Artemisia douglasiana — California Mugwort

(Artemisia vulgaris var. californica, Artemisia heterophylla)
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
Pharmaceutical name: Herba Artemisiae Douglasianae

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Experience Mugwort Firsthand

Explore our California Mugwort Essential Oil, sustainably wildharvested and artisan-distilled on our Refugio Gardens ranch. This pure, genuine oil captures the minty, camphoraceous aroma of wild Mugwort, long valued for its therapeutic and spiritual uses.

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Characteristics

• Plant: Bitter, pungent, aromatic, cool
• Essential Oil: Sweet, minty, spicy, cooling green top notes; soft bitter herbaceous-berry undertones
• Hydrosol: Very green, sweet, floral; less bitter than the oil

Channel Tropism (TCM)

• Stomach
• Large Intestine
• Small Intestine
• Bladder
• Spleen
• Kidney
• Uterus

Western Actions

Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, emmenagogue, analgesic, sedative, antioxidant, cytoprotective, antiulcerogenic, spasmolytic, anthelmintic, antimicrobial.

Chinese Medicinal Actions & Indications

• Cools the Stomach: Gastric pain, GERD, ulcers, heartburn, acid reflux
• Clears Heat & Drains Damp: Diarrhea, tenesmus, dysentery, colitis
• Clears Heat in the Lower Jiao: Chronic bladder irritation with stagnation heat
• Activates Qi & Relieves Pain: Topical poultice or moxa for rheumatism, arthritis, soreness
• Regulates the Menses: Dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, excessive menses
• Kills Parasites: Pinworms
• Clears Fire Toxin: Topical for poison oak rash; traditional internal protocols for “fire toxin in blood”

Cautions & Contraindications

• Contraindicated during pregnancy.
• Internal use is cautioned; Artemisia spp. may contain thujone (low ~2% reported for California Mugwort), which can be neurotoxic at high doses.

Clinical Information

The woolly fiber (moxa) from the leaf underside has been used as a warming therapy when burned above acupuncture points for stomachache and pain. Crushed leaves were historically placed in pillows to induce lucid dreams or to comfort the ill. The essential oil supports meditation, acupuncture sessions, and the balancing of women’s cycles. Traditional internal use of hydrosol (with practitioner guidance) has shown value for digestive disorders and post–birth control cycle regulation.

Essential Oil & Hydrosol Treatment Protocol

Topical Use

• Patch test before use.
• If irritation occurs, dilute 15 drops essential oil in 1 oz (30 mL) carrier oil and retest.

Internal (Traditional Hydrosol Use)

Dilute 2 tablespoons hydrosol in 1 liter of water, sipped throughout the day, for digestive or urinary issues, mild fever, menstrual support, and traditional parasite protocols (under practitioner care).

Inhalation

Diffuse for reflux, ulcer discomfort, menstrual tension, headache, fever, and reflective/dreamwork practices.

Topical Applications

Apply diluted essential oil or hydrosol to acupuncture points (e.g., Ren 12, St 25, St 36) for stomach disorders; LI 4, Du 14, GB 20 for fever/headache. Add to bathwater for cramps, soreness, itching. Mugwort moxa is less warming than Chinese moxa but circulates Qi effectively for stagnation.

Personality

California Mugwort is a silvery-green, aromatic, woolly herb. Its healing capabilities are praised in ancient European charms and California folk practice. Traditionally used to regulate menses, detoxify the liver, cleanse the blood, and relieve pain, Mugwort is also revered for lucid dreaming and spiritual passage—featured in moxa rituals and dream pillows for visionary sleep.

Ethnobotany

Native Californian communities used decoctions, poultices, and infusions for stomachache, dysentery, rheumatism, wounds, and postpartum circulation; Mugwort was burned as moxa for arthritis and carried for protection against nightmares. Tribes including the Chumash, Pomo, Miwok, Yuki, and Paiute documented uses for menstrual support, washes for sores, asthma, urinary issues, and fever.

Discovery & Innovation

In 1998, Dr. Amy Inez Hazard performed the first known artisan steam distillation of Artemisia douglasiana (California Mugwort). Although the herb was well known in Native Californian and Chinese medical traditions, its essential oil had not been captured and characterized.

The discovery came through steam-distillation experimentation and revealed a pungent, cooling, deeply herbal oil with unique aromatic properties—marking the beginning of California Mugwort essential oil as a distinct material in modern aromatherapy.

Refugio Gardens continues to produce small-batch, GC–MS verified distillations, remaining the first and only known commercial source for this rare oil.

Modern Research on Mugwort

Scientific studies highlight Artemisia douglasiana extracts and constituents—such as dehydroleucodine and vulgarone B—for antifungal, antiulcer, cytoprotective, and analgesic activity in laboratory models. Research also supports Mugwort’s ability to reduce pain and inflammation, aligning with traditional use for rheumatism and arthritis. ^†

Ecological Role & Potency

California Mugwort thrives along waterways and in coastal scrub, helping stabilize soils. Wild-grown Mugwort develops protective sesquiterpene lactones that may contribute to its potency—supporting our observation that carefully wildharvested plants carry distinctive vitality tied to California terroir. ^†

Experience Wild California

Bring the history and aroma of Artemisia douglasiana into your rituals. Our sustainably wildharvested California Mugwort Essential Oil is pure, genuine, and distilled in small artisan batches at Refugio Gardens.

Major Known Essential Oil Constituents

• Artemisia ketone (23.09%)
• Camphor (14.86%)
• Piperitone (11.57%)
• 1,8-Cineole (8.91%)
• Chrysanthenone (8.02%)
• Santolinatriene (3.29%)
• α-Pinene (2.17%)
• Camphene (2.14%)
• cis-Chrysanthenol (1.69%)
• Artemisia alcohol (1.54%)
• α-Thujone (1.48%)
• para-Cymene (1.00%)
• Plus many trace constituents (<1%)

California Mugwort FAQ

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Disclaimer

This article is provided for educational purposes only. California Mugwort has a long history of traditional use, but these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a qualified health practitioner before using herbal products.

† For references and study details, see our References page.