was not named and blood measures did not change. Mugwort hay fever (allergy shots)Very low certaintyA very small 1995 trial found mugwort pollen extract injections lowered skin and eye sensitivity but did not clearly lower symptoms or medicine use. This is an allergy treatment, not a herbal use. Body warmth after moxibustionNot enough evidenceIn 38 healthy adults, mugwort moxibustion on the belly did not raise skin temperature. Digestion and gutNot enough evidenceTraditional Chinese, Hindu and European medicine used mugwort for the gut. No human trial was found. Antioxidant, liver-protective and other lab findingsNot enough evidenceLab and animal tests report antioxidant, liver-protective, antispasm, pain-relieving, oestrogen-like, cell-toxic and antimicrobial effects. These do not show effects in people.

Benefits, one by one

Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.

Turning a breech baby (moxibustion, a separate technique)

Moderate certainty

Moxibustion means burning a stick or cone of mugwort close to a point on the little toe. It is not the same as taking mugwort by mouth. A Cochrane review found it probably reduces the chance that a baby is still breech at birth, but it probably does not change the caesarean rate. Two single trials point in opposite directions.

3 studiesMugwort moxa sticks, rolls or cones burned near acupoint BL67; the ab…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

The 2023 Cochrane review pooled 13 trials (2,181 women). Compared with usual care alone, moxibustion plus usual care probably lowers the chance of a non-head-down baby at birth (7 trials, 1,152 women; RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.99; moderate-certainty). One trial against sham moxibustion (272 women) also favoured moxibustion (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.95; moderate-certainty). A 1998 open trial in China (260 first-time mothers) found 75.4% head-down at birth with moxibustion vs 62.3% with routine care. A 2016 Danish trial (200 women) found no effect (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.8 to 1.38).

Results

Small benefit for baby position; no clear change in caesarean section; side effects poorly reported.

Effect sizes as reported

Non-head-down at birth RR 0.87 (0.78 to 0.99); caesarean RR 0.94 (0.83 to 1.05); need for external version RR 0.62 (0.32 to 1.21, low-certainty); oxytocin use RR 0.28 (0.13 to 0.60, one trial).

Why this rating

Cochrane graded the baby-position result moderate-certainty. Trials cannot be blinded, results are mixed between trials, and this is a skin-heat technique, so it says nothing about the safety or benefit of eating or drinking mugwort.

Form and dose studied

Mugwort moxa sticks, rolls or cones burned near acupoint BL67; the abstracts read do not give duration or heat details.

Who was studied

Pregnant women at about 33 weeks with a single baby in breech position.

Limits

Not blinded in most trials; side effects poorly reported (one trial: 27 of 65 with moxibustion had nausea, smell, belly pain or uterine contractions vs 0 of 57 controls, very-low-certainty). Do not use burning-mugwort techniques in pregnancy without a trained midwife or doctor.

Why researchers looked

In traditional Chinese medicine, heat at acupoint BL67 on the little toe is used to encourage a breech baby to turn head-down in late pregnancy.

Traditional use

Moxibustion (burning mugwort near the skin) is an old technique in Chinese and other East Asian medicine. Moxa is the Japanese name for Artemisia vulgaris according to the 1998 JAMA trial.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

The JAMA trial proposed that the heat may increase fetal movement, which was higher in the treated group. How it might turn a baby is not proven.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Mugwort taken by mouth is not advised in pregnancy (see Safety). Moxibustion is a different exposure but the Cochrane review lists uterine contractions among reported side effects.

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Period problems and women's health (traditional use)

Not enough evidence

Mugwort has long been used for period pain and other women's health problems. We found no human trial of mugwort tea, capsules or extract for periods, so we cannot say whether it works. A rat study shows it can have strong effects on the womb and on implantation, which is a reason for caution.

4 studiesNot established. We make no claim about amounts.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No clinical trial of mugwort herb for periods or other gynaecological conditions was found in our PubMed searches. NCCIH states there is not enough evidence to say whether mugwort is useful for any health condition.

Results

No human results. Rats given a leaf extract at 300 and 600 mg per kg showed a 100% decrease in implant formation.

Effect sizes as reported

None in people.

Why this rating

No human trial found. Traditional use and one rat study cannot show benefit or safety.

Form and dose studied

Not established. We make no claim about amounts.

Who was studied

Not studied in people.

Limits

Searches were limited; trials in languages other than English or in non-indexed journals may exist.

Why researchers looked

Mugwort is promoted for menstrual cramps, and traditional medicine used it for gynaecological problems.

Traditional use

NCCIH says mugwort was used in traditional Chinese, Hindu and European medicine for gut and gynaecological problems. A review of Southeast Asian women's-health plants found Artemisia vulgaris among the most often reported species.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

A methanol (alcohol) leaf extract raised uterine weight in young spayed rats, which the authors read as an oestrogen-like effect, and stopped implantation in rats. This is animal data only.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Because of the traditional use as an agent that affects the womb and the rat anti-implantation result, anyone pregnant or trying to conceive should avoid mugwort herb unless a clinician says otherwise.

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Anxiety and sleep

Not enough evidence

Mugwort is promoted for anxiety and trouble sleeping, but we found no human trial of mugwort for either. There is nothing to rate.

3 studiesNot applicable.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No randomised trial for anxiety or sleep was found. NCCIH says there is not enough evidence for any condition.

Results

None.

Effect sizes as reported

None.

Why this rating

No human studies found.

Form and dose studied

Not applicable.

Who was studied

Not studied.

Limits

No evidence either way.

Why researchers looked

NCCIH lists anxiety and insomnia among the conditions mugwort is promoted for by mouth.

Traditional use

Used in folk medicine in several regions; the sources read give no specific traditional method for sleep or anxiety.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

No sleep or anxiety mechanism is established. The main known nerve effect is of thujone, which blocks GABA-A receptors (the calming brain signal) in lab and animal tests. That points the opposite way to a calming action.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Thujone's action on GABA-A receptors is why seizure-threshold caution appears in the Safety tab.

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Blood pressure (moxibustion on the sole of the foot)

Very low certainty

A systematic review of Chinese trials found burning mugwort at a point on the foot, added to blood-pressure drugs, lowered systolic pressure a little more than drugs alone. It is a skin-heat technique, not an oral herb, and the trials were mixed.

1 studiesMoxa (A. vulgaris) burned near acupoint KI 1.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

The 2014 review of randomised trials found systolic pressure was lower by 4.91 mmHg (95% CI -7.54 to -2.28) with moxibustion plus drugs than with drugs alone. Diastolic pressure showed no clear difference (-6.38; 95% CI -17.17 to 4.41).

Results

Small systolic drop as an add-on to drugs.

Effect sizes as reported

SBP WMD -4.91 mmHg (-7.54 to -2.28); DBP WMD -6.38 (-17.17 to 4.41).

Why this rating

The authors say trial designs differed; the abstract gives no quality rating or number of trials.

Form and dose studied

Moxa (A. vulgaris) burned near acupoint KI 1.

Who was studied

Adults with essential high blood pressure, mostly Chinese trials.

Limits

Mixed designs; not about oral mugwort; no quality grading in the abstract.

Why researchers looked

Moxibustion at acupoint KI 1 is used in Chinese medicine for high blood pressure.

Traditional use

Part of moxibustion practice in Chinese medicine.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

No mechanism is established in the abstract.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Do not replace blood-pressure medicine. Burn and smoke risks of moxibustion were not covered in the abstract.

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Blood sugar and insulin resistance (Artemisia extracts)

Very low certainty

A meta-analysis of six trials found Artemisia extracts lowered an insulin-resistance score (HOMA-IR) but not fasting glucose or HbA1c. The abstract does not say which Artemisia species were used, so it cannot be tied to mugwort.

1 studiesNot stated.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Six trials. HOMA-IR fell (standardised difference -0.734; 95% CI -1.236 to -0.232). Fasting glucose (-0.595; -1.566 to 0.376), insulin (-0.322; -1.047 to 0.404) and HbA1c (-0.106; -0.840 to 0.629) were not significantly changed.

Results

One marker improved; others did not.

Effect sizes as reported

HOMA-IR -0.734 (-1.236 to -0.232).

Why this rating

Few trials, mixed or unstated species, no quality rating in the abstract, and most markers unchanged.

Form and dose studied

Not stated.

Who was studied

People with impaired blood sugar control.

Limits

Species not specified; not mugwort-specific.

Why researchers looked

Daisy-family plants have been linked to anti-diabetic effects in animal and human studies.

Traditional use

Not described in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

Not given in the abstract.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

People taking diabetes medicine should not add herbs without telling their clinician, as blood sugar could fall.

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Appetite in people on dialysis (Artemisia capsules)

Very low certainty

One small Iranian trial found an Artemisia capsule improved an appetite score in people on haemodialysis. The species was not named in the abstract, so it may not be mugwort.

1 studiesArtemisia capsule, 250 mg per day, species and extract not stated.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

58 people aged 55 to 65 took 250 mg per day of an Artemisia capsule (26) or placebo (32) for six weeks. The appetite score improved more with Artemisia (p<0.05). Albumin, haemoglobin, urea, creatinine, arm size and BMI did not change significantly.

Results

Better appetite score; no change in blood measures.

Effect sizes as reported

No effect size or confidence interval in the abstract.

Why this rating

One small trial, species not stated, questionnaire outcome.

Form and dose studied

Artemisia capsule, 250 mg per day, species and extract not stated.

Who was studied

Adults on haemodialysis.

Limits

Small; unequal groups; single centre.

Why researchers looked

Poor appetite is a common problem in dialysis patients.

Traditional use

Not described.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

Not given.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Kidney patients should check any herb with their kidney team.

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Mugwort hay fever (allergy shots with mugwort pollen extract)

Very low certainty

Allergy shots made from purified mugwort pollen extract lowered skin and eye sensitivity to mugwort in a very small old trial, but symptoms and medicine use did not clearly fall. This treats mugwort allergy and is not a use of the herb.

1 studiesInjected mugwort pollen extract (allergen product).

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

25 adults with hay fever were randomised; 20 finished two years. Mugwort treatment (9 people) lowered skin (p<0.05) and eye (p<0.01) sensitivity to mugwort but not symptom scores or medicine use. Birch or grass treatment did reduce symptoms and medicine use in its own season.

Results

Skin and eye sensitivity down; symptoms not clearly improved.

Effect sizes as reported

p values only in the abstract.

Why this rating

20 completers, 1995, mixed results.

Form and dose studied

Injected mugwort pollen extract (allergen product).

Who was studied

Adults with seasonal hay fever.

Limits

Not herbal use; tiny trial.

Why researchers looked

Mugwort pollen is a major cause of late-summer hay fever in Europe.

Traditional use

Not a traditional use.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

Repeated small doses of the allergen are meant to reduce the immune reaction to it.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Allergen treatment is given by an allergy clinic, not at home.

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Body warmth after moxibustion

Not enough evidence

In healthy adults a session of mugwort moxibustion on the belly did not raise skin temperature.

1 studiesMoxa cones at CV 12 for 30 minutes.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

38 healthy adults had 30 minutes of A. vulgaris moxa and charcoal moxa in a cross-over trial. Mugwort moxa lowered temperature slightly at three points (not significant); charcoal moxa raised it slightly (not significant).

Results

No warming effect shown.

Effect sizes as reported

None significant.

Why this rating

One small pilot in healthy people.

Form and dose studied

Moxa cones at CV 12 for 30 minutes.

Who was studied

Healthy adults.

Limits

Pilot; skin temperature only.

Why researchers looked

Moxibustion is said to warm the body.

Traditional use

Warming is the traditional aim of moxibustion.

Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism

None established.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

None reported in the abstract.

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Digestion and gut (traditional use)

Not enough evidence

Mugwort has been used to regulate the digestive system in several traditions. No human trial of mugwort for digestion was found, so nothing can be rated.

2 studiesNot established.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No clinical trial found.

Results

None.

Effect sizes as reported

None.

Why this rating

No human studies.

Form and dose studied

Not established.

Who was studied

Not studied.

Limits

Traditional claims only.

Why researchers looked

Traditional use; mugwort is bitter and aromatic.

Traditional use

NCCIH and the 2020 review say traditional Chinese, Hindu and European medicine used it for gastrointestinal problems.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

Lab tests described in a review report antispasm activity of extracts.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

See the allergy and pregnancy warnings in the Safety tab.

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Antioxidant, liver-protective and other lab findings

Not enough evidence

In lab and animal tests mugwort extracts were antioxidant, liver-protective, antispasm, pain-relieving, oestrogen-like, cell-toxic and antimicrobial. These are early findings and do not show what happens in people.

1 studiesVarious extracts.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

None.

Results

Lab and animal results only.

Effect sizes as reported

Not given in the review abstract.

Why this rating

Lab and animal studies do not establish benefit in people.

Form and dose studied

Various extracts.

Who was studied

Cells and animals.

Limits

The review abstract does not separate cell, animal and human studies.

Why researchers looked

Researchers screen plant extracts in cells and animals.

Traditional use

Not applicable.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

Reported in a review as activities of essential oil, flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Some of the same lab work shows chromosome-damage signals (see Safety).

¹¹

Connections to the rest of health

How Mugwort connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.

Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes

Kind of connection Connected to Search

A. Wellness goals

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Womens Wellness	Potential benefit	Moderate certainty	Turning a breech baby (moxibustion, a separate technique): Moxibustion means burning a stick or cone of mugwort close to a point on the little toe. It is not the same as taking mugwort by mouth. A Cochrane review found it probably reduces the chance that a baby is still breech at birth, but it probably does not change the caesarean rate. Two single trials point in opposite directions.	^{7 5 4}
Womens Wellness	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Period problems and women's health (traditional use): Mugwort has long been used for period pain and other women's health problems. We found no human trial of mugwort tea, capsules or extract for periods, so we cannot say whether it works. A rat study shows it can have strong effects on the womb and on implantation, which is a reason for caution.	^{17 28 24 11}
Hormone Balance	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Period problems and women's health (traditional use): Mugwort has long been used for period pain and other women's health problems. We found no human trial of mugwort tea, capsules or extract for periods, so we cannot say whether it works. A rat study shows it can have strong effects on the womb and on implantation, which is a reason for caution.	^{17 28 24 11}
Anxiety Support	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Anxiety and sleep: Mugwort is promoted for anxiety and trouble sleeping, but we found no human trial of mugwort for either. There is nothing to rate.	^{17 8 20}
Better Sleep	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Anxiety and sleep: Mugwort is promoted for anxiety and trouble sleeping, but we found no human trial of mugwort for either. There is nothing to rate.	^{17 8 20}
Blood Pressure Support	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Blood pressure (moxibustion on the sole of the foot): A systematic review of Chinese trials found burning mugwort at a point on the foot, added to blood-pressure drugs, lowered systolic pressure a little more than drugs alone. It is a skin-heat technique, not an oral herb, and the trials were mixed.	²⁷
Heart Health	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Blood pressure (moxibustion on the sole of the foot): A systematic review of Chinese trials found burning mugwort at a point on the foot, added to blood-pressure drugs, lowered systolic pressure a little more than drugs alone. It is a skin-heat technique, not an oral herb, and the trials were mixed.	²⁷
Blood Sugar Balance	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Blood sugar and insulin resistance (Artemisia extracts): A meta-analysis of six trials found Artemisia extracts lowered an insulin-resistance score (HOMA-IR) but not fasting glucose or HbA1c. The abstract does not say which Artemisia species were used, so it cannot be tied to mugwort.	²²
Metabolic Health	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Blood sugar and insulin resistance (Artemisia extracts): A meta-analysis of six trials found Artemisia extracts lowered an insulin-resistance score (HOMA-IR) but not fasting glucose or HbA1c. The abstract does not say which Artemisia species were used, so it cannot be tied to mugwort.	²²
Digestive Support	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Appetite in people on dialysis (Artemisia capsules): One small Iranian trial found an Artemisia capsule improved an appetite score in people on haemodialysis. The species was not named in the abstract, so it may not be mugwort.	¹⁶
Immune Support	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Mugwort hay fever (allergy shots with mugwort pollen extract): Allergy shots made from purified mugwort pollen extract lowered skin and eye sensitivity to mugwort in a very small old trial, but symptoms and medicine use did not clearly fall. This treats mugwort allergy and is not a use of the herb.	¹⁸
Digestive Support	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Digestion and gut (traditional use): Mugwort has been used to regulate the digestive system in several traditions. No human trial of mugwort for digestion was found, so nothing can be rated.	^{17 11}
Gut Health	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Digestion and gut (traditional use): Mugwort has been used to regulate the digestive system in several traditions. No human trial of mugwort for digestion was found, so nothing can be rated.	^{17 11}
Inflammation Balance	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Antioxidant, liver-protective and other lab findings: In lab and animal tests mugwort extracts were antioxidant, liver-protective, antispasm, pain-relieving, oestrogen-like, cell-toxic and antimicrobial. These are early findings and do not show what happens in people.	¹¹
Liver Support	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Antioxidant, liver-protective and other lab findings: In lab and animal tests mugwort extracts were antioxidant, liver-protective, antispasm, pain-relieving, oestrogen-like, cell-toxic and antimicrobial. These are early findings and do not show what happens in people.	¹¹

B. Body systems

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Immune system	Adverse effect or risk	Moderate certainty	Pollen allergy and celery-mugwort-spice cross-reaction. Pollen allergy; celery-mugwort-spice syndrome. Preparation or compound: Mugwort pollen allergens (Art v 1) and herb	^{1 25 23}
Reproductive system	Contraindication	Low certainty	Not advised in pregnancy (NCCIH); rat anti-implantation result. Not advised in pregnancy; rat anti-implantation result. Preparation or compound: Mugwort herb; thujone	^{17 24}
Nervous system	Adverse effect or risk	Very low certainty	GABA-A receptor blocking; seizure caution. GABA-A blocking; seizure caution. Preparation or compound: Thujone	^{20 8}
Skin	Adverse effect or risk	Low certainty	Possible contact or systemic dermatitis in daisy-family sensitised people. Preparation or compound: Sesquiterpene lactones	^{19 15}
Reproductive System	Biological association	Moderate certainty	Studied for: Turning a breech baby (moxibustion, a separate technique) Studied for: Period problems and women's health (traditional use)	^{7 5 4 17 28 24 11}
Nervous System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Anxiety and sleep	^{17 8 20}
Cardiovascular System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Blood pressure (moxibustion on the sole of the foot)	²⁷
Metabolism Weight	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Blood sugar and insulin resistance (Artemisia extracts)	²²
Endocrine System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Blood sugar and insulin resistance (Artemisia extracts)	²²
Digestive System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Appetite in people on dialysis (Artemisia capsules) Studied for: Digestion and gut (traditional use)	^{16 17 11}
Immune System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Mugwort hay fever (allergy shots with mugwort pollen extract)	¹⁸
Respiratory System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Mugwort hay fever (allergy shots with mugwort pollen extract)	¹⁸
Musculoskeletal System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Body warmth after moxibustion	¹³
Hepatic System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Antioxidant, liver-protective and other lab findings	¹¹

I. Biomarkers

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Baby head-down at birth (moxibustion trials)	Biological association	Moderate certainty	Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{7 5 4}
Caesarean section (moxibustion trials)	Biological association	Moderate certainty	Measured in trials: no-change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	⁷
Fetal movements counted by the mother	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	⁵
HOMA-IR (insulin resistance score)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	²²
Fasting blood glucose	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: no-change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	²²
HbA1c	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: no-change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	²²
Systolic blood pressure	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	²⁷
Albumin and haemoglobin (dialysis trial)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: no-change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹⁶

J. Genes, receptors and enzymes

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
GABA-A receptor	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Target of alpha-thujone in lab tests.	⁸
CYP2A6	Preliminary mechanism	In vitro	Main enzyme for thujone metabolism in human liver preparations.	²⁰

K. Biological pathways

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Art v 1 / Api g 7	Preliminary mechanism	Human	Cross-reacting allergens linked to mugwort-celery syndrome.	^{1 23}

L. Active compounds

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
alpha-Thujone	Biological association	In vitro	Blocks GABA-A receptors in lab and animal tests; convulsant at high doses. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts and essential oil (variable)	^{10 8 20}
beta-Thujone	Biological association	In vitro	Thujone isomer; the lab work focused on alpha-thujone. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts and essential oil (variable)	^{10 20}
1,8-Cineole	Biological association	In vitro	Oil component; oils rich in it were toxic to brine shrimp. Preparation or compound: Essential oil	¹⁴
Camphor	Biological association	In vitro	Oil component linked to toxicity in the shrimp assay. Preparation or compound: Essential oil	¹⁴
Davanones	Biological association	In vitro	Main component of a davanone chemotype. Preparation or compound: Essential oil	¹⁴
Germacrene D	Biological association	In vitro	Main component in some oils. Preparation or compound: Essential oil	¹⁴
Sesquiterpene lactones (class)	Biological association	In vitro	Reported in the herb; daisy-family sesquiterpene lactones can sensitise skin. Preparation or compound: Herb	^{11 19}
Flavonoids (class)	Biological association	In vitro	Reported in the herb alongside antioxidant and antispasm activity in lab studies. Preparation or compound: Herb	¹¹
Art v 1 (pollen allergen, protein)	Biological association	Human	Major mugwort pollen allergen; closely linked to celery Api g 7 allergy. Preparation or compound: Pollen	^{25 1}

Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).

Evidence at a glance: what changed in 8 lab markers

Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.

Metabolic2 Organ function1 Other2111

The evidence

The research centre for Mugwort. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.

Evidence by outcome

Turning a breech baby (moxibustion, a separate technique) 3 studies · 460 people in trials Moderate certainty Period problems and women's health (traditional use) 4 studies Not enough evidence Anxiety and sleep 3 studies Not enough evidence Blood pressure (moxibustion on the sole of the foot) 1 studies Very low certainty Blood sugar and insulin resistance (Artemisia extracts) 1 studies Very low certainty Appetite in people on dialysis (Artemisia capsules) 1 studies · 58 people in trials Very low certainty Mugwort hay fever (allergy shots with mugwort pollen extract) 1 studies · 25 people in trials Very low certainty Body warmth after moxibustion 1 studies · 38 people in trials Not enough evidence Digestion and gut (traditional use) 2 studies Not enough evidence Antioxidant, liver-protective and other lab findings 1 studies Not enough evidence

Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).

How we rate evidence

High certainty

Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.

Moderate certainty

Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.

Low certainty

Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.

Very low certainty

Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.

Mixed findings

Trials or reviews disagree with each other.

Not enough evidence

Not enough human research to say either way.

Evidence against

Good research found no benefit, or found harm.

We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We searched PubMed and read the abstracts of every PubMed study cited, read the NCCIH mugwort page, read the EFSA mugwort tincture opinion through its PMC web version, and checked plant names in GBIF and NCBI Taxonomy and compounds in PubChem. Not verified: the EMA site could not be opened and no mugwort monograph was found; FDA, German Commission E, WHO, LiverTox and LactMed could not be confirmed. Most studies were read as abstracts only. Certainty ratings are the compiler's reading except where Cochrane's own grades are quoted.

Study library: every study we checked 29

Design Research type Plant part Year from Search

Study	Design	People	Product, dose, length	Result
Ballmer-Weber 2024 New light on an old syndrome: Role of Api g 7 in mugwort pollen-related celery allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol · PMID 38763171 · DOI	Cross sectional (diagnostic) study	79 Adults and children with confirmed celery allergy	Blood IgE tests to celery and mugwort allergens Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	77% had IgE to mugwort pollen and 80% to birch pollen. 49 of 79 had whole-body reactions. IgE to the celery protein Api g 7 (52% of patients) tracked closely with mugwort Art v 1 (r = 0.86). Sensitised to Api g 7 vs not: odds of a severe allergic reaction about 6 times greater (OR 5.87; 95% CI 1.08 to 32.0). Mugwort-linked celery allergy can be severe (OR 5.87 (1.08 to 32.0)) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: IgE to celery and mugwort allergens; reaction severity Limitations: Selected celery-allergic patients; wide confidence interval; some authors work for a diagnostics company. Funding and conflicts: Some authors are employed by Thermo Fisher Scientific (test maker) Read: abstract
Bauer 1996 IgE cross-reactivity between birch pollen, mugwort pollen and celery is due to at least three distinct cross-reacting allergens: immunoblot investigation of the birch-mugwort-celery syndrome. Clin Exp Allergy · PMID 8911702 · DOI	Lab (serum) study	38 23 people with celery allergy and 15 with celery antibodies but no symptoms	Blood serum tests with birch, mugwort and celery extracts Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Birch pollen, mugwort pollen and celery share cross-reacting proteins (Bet v 1 relatives, profilin and a 46-60 kD group). The authors propose widening the mugwort-celery syndrome to a birch-mugwort-celery syndrome. Explains the cross-allergy (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Shared allergen proteins Limitations: Small lab study. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Blagojevic 2006 Chemical composition of the essential oils of Serbian wild-growing Artemisia absinthium and Artemisia vulgaris. J Agric Food Chem · PMID 16787028 · DOI	Lab analysis in-vitro	Wild plants from Serbia	Essential oils of A. absinthium and A. vulgaris (aerial parts and roots) aerial parts and roots Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Oil yield and composition changed significantly during one year of storage of dried plant, and differed between roots and aerial parts. The oils had broad antimicrobial activity in the lab. Oil makeup depends on plant part and storage (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Oil composition; effect of storage Limitations: The abstract does not list thujone amounts. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Bue 2016 Moxibustion did not have an effect in a randomised clinical trial for version of breech position. Dan Med J · PMID 26836801	Controlled trial	200 Women at 33 weeks with a single breech baby, Denmark	Moxibustion with a burning stick containing Artemisia vulgaris moxa stick (mugwort) Daily 2 weeks (average 16 days) · vs No moxibustion	No significant difference: RR 1.05 (95% CI 0.8 to 1.38); also none in first-time mothers (RR 1.17, 0.77 to 1.76) or women with earlier births (RR 1.0, 0.69 to 1.46). No effect found (RR 1.05 (0.8 to 1.38)) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Breech position after the trial Limitations: Not blinded; the abstract does not describe sham treatment. Funding and conflicts: Funding: none. Registered NCT02251886. Registration: NCT02251886 Read: abstract
Cardini 1998 Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA · PMID 9820259 · DOI	Controlled trial	260 First-time mothers at 33 weeks with breech baby, China	Moxa (Artemisia vulgaris) rolls at acupoint BL67 moxa rolls (mugwort) Not stated in the abstract 7 days, plus 7 more if still breech · vs Routine care without breech treatment (open trial)	Mean fetal movements 48.45 vs 35.35 (P<.001). Head-down at 35 weeks: 98 of 130 (75.4%) vs 62 of 130 (47.7%) (RR 1.58, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.94). At birth 75.4% vs 62.3% (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.43), even though 24 controls and 1 treated woman had external version. More babies head-down after moxibustion (RR 1.21 (1.02 to 1.43) head-down at birth) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Fetal movements; head-down position at 35 weeks and at birth Limitations: Open (unblinded) trial with no sham treatment; Chinese hospitals only; 1998. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Chen 2011 Spice allergy. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol · PMID 21875536 · DOI	Narrative review	Not applicable	Spices and spice allergy unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Spice allergy seems rare (4 to 13 per 10,000 adults reported) but is probably underdiagnosed. Sensitisation is mostly by breathing in cross-reacting pollens, particularly mugwort and birch. Diagnosis rests on history and oral challenge; treatment is strict avoidance, which labelling can make hard. Mugwort pollen allergy can lead to spice reactions (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Spice allergy, cause and diagnosis Limitations: Review; not specific to mugwort herb. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Coyle 2023 Cephalic version by moxibustion for breech presentation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 37158339 · DOI	Systematic review	2181 Pregnant women with a single baby in breech position (13 trials)	Moxibustion (burning a mugwort herb stick near an acupuncture point on the little toe, BL67) added to usual care moxa (mugwort) burned near skin, not taken by mouth Not stated in the abstract Not stated in the abstract · vs Usual care alone, sham moxibustion, or other methods	Moxibustion plus usual care probably reduces non-head-down position at birth (7 trials, 1152 women; RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.99; moderate-certainty). Probably little or no effect on caesarean section (6 trials, 1030 women; RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.05; moderate-certainty). Effect on need for external cephalic version very uncertain (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.21; low-certainty). Side effects (nausea, smell, abdominal pain, uterine contractions) were poorly reported; one trial: 27 of 65 with moxibustion vs 0 of 57 controls (very-low-certainty). Small drop in breech position at birth; no clear drop in caesarean (RR 0.87 (0.78 to 0.99) for non-head-down at birth) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Baby not head-down at birth, need for external version, caesarean, side effects Limitations: Participants cannot be blinded; side effects poorly reported; one trial stopped early. Funding and conflicts: Reviewer Caroline Smith is an investigator on a moxibustion pilot study; the study was assessed independently by others Read: abstract
Czyzewska 2013 Monoterpene alpha-thujone exerts a differential inhibitory action on GABA(A) receptors implicated in phasic and tonic GABAergic inhibition. Eur J Pharmacol · PMID 23376563 · DOI	Laboratory research in-vitro	Cultured nerve cells and cloned receptors	alpha-thujone (pure compound) not applicable Not stated in the abstract Not applicable · vs Not applicable	alpha-Thujone inhibited all GABA-A receptor types tested; the strongest effect was on receptors involved in tonic inhibition. The authors note that at high doses it may induce epileptic activity, although the role of thujone in absinthe poisoning was not supported. Explains how thujone could raise seizure risk (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: GABA-A receptor currents Limitations: Cell study; pure thujone, not mugwort. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Dosoky 2021 Maternal Reproductive Toxicity of Some Essential Oils and Their Constituents. Int J Mol Sci · PMID 33673548 · DOI	Narrative review mixed	Animal and other studies of essential oil constituents	Essential oils and constituents including thujone unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	The review covers concerns about essential oils in pregnancy (abortion, hormone changes, maternal toxicity, malformation, foetal toxicity) and lists thujone among the constituents summarised. The abstract does not give thujone findings. Pregnancy concern for thujone-containing oils (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Abortion, hormone changes, maternal and foetal toxicity Limitations: The abstract does not give specific thujone results or mention mugwort. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflict of interest Read: abstract
EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) 2019 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 EFSA Journal 17(11):e05879 · Source · DOI	Authoritative guidance mixed	Animal feed additive assessment	Mugwort tincture aerial parts (tincture) Proposed maximum 400 mg/kg complete feed (animal feed) Not applicable · vs Not applicable	EFSA could not conclude the additive is safe at the proposed level because about 74% of the dry matter is uncharacterised. Raw plant material contained thujones at about 268.5 mg/kg; alpha- and beta-thujone were not detected in five tincture batches (limit 0.005% of the tincture). No data on skin or eye irritation or sensitisation. Characterisation gaps; thujone low in the tincture tested (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Safety for animals, consumers and users Limitations: Animal-feed assessment, not a human herbal opinion. Read through the PMC web version summary, not the full PDF. Funding and conflicts: Regulator document Read: summary-only
Ekiert 2020 Significance of Artemisia Vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications Substantiated by Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies. Molecules · PMID 32992959 · DOI	Narrative review mixed	Not applicable (review of lab, animal and some other studies)	Mugwort herb (Artemisiae vulgaris herba) extracts and essential oil aerial parts Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	The authors report that mugwort herb contains essential oil, flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones, and that extracts showed antioxidant, liver-protective, antispasm, pain-relieving, oestrogen-like, cell-toxic, antibacterial and antifungal effects in studies. It was used in Chinese, Hindu and European medicine for gut and gynaecological problems. Background and lab support only; no clinical conclusion (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: History of use; chemistry; lab and animal findings Limitations: A narrative review; the abstract does not separate lab, animal and human findings or rate study quality. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflict of interest Read: abstract
Garcia Ortiz 1996 Allergy to foods in patients monosensitized to Artemisia pollen. Allergy · PMID 9020422 · DOI	Case series	84 People with respiratory allergy only to A. vulgaris, compared with 50 grass-pollen controls	Clinical history and tests Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable · vs Grass-pollen group	23 of 84 (27.3%) reported food reactions: honey (14), sunflower seeds (11), chamomile (4), pistachio (3), hazelnut (2), lettuce (2), among others. The authors conclude mugwort hay fever is linked to daisy-family foods but not usually to other foods. Foods most often involved were daisy-family or related (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Food allergy Limitations: Single-centre series; the abstract list is partly garbled. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Go 2015 Comparative effects of artemisia vulgaris and charcoal moxa stimulating Zhongwan (CV 12) on body temperature in healthy participants: a cross-over single-blind randomized study. J Tradit Chin Med · PMID 26591685 · DOI	Controlled trial	38 Healthy adults (40 enrolled, 38 completed)	Moxa cones of Artemisia vulgaris vs charcoal moxa at acupoint CV 12 moxa cones (mugwort) 30 minutes treatment Single session, cross-over · vs Charcoal moxa	Mugwort moxa slightly lowered temperature at three points, not statistically significant. Moxibustion did not raise body temperature; temperature differences between points changed. No warming effect shown (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Skin temperature by infrared camera Limitations: Pilot; healthy people only. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Judzentiene 2016 Compositional Variability and Toxic Activity of Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) Essential Oils. Nat Prod Commun · PMID 30807041	Lab analysis in-vitro	Essential oils from aerial parts of mugwort, Lithuania	Mugwort essential oil aerial parts Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Main components varied by sample: davanones (13.8-45.5%, six oils), germacrene D (9.1-30.5%, four oils), 1,8-cineole (16.4%, one oil), camphor acetate (10.4%, one oil). Oils with germacrene D, 1,8-cineole, camphor and davanone were notably toxic to brine shrimp. Oil chemistry varies a lot by plant (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Oil composition; brine-shrimp toxicity Limitations: Lab assay on shrimp; not a human toxicity test. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Kljucevsek 2025 Allergic Potential of Medicinal Plants From the Asteraceae Family. Health Sci Rep · PMID 39995792 · DOI	Narrative review mixed	Not applicable	Asteraceae medicinal plants unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Daisy-family pollen contains cross-reacting panallergens (mainly in ragweed and Artemisia species) linked to pollen-food and pollen-medicine allergy. Sesquiterpene lactones can irritate skin and cause reactions on ingestion in sensitised people. Many uncertainties remain. Plausible cross-reaction risk (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Allergic risk Limitations: Review; many uncertainties as the authors state. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflicts of interest Read: abstract
Mohajeranirad 2021 Effects of Artemisia supplementation on anorexia in hemodialysis patients: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol · PMID 33583158 · DOI	Controlled trial	58 Adults aged 55-65 on haemodialysis, Iran	Artemisia supplement capsule (species and extract not stated in the abstract) unspecified 250 mg per day 6 weeks · vs Placebo capsule	Appetite score improved more than with placebo (p<0.05). No significant change in albumin, haemoglobin, urea, creatinine, arm circumference or BMI (p>0.05). Better appetite score; no change in blood measures (None reported) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Appetite score (SNAQ); urea, creatinine, albumin, haemoglobin Limitations: Small; one centre; the abstract does not say which Artemisia species was used, so it cannot be assumed to be mugwort. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Mugwort: Usefulness and Safety (NCCIH) NCCIH health information page · Source	Authoritative guidance	Public fact sheet	Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Very little research in people; not enough evidence on whether mugwort is safe or useful for any condition. One preliminary study of a lotion containing mugwort and menthol relieved itch from raised scars, but the product had several ingredients. Not to be used during pregnancy; little known about breastfeeding. Little evidence either way; avoid in pregnancy (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Usefulness and safety Limitations: Fact sheet without a stated date on the page read. Funding and conflicts: Government source Read: full-text
Olsen 1995 A double-blind, randomized study investigating the efficacy and specificity of immunotherapy with Artemisia vulgaris or Phleum pratense/betula verrucosa. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) · PMID 8526170	Controlled trial	25 Adults with hay fever to mugwort, or to birch or grass (20 completed)	Allergen immunotherapy with Artemisia vulgaris pollen extract (injections; a purified allergy treatment, not a herbal product) pollen extract Not stated in the abstract 2 years · vs Birch or grass pollen extracts	Mugwort treatment lowered skin (p<0.05) and eye (p<0.01) sensitivity to mugwort. No significant fall in medicine use or symptom scores. Birch/grass treatment cut symptoms and medicine use in its own season. Lab-type sensitivity fell; symptoms did not clearly improve (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Skin and eye sensitivity, symptom scores, medicine use Limitations: Very small; old; about a different product (allergen extract for allergy), unrelated to herbal use. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Paulsen 2017 Systemic allergic dermatitis caused by sesquiterpene lactones. Contact Dermatitis · PMID 27568784 · DOI	Narrative review	People sensitised to daisy-family plants	Daisy-family plants containing sesquiterpene lactones unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	People allergic to the daisy family are routinely warned against eating its vegetables, spices, teas and herbal remedies. Evidence for whole-body skin reactions is mostly anecdotal, but a few reports and challenges show it exists. Mugwort is named among species suspected of causing such reactions. Possible, mostly anecdotal (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Skin reactions after eating or using daisy-family plants Limitations: Mostly anecdotal evidence, as the author states. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Pelkonen 2013 Thujone and thujone-containing herbal medicinal and botanical products: toxicological assessment. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol · PMID 23201408 · DOI	Narrative review mixed	Animal, lab and exposure data	Thujone and thujone-containing herbal products unspecified Best estimates for allowable daily intake of the order of 3-7 mg/day (authors' estimate) Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Thujone blocks the GABA-A receptor and causes excitation and convulsions in animals in a dose-dependent way; doses needed in humans are uncertain. Nerve toxicity is the main toxic effect. Equivocal evidence of cancer in rats. Human liver metabolism is mainly by CYP2A6, then CYP3A4 and CYP2B6, which may cause drug interactions or differences between people. Key gaps: human dose-effect data and bioavailability. Thujone is neurotoxic in animals; human risk level uncertain (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Neurotoxicity, metabolism Limitations: Review of mostly animal and lab data; not about mugwort itself. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Radovic Jakovljevic 2022 Comparative study of the genotoxic activity of Artemisia vulgaris L. and Artemisia alba Turra extracts in vitro. Drug Chem Toxicol · PMID 34844486 · DOI	Laboratory research in-vitro	Human blood cells in the lab	Acetone and water extracts of A. vulgaris and A. alba aerial parts (not stated in the abstract) 10 to 250 micrograms per mL in the cell test Not stated in the abstract · vs A. alba extracts	The water extract of A. vulgaris raised micronucleus frequency at every concentration tested; both acetone extracts were genotoxic (except the lowest A. alba dose). The authors advise caution. Chromosome-damage signal in cells (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Micronucleus test for chromosome damage Limitations: Lab test on blood cells; relevance to people drinking tea is unknown. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Sasani 2021 Effect of Artemisia extract on glycemic control: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial. Int J Clin Pract · PMID 34390100 · DOI	Meta-analysis	People with impaired blood sugar control (6 trials)	Artemisia extracts (species not stated in the abstract) unspecified Not stated in the abstract Not stated in the abstract · vs Placebo	HOMA-IR fell (standardised difference -0.734; 95% CI -1.236 to -0.232). Fasting glucose, insulin and HbA1c changes were not statistically significant. Possible lower insulin resistance; other markers unchanged (HOMA-IR -0.734 (-1.236 to -0.232)) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: HOMA-IR, fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c Limitations: Six trials; species mixed or unstated, so not specific to mugwort. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Scala 2025 Art v 1 and Amb a 4 Co-Sensitization Identifies Italian Patients at Risk for Mugwort-Celery-Spice Syndrome. Allergy · PMID 41424259 · DOI	Cross sectional	7176 Patients tested in three Italian centres 2021-2025	Molecular allergy blood tests Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Defensin sensitisation in 272 patients (3.8%). Art v 1 alone mostly meant hay fever; dual Art v 1 and Amb a 4 sensitisation marked high risk of food reactions (OR 6.9; p<0.0001). Of 90 tested for Api g 7, 82.7% were positive, all also sensitised to Art v 1. Identifies who is at risk of food reactions (OR 6.9 (CI not stated in the abstract)) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Sensitisation to mugwort Art v 1 and ragweed Amb a 4; food reactions Limitations: Italian clinic patients; some authors work for a test maker. Funding and conflicts: Authors from Macro Array Diagnostics (test maker) Read: abstract
Shaik 2014 Antifertility activity of Artemisia vulgaris leaves on female Wistar rats. Chin J Nat Med · PMID 24702803 · DOI	Animal research animal	Female rats (number not stated in the abstract)	Methanolic (alcohol) extract of A. vulgaris leaves leaf 300 and 600 mg per kg Not stated in the abstract · vs Not stated in the abstract	The extract produced a 100% decrease in implant formation and raised uterine weight (an oestrogen-like effect) in the spayed rats. Strong anti-implantation and oestrogen-like effect in rats (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Implantation of the embryo; uterine weight in young spayed rats Limitations: Rat study with an alcohol leaf extract at high doses; cannot be applied directly to people drinking tea. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Wopfner 2005 The spectrum of allergens in ragweed and mugwort pollen. Int Arch Allergy Immunol · PMID 16254437 · DOI	Narrative review	Not applicable	Ragweed and mugwort pollen allergens pollen Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Mugwort pollen is one of the main causes of late-summer and autumn allergy in Europe and affects about 10-14% of patients with pollen allergy. Its major allergen Art v 1 is unrelated to ragweed's Amb a 1. Mugwort and ragweed pollen both contain profilin, a cross-reacting protein. Mugwort is a common pollen allergen (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Main allergens Limitations: Review; figures are as stated by the authors. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Wuthrich 1990 Celery allergy associated with birch and mugwort pollinosis. Allergy · PMID 2288391 · DOI	Case series	70 People with positive tests to birch and/or mugwort pollen and celery	Skin prick and IgE tests with celery preparations Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	94% had positive prick tests to raw celeriac; 36% to cooked celeriac. Celery-mugwort patients kept clearly positive IgE tests to heated celery extract and stick celery, unlike celery-birch patients. Mugwort-linked celery allergy can persist after heating (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Skin test results Limitations: Old, small subgroups (6 celery-mugwort patients). Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Yang 2014 Effectiveness of Stimulation of Acupoint KI 1 by Artemisia vulgaris (Moxa) for the Treatment of Essential Hypertension: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 24744807 · DOI	Systematic review	Adults with high blood pressure (trials mostly from China)	Moxibustion at acupoint KI 1 (sole of foot) with Artemisia vulgaris moxa, added to blood-pressure drugs moxa (mugwort) burned near skin Not stated in the abstract Not stated in the abstract · vs Antihypertensive drugs alone	Moxibustion plus drugs lowered systolic pressure more than drugs alone (weighted mean difference -4.91 mmHg; 95% CI -7.54 to -2.28). No clear difference in diastolic pressure (-6.38; 95% CI -17.17 to 4.41). The authors note the trial designs differed. Small systolic drop as an add-on, mixed designs (SBP WMD -4.91 (-7.54 to -2.28)) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure Limitations: Number of trials and quality rating not stated in the abstract; trials differed in design. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
de Boer 2014 Medicinal plants for women's healthcare in southeast Asia: a meta-analysis of their traditional use, chemical constituents, and pharmacology. J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 24269772 · DOI	Review of traditional use	Traditional use reports (200 studies)	Plants used traditionally in women's health in Southeast Asia unspecified Not applicable Not applicable · vs Not applicable	Artemisia vulgaris was among the most commonly reported species, mentioned in more than 10 different scientific articles. Shows it is widely used in women's health traditions; says nothing about whether it works or is safe (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Which plants are used for fertility, menstruation, abortion, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding Limitations: Counts reports of use, not clinical outcomes. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
de la Torre Morin 2001 Clinical cross-reactivity between Artemisia vulgaris and Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile). J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol · PMID 11642570	Challenge study	24 Patients with asthma or rhinitis sensitised mainly to A. vulgaris, Tenerife	Eye, bronchial and oral challenges with mugwort and chamomile pollen; chamomile tea Not stated in the abstract Not stated in the abstract · vs Not applicable	Chamomile skin tests were positive in 21 of 24. An oral challenge with commercial chamomile tea was positive in 13. The authors conclude that mugwort sensitisation is a primary risk factor for symptoms after drinking chamomile tea. High cross-reactivity between mugwort and chamomile (None) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Challenge reactions Limitations: Small, in people already sensitised to mugwort. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract

What we do not know yet

Little human research on the herb itself: the trials found are of moxibustion, of Artemisia extracts with unnamed species and of allergy shots.
No human data on pregnancy, breastfeeding or children; advice rests on NCCIH, a rat study and traditional use.
EMA, FDA, Commission E, LiverTox, LactMed and WHO records could not be confirmed; EMA monograph not found.
Thujone content of consumer products is unmeasured in the sources read.

How new research is added

New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any rating or safety wording.

Lab markers

What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".

Metabolic 2

●

Fasting blood glucose

No clear change in trials

Blood sugar after not eating overnight.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Main test for blood sugar control.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Not statistically significant.

Safety implication

Hypoglycaemia risk with diabetes drugs is not assessed in the abstract.

Study	Result	People	Product
²²	-0.595 (95% CI -1.566 to 0.376), not significant	6 trials	Artemisia extract vs placebo

²²

●

HbA1c

No clear change in trials

Average blood sugar over about three months.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Long-term blood sugar control.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

No clear change.

Safety implication

None reported.

Study	Result	People	Product
²²	-0.106 (95% CI -0.840 to 0.629), not significant	6 trials	Artemisia extract vs placebo

²²

Organ function 1

●

Albumin and haemoglobin (dialysis trial)

No clear change in trials

Blood proteins and oxygen carrier used to judge nutrition and anaemia.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Checks whether a supplement changed nutrition measures in dialysis.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Null result.

Safety implication

No harm signal on these markers in 6 weeks.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁶	No significant change in albumin, haemoglobin, urea or creatinine (p>0.05)	58 haemodialysis patients	Artemisia capsule 250 mg/day for 6 weeks

¹⁶

Other 5

↕

Baby head-down at birth (moxibustion trials)

Mixed results in trials

Whether the baby is head-first (cephalic) rather than breech when born.

Moderate certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Breech birth raises the chance of caesarean section and some complications.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A clinical outcome, but only a small pooled effect, and the Danish trial found none.

Safety implication

Not about mugwort taken by mouth.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁷	Non-head-down at birth RR 0.87 (95% CI 0.78 to 0.99); 7 trials, 1,152 women (moderate-certainty)	Women with breech baby	Mugwort moxibustion plus usual care
⁵	98 of 130 (75.4%) head-down at birth vs 81 of 130 (62.3%); RR 1.21 (1.02 to 1.43)	130 vs 130 first-time mothers, China	Moxa rolls at BL67 for 1-2 weeks vs routine care
⁴	No difference in breech position; RR 1.05 (0.8 to 1.38)	200 women, Denmark	Daily moxibustion for 2 weeks vs none

^{7 5 4}

●

Caesarean section (moxibustion trials)

No clear change in trials

Whether the baby was delivered by caesarean section.

Moderate certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

A key practical outcome for mothers.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

No clear difference.

Safety implication

Shows a better position does not clearly reduce caesareans in these trials.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁷	RR 0.94 (95% CI 0.83 to 1.05); 6 trials, 1,030 women (moderate-certainty)	Women with breech baby	Mugwort moxibustion plus usual care vs usual care

⁷

▲

Fetal movements counted by the mother

Raised in trials

Movements of the baby counted by the mother in one hour a day for a week.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Used to test whether moxibustion makes the baby more active.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Self-counted in an open trial, so it could be biased.

Safety implication

None identified in the abstract.

Study	Result	People	Product
⁵	Mean 48.45 vs 35.35 movements (P<.001; 95% CI for difference 10.56 to 15.60)	First-time mothers at 33 weeks	Moxa at BL67 for 7 days vs routine care

⁵

▼

HOMA-IR (insulin resistance score)

Lowered in trials

A calculation from fasting glucose and insulin that estimates insulin resistance.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Used as a marker of how well the body responds to insulin.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A calculated marker, not a disease outcome.

Safety implication

None reported in the abstract.

Study	Result	People	Product
²²	-0.734 (95% CI -1.236 to -0.232)	People with impaired blood sugar control, 6 trials	Artemisia extract (species not stated) vs placebo

²²

▼

Systolic blood pressure

Lowered in trials

The top blood pressure number.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

High pressure raises heart and stroke risk.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Small change; blood pressure is a surrogate, not the same as fewer strokes.

Safety implication

Not a replacement for medicine.

Study	Result	People	Product
²⁷	WMD -4.91 mmHg (95% CI -7.54 to -2.28)	Adults with essential hypertension	Mugwort moxibustion at KI 1 plus drugs vs drugs

²⁷

Safety

What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.

Main points to know 9

Pollen and daisy-family allergy. Mugwort pollen is one of the main causes of late-summer and autumn hay fever in Europe, affecting about 10-14% of people with pollen allergy. Mugwort is in the daisy family (Asteraceae). People allergic to mugwort pollen or other daisy-family plants may react to mugwort herb, tea or products. Authoritative guidance ^{25 15 19}
Celery-mugwort-spice syndrome. People sensitised to mugwort pollen can react to celery (especially celery root) and to spices. In 79 people with celery allergy, 77% had IgE to mugwort pollen and those sensitised to the celery protein Api g 7 had about 6 times higher odds of a severe reaction. Reactions to heated celery can persist. Spice allergy is probably underdiagnosed, with mugwort and birch pollen the usual sensitisers. Human data ^{1 26 2 6 23}
Cross-reaction with chamomile and related foods. In 24 people sensitised to mugwort, 13 reacted to an oral challenge with chamomile tea. In 84 people allergic only to mugwort pollen, 27.3% reported food reactions, mostly to honey, sunflower seeds, chamomile and pistachio. Human data ^{29 12}
Pregnancy: do not use. NCCIH says mugwort should not be used during pregnancy. Traditional medicine used it for women's health problems, and an alcohol extract of mugwort leaves stopped implantation in rats. A review of essential oils lists thujone among constituents with pregnancy concerns. No human pregnancy safety data were found. Authoritative guidance ^{17 24 9 28}
Breastfeeding: not enough information. NCCIH says little is known about whether mugwort is safe while breastfeeding. We found no human data on mugwort passing into breast milk. Avoid unless a clinician agrees. Authoritative guidance ¹⁷
Thujone and the seizure threshold. Mugwort herb contains thujones (about 268.5 mg/kg in raw plant material in one EFSA-assessed sample), though the content of thujone varies by plant and none was detected in the tincture batches tested. Thujone blocks GABA-A receptors in lab and animal tests and causes convulsions in animals at high doses. A review estimates acceptable daily intake of about 3-7 mg per day. No human seizure case from mugwort was found, but people with epilepsy or seizure history, or who take seizure medicine, should avoid it. Animal research ^{20 8 10}
Little human safety research. NCCIH says there is not enough evidence to know whether it is safe to take mugwort orally or use it on the skin. Authoritative guidance ¹⁷
Chromosome-damage signal in cells. Water and acetone extracts of A. vulgaris increased micronuclei in human blood cells in the lab. This is a lab signal; its meaning for tea or capsules is unknown. Laboratory research ²¹
Moxibustion is a different exposure. Cochrane lists nausea, unpleasant odour, abdominal pain and uterine contractions among moxibustion side effects, poorly reported (very-low-certainty). Smoke and burn risks were not covered in the sources we read. Systematic review ⁷

Side effects 4

Effect	How often	Severity and recovery	Evidence
Allergic reactions: hay fever, itch, hives, whole-body reactions after eating celery or spices in people sensitised to mugwort 49 of 79 celery-allergic patients had whole-body reactions in one study, but that is a selected clinic group, not a rate for mugwort users.	Not established	mild to severe Usually settle when the trigger stops; severe reactions need urgent care	Case series ^{1 26 23}
Skin and systemic dermatitis from sesquiterpene lactones in sensitised people Evidence is mostly anecdotal, as the author says; mugwort is named among plants suspected of causing systemic reactions.	Not established	mild to moderate Usually clears when contact or intake stops	Authoritative guidance ^{19 15}
Reactions to chamomile tea in mugwort-sensitised people Challenge study in a select group.	13 of 24 sensitised patients had a positive oral challenge	mild to moderate Not stated in the abstract	Controlled trial ²⁹
Nausea, smell, abdominal pain, uterine contractions with moxibustion Very-low-certainty; poorly reported.	27 of 65 vs 0 of 57 in the one trial that gave usable data	unknown Unknown	Systematic review ⁷

Liver

We found no human case of liver injury from mugwort in the sources read, and no LiverTox entry specific to mugwort. Lab reviews describe liver-protective effects in extracts, which is not evidence for people. ¹¹

How often. No frequency data. Not finding reports is not proof of safety, as our searches were limited.

Monitoring. No agency monitoring advice found. People with liver disease should ask a clinician before using herbs.

This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Mugwort supports liver health.

Medicines and supplements 5

With	Why it matters	Importance	Evidence	What to do
Seizure medicines (anticonvulsants) prescription	Thujone blocks GABA-A receptors and lowers the seizure threshold in animals.	Unknown in people; theoretical.	Pharmacological theory Very low certainty ^{20 8}	Avoid mugwort; ask a doctor or pharmacist.
Sedatives and calming drugs acting on GABA-A (benzodiazepines, alcohol) prescription	Thujone opposes GABA-A inhibition in lab tests, so effects could oppose the sedative.	Unknown.	Laboratory research Very low certainty ⁸	Do not combine without asking a pharmacist.
Drugs cleared by CYP2A6, CYP3A4 or CYP2B6 prescription	Human liver preparations metabolise thujone mainly by CYP2A6, then CYP3A4 and CYP2B6.	Unknown; the review says it may cause interaction or genetic-variation effects.	Laboratory research Very low certainty ²⁰	Ask a pharmacist if you take narrow-margin medicines.
Oestrogen-sensitive treatments and contraception or fertility drugs hormonal	A mugwort leaf extract raised uterine weight in young spayed rats (oestrogen-like).	Unknown in people.	Animal research Very low certainty ²⁴	Avoid if on hormone treatment or trying to conceive unless advised.
Diabetes medicines prescription	A meta-analysis of Artemisia extracts (species unstated) found lower HOMA-IR.	Unknown for mugwort; could add to the effect of diabetes drugs.	Meta-analysis Very low certainty ²²	Tell your clinician before using.

Who should check first 5

Situation	Advice	Evidence
Pregnancy, or trying to conceive	Do not use (NCCIH).	Authoritative guidance ^{17 24}
Breastfeeding	Avoid; not enough information.	Authoritative guidance ¹⁷
Allergy to mugwort pollen, daisy-family plants (Asteraceae), celery or spices	Avoid herb, tea and mugwort-containing spice blends.	Human data ^{1 19}
Epilepsy or any seizure history	Avoid because of thujone.	Pharmacological theory ^{20 8}
Children	No data found; avoid unless a clinician advises.	Traditional use ¹⁷

Overdose, product quality and regulators

Summary. Thujone is the main toxic concern: in animals it blocks the GABA-A receptor and causes excitation and convulsions in a dose-dependent way. A review judges the human risk uncertain, with nerve toxicity as the principal toxic outcome and equivocal evidence of cancer in rats.

Animal. Convulsions in a dose-dependent way with thujone; equivocal cancer evidence in rats (review).

Human doses studied. Not given for oral mugwort. No oral human trial of A. vulgaris herb was found.

High dose or long term signals. No human data. The review's best estimate of allowable daily thujone intake is 3-7 mg/day.

Overdose response. No human overdose reports for mugwort found. A 2013 lab paper says later studies ruled out a major role for thujone in absinthe poisoning.

Genotoxicity. Water and acetone extracts of A. vulgaris raised micronuclei in human blood cells in the lab.

Toxic plant parts. The aerial parts (herb) are used. The essential oil is more concentrated than a tea, and oil composition varies widely between samples, so thujone amounts in an oil cannot be assumed.

No mugwort-specific contamination study was found. Chemistry varies a lot between plants, so products differ.

Oil chemistry varies by sample. In Lithuanian mugwort oils the main component varied (davanones 13.8-45.5%, germacrene D 9.1-30.5%, 1,8-cineole 16.4%, camphor acetate 10.4%). ¹⁴

Storage and plant part change the oil. Oil yield and composition of A. vulgaris and A. absinthium changed during one year of storage and differed between roots and aerial parts. ³

Uncharacterised material. EFSA said about 74% of the dry matter of a mugwort tincture was uncharacterised. ¹⁰

Body	Action	Date
NCCIH (US National Institutes of Health) (United States)	Fact sheet: not enough evidence of safety or usefulness for any condition; do not use in pregnancy; little known for breastfeeding. source
EFSA FEEDAP Panel (European Union)	Animal-feed opinion on mugwort tincture: could not conclude it is safe at the proposed level because most of the material was uncharacterised. source	2019-11-06

When to get medical help

Trouble breathing, throat tightness, swelling of lips or face, hives or collapse after eating mugwort, celery or spices
A seizure or unusual jerking movements
Vaginal bleeding, cramping or leaking fluid in pregnancy after using mugwort
Severe or spreading rash or blistering
Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or severe tiredness after starting any herbal product

Stop the supplement and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.

General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does mugwort work for anything?

There is not enough research to say. NCCIH states there is not enough evidence to know whether mugwort is safe or useful for any health condition. The best evidence is for moxibustion in breech babies, which is a different technique from taking mugwort.

^{17 7}

What is the difference between mugwort and moxibustion?

Moxibustion burns mugwort near the skin and works through heat on an acupoint. The Cochrane review of breech-baby moxibustion cannot tell us whether tea or capsules are safe or useful, and no oral trial was found.

^{7 11}

Can mugwort turn a breech baby?

Moxibustion, not oral mugwort, probably lowers the chance of a breech baby at birth a little (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.99, moderate-certainty), but not the caesarean rate. A Danish trial found no effect. Talk with a midwife or doctor before trying it.

^{7 5 4}

Is mugwort safe in pregnancy?

No. NCCIH says mugwort should not be used during pregnancy. Traditional use for women's health and a rat study showing blocked implantation are the reasons for caution. No human pregnancy safety data were found.

^{17 24}

Is mugwort safe while breastfeeding?

Not enough is known, so avoid it unless a clinician agrees.

¹⁷

What is celery-mugwort-spice syndrome?

People allergic to mugwort pollen can also react to celery, especially celery root, and some spices, because of shared allergen proteins. In 79 people with celery allergy, 77% had IgE to mugwort pollen, and 49 had whole-body reactions. Anyone with this pattern should avoid mugwort products and see an allergy specialist.

^{1 26 6}

Can mugwort cause allergy if I am allergic to chamomile or daisies?

It can. Mugwort and chamomile cross-react: in 24 mugwort-sensitised people, 13 reacted to chamomile tea in a challenge. Mugwort is also named among daisy-family plants suspected of whole-body skin reactions.

^{29 19 15}

What is thujone and why does it matter?

Thujone is an oil component that blocks the brain's GABA-A receptor and causes convulsions in animals at high doses. The amount varies: one raw plant sample had about 268.5 mg/kg and none was found in the tincture batches tested. A review gives a rough allowable intake of 3-7 mg per day.

^{20 8 10}

Could mugwort trigger seizures?

No human case was found, but thujone lowers the seizure threshold in animals. People with epilepsy or on seizure medicine should avoid mugwort.

^{20 8}

Does mugwort interact with medicines?

Evidence is theoretical or from animals and cells: seizure and calming medicines (thujone's GABA-A action), drugs cleared by CYP2A6/3A4/2B6, hormone treatments and diabetes drugs. Ask a pharmacist.

^{20 24 22}

Does mugwort harm the liver?

No human liver case was found and there is no dedicated LiverTox entry. That is not proof of safety. People with liver disease should ask a clinician.

¹¹

Does mugwort lower blood sugar or blood pressure?

Possibly a little, but the evidence is very weak. The blood-sugar meta-analysis did not name the species and the blood-pressure result is for burning mugwort at a foot point. Do not replace medicine.

^{22 27}

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Editorial transparency

Written by: AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
Medical review: None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
First published: 2026-10-25
Last substantive update: 2026-10-25
How we research: We searched PubMed and read the abstracts of every PubMed study cited, read the NCCIH mugwort page, read the EFSA mugwort tincture opinion through its PMC web version, and checked plant names in GBIF and NCBI Taxonomy and compounds in PubChem. Not verified: the EMA site could not be opened and no mugwort monograph was found; FDA, German Commission E, WHO, LiverTox and LactMed could not be confirmed. Most studies were read as abstracts only. Certainty ratings are the compiler's reading except where Cochrane's own grades are quoted.
How we rate evidence: See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
Independence: No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown.

Sources 29

Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.

Ballmer-Weber BK, Wangorsch A, Bures P, et al.. New light on an old syndrome: Role of Api g 7 in mugwort pollen-related celery allergy.. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2024. PMID 38763171. DOI 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.04.030. (abstract)
Bauer L, Ebner C, Hirschwehr R, et al.. IgE cross-reactivity between birch pollen, mugwort pollen and celery is due to at least three distinct cross-reacting allergens: immunoblot investigation of the birch-mugwort-celery syndrome.. Clin Exp Allergy. 1996. PMID 8911702. DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00503.x. (abstract)
Blagojevic P, Radulovic N, Palic R, et al.. Chemical composition of the essential oils of Serbian wild-growing Artemisia absinthium and Artemisia vulgaris.. J Agric Food Chem. 2006. PMID 16787028. DOI 10.1021/jf060123o. (abstract)
Bue L, Lauszus FF. Moxibustion did not have an effect in a randomised clinical trial for version of breech position.. Dan Med J. 2016. PMID 26836801. (abstract)
Cardini F, Weixin H. Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation: a randomized controlled trial.. JAMA. 1998. PMID 9820259. DOI 10.1001/jama.280.18.1580. (abstract)
Chen JL, Bahna SL. Spice allergy.. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2011. PMID 21875536. DOI 10.1016/j.anai.2011.06.020. (abstract)
Coyle ME, Smith C, Peat B. Cephalic version by moxibustion for breech presentation.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023. PMID 37158339. DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD003928.pub4. (abstract)
Czyzewska MM, Mozrzymas JW. Monoterpene alpha-thujone exerts a differential inhibitory action on GABA(A) receptors implicated in phasic and tonic GABAergic inhibition.. Eur J Pharmacol. 2013. PMID 23376563. DOI 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.01.032. (abstract)
Dosoky NS, Setzer WN. Maternal Reproductive Toxicity of Some Essential Oils and Their Constituents.. Int J Mol Sci. 2021. PMID 33673548. DOI 10.3390/ijms22052380. (abstract)
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Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.