MUGWORT

Latin name: Artemisia vulgaris

Other name(s): Artemisia chinensis, ai ye, mugwort, wormwood, St. John’s plant,
Indonesian name: Baru Cina, suket gajahan

This fuzzy herb is originated from China and has a pungent smell, favors damp soil, and can be found growing wild in woods and open fields up to 3,000 meters above sea level. Another variant, Artemisia argyi is the one cultivated in home-yards as one among the common healing plants in Indonesia. This yearly shrub is half wooden, multi-branched, grooved and fuzzy that can grow erect up to 1 meter high. 

The single leaf is egg-shaped, with finger-like divided edges and sharp tip, and is 8 – 12 centimeter in height, and 6 – 8 centimeters wide. Both surfaces of the leaf are fuzzy, with the upper is green in color, while the underside is white-greenish. Multi-flower, that grows in small yellow cobs from the base of the leaf near the tip of the branch. It has a square, needle form, small and brown fruit with small brown seeds.   

This herb is well known for the treatment of female disorders. It is often prepared with chicken broth and consumed as vegetables. Like Adas, Baru Cina is one among nine sacred remedies among the Anglo Saxon citizens. 

The leaves contain volatile oils: phellandrene, cadinene and alpha-thujone. Other chemical substances found in the leaves are: alpha-amirine, fernenol, dihydromatricaria ester, cineole, 1-alpha-terpineol, beta-kariophilene, 1-quebrachitol and tanine. The rood and stem contains inulin, while the small branches contain oxytocin, yomogi alcohol and ridentine.

MEDICINAL PART: Fresh or dried leaves, seeds and root

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS: The leaves taste bitter, pungent with an aromatic fragrance. It warms up the meridians of the kidneys, lung and spleen. It has a tonic effect, analgesic, hemostatic, diuretic, anti-flatulence, anti-perspiration, appetite stimulant, astringent, enhances blood circulation and prevent clotting, prevent miscarriage in pregnant women, and correct the menstrual cycle. 

INDICATIONS: Leaves: menstrual disorders: hypermenorrhea (excessive menstruation), dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea; spotted bleeding during pregnancy; hyperactive fetus; facilitate smooth delivery; facilitate conception; post-partum cramps; epilepsy; leukorrhea; dysentery; bloating; epigastric pain; hematemesis; hemoptysis; epistaxis (nose bleeding); bleeding hemorrhoids; post-partum bleeding; bleeding wounds; cough with phlegm; laryngitis; excessive use of opiates, edema due to vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency. Seeds: impotence; root: epilepsy; flowering herb: stomachache, appetite stimulant.  

DOSAGE AND USAGE: General: (1) Boil 10 – 30 grams of fresh leaves or 5 – 10 grams of the dried leaves with 3 glasses of water until left to only 1 glass. Drink the decoction at once after cooling or divide into 2 – 3 portions to be finished in one day.

(2) Wash fresh leaves with clean water, and add adequate amount of vinegar to wet the leaves, fry without any cooking oil until the leaves blackens. Then pound to a black powder.  For each usage take 3 – 6 grams of the powder, steep in boiling water, cool down and drink. For external usage: roll a dried leaf like a cigar and burn one of the tips to warm up the targeted acupuncture points controlling the respective organs affected by the ailment e.g. gastric pain due to ulcer, loss of appetite, hearing impairment, paralysis, pneumonia, chronic enlargement of the lever and spleen, ailment of the vertebrae, scrofula, pleuritis, eczema, pruritis. Fine ground fresh leaves can also be used for external treatment of bleeding wounds, boils and sores as well as a repellent.

The following are specific conditions with the recommended usage and dosage:

Cuticle (verruca)

Wash adequate amount of fresh baru cina leaves, grind to a mushy mixture. Apply directly to the cuticle. Repeat this 3 – 4 times per day for 30 days.

Post-partum recovery care

Wash 4 trees of this herb and cut to pieces. Boil with 6 glasses of pure water until left to 2 glasses. Strain after cooling, and drink 1 glass twice a day on an empty stomach before meals.

Impotence

Grind 15 – 45 grams of the seeds, add warm water and stir evenly, and then drink at once.

Epilepsy

(1)   Prepare the following ingredients:

      Baru cina root 1 handful

Ginger I thumb cut

Palm sugar 100 grams

Wash and cut to pieces put in a pan, add 4 glasses of pure water and boil until left to 2 glasses. Strain after cooling, and drink 1 glass twice a day

(2)   Steep 1 teaspoonful of dried baru cina powder in warm water. Drink after cooling, 3 times a day

Laryngitis, cough with phlegm

Wash adequate amount of the fresh whole herb, then pound to a mushy substance. Squeeze and strain the mush, collect until you get ½ a cup. Drink this twice a day until the condition gets better

Dysentery

Wash 20 grams of the fresh whole herb and 1 thumb cut of ginger, cut to small pieces. Boil with 3 glasses of pure water until left to 1 glass. Strain after cooling, divide into 3 portions, and drink each portion in the morning, afternoon and before bedtime.

Spotted bleeding during pregnancy, miscarriage prevention

Prepare the following materials:

Baru cina dried powder 6 grams

Cuscuta chinensis seeds 15 grams

Benalu (Loranthus parasiticus) 15 grams

Angelica sinensis root 10 grams

Boil all ingredients in 3 glasses of pure water until left to 1 glass. Strain after cooling, and drink the decoction ½ glasses twice a day

Hypermenorrhea (excessive menstruation), gastric pain

Prepare the following

Baru cina dried powder 6 grams

Umbi teki (Cyperus rotundus) 12 grams

Paeonia lactiflora root (chi shao) 12 grams

Angelica sinensis root (tang kuei) 10 grams

Corydalis yanhusuo rhizome 10 grams

Boil all ingredients in 3 glasses of pure water until left to 1 glass. Strain after cooling and drink the decoction ½ glass twice daily

Epigastric pain, digestive disorders, menstrual disorders

Boil 15 grams of baru cina leaves in 3 glasses of pure water, and drink like tea

Dysmenorrhea

Wash 20 grams of baru cina leaves and boil with 2 glasses of pure water. Strain after cooling, divide into 2 portions and take it in the morning and afternoon

Boils

Grind adequate amount of fresh leaves, and apply the mush to the boil

Hemorrhoids

Grind adequate amount of fresh leaves, warm up a while on small fire, and apply while still warm to the hemorrhoid

Prevention of leucorrhea

Take 30 grams of the tip of baru cina stalk including its flowers, then steep with boiled water, drink it as tea. When preferred to drink it cold, you may as well add sugar and milk

Excessive use of opiates

Drink ¾ cup of baru cina herbal juice

Rheumatism

Grind adequate amount of fresh baru cina leaves to a mush. Steam the mush, and apply to the affected area while warm

SIDE EFFECTS: About 30% of patients taking the herb’s decoction experienced a dry mouth, stomach discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or dizziness. These side effects do not appear when using the oil from the leaves.

REMARKS: The leaves of the other variant; Artemisia argyi folium, is known to possess the effect to treat cancer affecting various organs e.g. gastro-intestinal cancer, breast cancer, and lymphosarcoma, It is also used in the treatment of hepatitis, prostatitis, bronchitis, hypermenorrhea, dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea.

At present baru cina has been made available in the forms of tablets, injection, rubbing oil and aerosol, combined with other herbal plants under several brand names 

IMPORTANT NOTE

The recipes and techniques mentioned in this page are not meant to replace diagnosis and treatment of a medical practitioner. Before using any of these recipes, the author recommends to consult a physician. All the recipes has been used without any side effects and are considered safe. However, since some people have more sensitive skin or digestive system than others, and since the user’s actual recipe preparation is beyond the control of the author, the author accept no liability with regard to the use of recipes or techniques contained in this page.