Malaysian Herbs-- Artemisia vulgaris -(67)வாய்வு நீக்கும் மூலிகை

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Artemisia vulgaris

கிறிஸ்மஸ் பூச்செடியின் இலைபோல் வாசமானது.நன்கு காற்று பரியும். இது சீன வம்சத்தினரின் அரிய மூலிகையாகும்.மலேஷியாவில் எல்லா இடங்களிலும் கிடைக்கக்கூடியது.

According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, mugwort leaf has bitter, pungent and warm properties, and is associated with the Liver, Spleen and Kidney meridians. Its main functions are to warm the meridians and stop bleeding, and to dispel cold and stop pain.

Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort or common wormwood) is one of several species in the genus Artemisia commonly known as mugwort, although Artemisia vulgaris is the species most often called mugwort. This species is also occasionally known as felon herb, chrysanthemum weed, wild wormwood, old Uncle Henry, sailor's tobacco, naughty man, old man, or St. John's plant (not to be confused with St John's wort). Mugworts are used medicinally and as culinary herbs.

It is native to temperate Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and Alaska and is naturalized in North America, where some consider it aninvasive weed. It is a very common plant growing on nitrogenous soils, like weedy and uncultivated areas, such as waste places and roadsides.

It is a tall herbaceous perennial plant growing 1–2 m (rarely 2.5 m) tall, with a woody root. The leaves are 5–20 cm long, dark green, pinnate, with dense white tomentose hairs on the underside. The erect stem often has a red-purplish tinge. The rather small flowers (5 mm long) are radially symmetrical with many yellow or dark red petals. The narrow and numerous capitula (flower heads) spread out in racemose panicles. It flowers from July to September.

A number of species of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) feed on the leaves and flowers; see List of Lepidoptera that feed on Artemisia for details.

Mugwort leaf is known by many other names, including artemisia and Japanese wormwood. It resembles a shrub, which can reach a height of more than three feet, with small greenish-yellow flowers and alternating leaves of green, grayish or silver. The part of the plant used for medicinal purposes is the leaf. The leaves are gathered in the spring and summer, while the plant is flowering, and dried in a shady place.

Mugwort has a special place in traditional Chinese medicine. It is the herb of choice for acupuncturists who practice moxibustion - a form of healing in which mugwort is burned, either in a cone-shaped pile or on top of an acupuncture needle. Mugwort also has a long history of use in folk remedies. Research has shown that it acts as an emmenagogue - that is, an agent that increases blood circulation to the pelvic area and uterus and stimulates menstruation. This could explain its use in treating breech births and menstrual cramps. A landmark study published in 1998 showed that moxibustion using mugwort leaf on expectant mothers could help breech babies relocate to the correct position prior to birth.

How much mugwort leaf should I take?

The amount of mugwort leaf used depends on the condition being treated and the way it is being applied. Mugwort cones may weigh as little as three grams. Larger moxa sticks may weigh up to 10 grams. Mugwort can also be ground up into boiling water and used in a decoction with other substances. Fresh mugwort leaves can be crushed and blended to form a type of juice.

What forms of mugwort leaf are available?

Dried mugwort leaf is usually available as a pre-formed cone or stick for moxibustion. Moxa sticks are widely available from most herbal shops and acupuncture suppliers. Dried, unformed mugwort leaf can also be obtained at many Asian markets and specialty stores.

What can happen if I take too much mugwort leaf? Are there any interactions I should be aware of? What precautions should I take?

Mugwort leaf should be avoided by patients diagnosed with spleen yang deficiency. Skin contact with mugwort leaf may also cause an allergic reaction in some individuals; burning mugwort leaf should be used with extreme caution by patients and practitioners alike. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking mugwort leaf or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.
Thanks naturopathy-digest

As one of the commonly seen weeds in China, mugwort herb, also called Ai Ye or moxa, can be taken  orally or used externally in Chinese herbal therapy. Externally moxibustion therapies are its  distinguishing application; internally it has wider usage, especially for gynecological diseases. What is mugwort herb? It is also known as Artemisia Vulgaris in Latin, which is a perennial herb in the composite family.  Regularly it can be found along open hillsides, grassy areas, and margins of forests. The best harvesting  timing is from May to July when their leaves are in their utmost luxuriance while without blooming yet.  Drying in a ventilated shade is the way to make them with the best medicinal effect. Mugwort leaves are shrunk and wrinkled with short stalk after drying. The intact one is in oval shape,  with pinnate parted in elliptic-lanceolate, irregular margin with coarsely sharply serrate. The upper  surface is grayish-green with sparse pubescence and glandular dots; the Lower surface is covered with thick whitish pubescence. The preferred one should have a thick leaf, be green in color, whitish  on the lower surface, have thick pubescence, and have a rich aroma. By the way, it can be consumed now in many forms like tea, powder, pills, extract, etc. What is mugwort herb used for? It is bitter, acrid, and warm in nature. Liver, Spleen, and Kidney are the three Channels it  effectively acts on. Main clinical usage and indications are spitting blood, nosebleeds, menstrual disorders, hemifacial,  uterine bleeding, period pain, bleeding during pregnancy, restless fetus, chest and abdomen pain  due to cold, diarrhea and prolonged dysentery, abnormal vaginal discharge, eczema, sores and  ringworm etc. Usual dosage is from 3 to 9 grams in decoction. Popular Chinese herbal formulas Mugwort leaf is mentioned in two formulas in Shang Han Lun and Jin Gui Yao Lue (The Treatise on  Cold Damage Disorders and Miscellaneous Illnesses) – one is Bai Ye Tang and the other is Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang. Bai Ye Tang is mainly for vomiting blood due to the middle-burner Qi losing its control over blood.  This formula is especially designed for deficiency-cold in the middle-Jiao leads to Qi’s failure to control  blood, thus the blood deviation from the meridians. Ce Bai Ye (Biota Leaves) in this formula is  looking to mitigate the ascending tendency while inducing astringency; Gan Jiang (dried ginger)  works to warm the middle Burner, dispel cold, and descend the adverse movement of Qi; In addition  to warm the meridians and stop bleeding, mugwort herb works together with dried ginger to  motivate spleen yang to regulate blood; The juice of Ma Tong is warm and guides the blood  downwards to stop bleeding. Mugwort leaf in Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang is aimed at warming meridians and wombs for the sake of  hemostasia. Combining with Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia) , Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage Root),  Shao Yao (Peony Root) and Gan Cao (Licorice Root), this formula tunes the meridians and blood while  treating abdominal pain. So Xiong Gui Jiao Ai Tang is good at deficiency patterns suffering from loss  of blood, especially with abdominal pain and collapse due to massive hemorrhage. Moxibustion therapies According to the Compendium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Gang Mu), moxibustion with mugwort cones  cures a variety of diseases. Moxibustion practice is quite similar to acupuncture and the difference  between them is the tool used, the choice of needle or burning cone. Moxa is fragrant, inflammable  and with warming fire, which is capable of warming associated channels to dispel cold, strengthen  Yang-Qi to stop draining away, remove stasis of the blood to dissipate stagnation, and prevent  diseases from having a long life. And the weights of them are varied from 3 to 10 grams. Glutinous rice cake It is also a fabulous vegetable. In the Dongjiang River of Guangdong  province, its tender young leaves and buds are eaten as a vegetable  during winter and springtime. More than that, glutinous rice cake  is another famous local-flavor snack of South China during the  Ching Ming Festival. Usually, the ratio of fresh tended leaves  and glutinous rice flour mixed together is 1:2. To add some flavors,  peanut, sesame, and white sugar or others would be put in as filling too. Fending off evil This is a very interesting folk tradition in China. When the Dragon Boat Festival comes, people tend to  hang or place herbs like mugwort plant and calamus (Chang Pu) on the door of their houses, which  they believe can help keep their whole families from jinx the whole year. This ritual was there long  ago partly because it is a medicinal herb, which serves as a widely popular moxibustion medium to  burn its way to a cure. Possible side effects and contraindications Normally mugwort has little side effects if used properly. But it has its own share of cautions and  contraindications as well in TCM practice. It is only recommended for non-sensitive skin because its  volatile oils have mild stimulation on the skin, which might lead to fever and flush. Else, using it over a  long period of time could inhibit nerves and impair the liver, nervous centralization, and blood vessels due to  excessive “volatile oils”. The experiment revealed its essential oils have significant inhibiting action  on contact of the isolated heart from the toad and little impact on heart rate. However, it might develop  atrioventricular block and heart failure in a high concentration dosage. If poisoning occurs after oral ingestion of large doses mistakenly, first gastric lavage and bone carbon  adsorption are the way to go. Then place the patient in a quiet room with lower levels of light to  avoid unnecessary stimulation. Based on the description from Ben Cao Bei Yao Ben Cao Bei Yao (Complete Essentials of the Materia  Medica) and Ben Jing Feng Yuan (Journey to the Source of the Materia Medica Classic), mugwort  herb should be avoided by those suffering from blood heat due to Yin deficiency from the Traditional  Chinese Medicine (TCM) point of view. Hence use it only as directed or consult your doctor when  necessary. physicianpackiam    http://www.sidhhaherbs.blogspot.com                   (67)     Croton Seed (Ba Dou) »