What are the dangers of mugwort?

Mugwort is a plant that grows in Europe and Asia as well as the eastern United States and Canada. It grows up to 6 ft tall and has dark green leaves with white, yellow, or red flowers in summer. Some countries use dried leaves as a food spice, flavoring, or tea. Since the Middle Ages, folk medicine uses this plant as a remedy for menstrual problems, infection, childbirth, and gastrointestinal complaints. Concentrated products, such as essential oils and tinctures, can be potentially toxic. There is little evidence about the benefits and safety when taking Mugwort by mouth or applying on the skin. Talk with your Health Care Provider before using this substance as a medical treatment or to cause an abortion because it is unreliable and could be potentially dangerous.

Is Mugwort Essential Oil toxic?  

Mugwort essential oil contains irregular amounts of toxic compounds such as Thujone, Camphor, and Eucalyptol. These compounds can be toxic, and swallowing this essential oil could cause vomiting, confusion, respiratory distress, coma, and seizures.

What happens if you swallow the leaves?

Swallowing dried Mugwort leaves in small amounts as a food or beverage flavoring is not expected to cause symptoms. Intentionally ingesting these leaves in large amounts as a medication or essential oil may be dangerous.

There is no antidote for Mugwort poisoning. So, early detection and treatment are important. If you think someone has swallowed this plant or a product containing this substance, call the Missouri Poison Center right away at 1-800-222-1222.

Can Mugwort be used to cause abortion?

Mugwort and other related plants from the Artemisia family have been used in the past to start menstruation and cause the uterus to contract. It is NOT recommended to use this plant to cause an abortion. Natural products are frequently assumed to be safe, but Mugwort is unpredictable and can cause serious illness or death.

With a spicy, pungent flavor, mugwort tea is a powerful herbal preparation which should be taken only with proper education or supervision. Mugwort – scientific name Artemisia vulgaris – is a member of the daisy family along with other herbs like yarrow, ragweed, tansy and arnica. Native to Europe and Asia, mugwort now grows as a weed throughout North America.

Mugwort has been promoted as a nervine to soothe the central nervous system and treat insomnia, anxiety and even seizures, according to the American Cancer Society. Herbalist S. Tephyr Burgess promotes the use of mugwort tea for nervousness and anxiety, as well as to enhance dreams. The dream-promoting effects of mugwort have been reported since the Middle Ages in Europe – mugwort may be able to help you remember your dreams or enhance them, although reports of nightmares abound.

Mugwort is also considered a strong digestive herb, strengthening the appetite and alleviating bloating, gas and other digestive complaints, according to naturopathic doctor Sharol Tilgner. The “Herbal Vade Mecum” recommends the use of mugwort for non-ulcer dyspepsia which includes heartburn, cramps and lack of appetite. Mugwort may also stimulate the production of bile due to its bitter principle, which can support the digestion of fat and protein, as well as help to relieve liver or gall bladder stagnation.

Mugwort has traditionally been considered a woman's herb, due to its ability to stimulate menstruation, relieve menstrual cramps and support menopause, according to Burgess. It is also considered an abortifacient, and though no proof exists in the medical literature as to its effect on pregnancy, it should definitely be avoided if you are pregnant. This effect is most likely do the the content of essential oils like thujone and cineole, according to the “Herbal Vade Mecum.”

Mugwort is a strong herbal tea which should be taken mindfully. As already mentioned, it should not be taken in pregnancy, during lactation or by women who are having issues with heavy menstrual periods. According to Tilgner, mugwort – when taken in high doses or for a long period of time – can cause toxicity symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. Mugwort can cause reactions in people allergic to the asteraceae family – daisies, chamomile, calendula and ragweed – and should be avoided if you are allergic to any of the other plants in this family. Research published in “Dermatology” in September of 2012 revealed that a sensitivity to mugwort pollen was found in a number of people suffering from chronic urticaria – a form of ongoing rash. Other research has linked an allergy to mugwort pollen with allergies to foods like hazelnuts and celery.

Page 2

Fennel -- Foeniculum vulgare -- is a perennial member of the carrot family. A native of the Mediterranean region, fennel produces fern-like leaves, and its clusters of small bright-yellow flowers become aromatic, licorice-flavored seeds. Cooks use fennel seeds as a spice to flavor both sweet and savory recipes, and herbalists recommend fennel seed for certain purported health benefits.

Colicky infants benefited from fennel seed extract in a study published in the July 2003 issue of "Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine." The study included 125 infants with colic, ages 2 weeks to 12 weeks. Fennel seed oil reduced crying time to less than nine hours a week in 65 percent of the infants, and it was 41 percent more effective at alleviating colic than a placebo. The study reported no adverse side effects from the use of fennel seed extract. A combination of chamomile, lemon balm and fennel improved colic within a week of daily supplementation in 85 percent of infants in a study published in the April 2005 "Phytotherapy Research." The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends 1 teaspoon of cooled fennel seed tea before and after feedings. If you are breast-feeding, drinking 3 to 6 cups of fennel seed tea a day should provide your baby with enough fennel to alleviate colic symptoms.

Potential anti-ulcer benefits of fennel seed were demonstrated in a test-tube study published in the November 2005 issue of "Phytotherapy Research." Fennel seed inhibited Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, the cause of most stomach ulcers, at concentrations of 50 micrograms per milliliter, and it was as effective as the herbs passionflower, oregano and curcumin, the active compound in turmeric. Herbs that were more effective than fennel seed in the study included nutmeg, rosemary and ginger. Cardamom, juniper, lavender, lemon balm and peppermint also inhibited H. pylori, but required concentrations twice as high.

Fennel seed may contribute to healthy digestive function by inhibiting certain bacteria that cause food-borne illnesses, according to a study published in the August 2009 issue of "BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine." In the test-tube study, fennel seed inhibited several species of bacteria that cause food poisoning, including E. coli, several species of Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus. A study published in the April 2009 issue of "Flavour and Fragrance Journal" found that fennel seed inhibited several species of pathogenic intestinal bacteria and mold. Fennel seed demonstrated antibiotic effects comparable to those of the drug amoxicillin. Researchers concluded that fennel seed shows promise as a natural antibiotic and food preservative for prevention of food-related intestinal disease.

For a delicious way to include fennel seed in your diet, try fennel seed tea. The NYU Langone Medical Center recommends 1 to 1.5 teaspoons a day, which you can drink as tea or take in capsule form. You can also use fennel seed to flavor breads and candies. To release its aromatic oils, slightly crush fennel seed before adding to recipes. Fennel seed is generally considered safe, with few side effects. However, the medical center reports that it may interfere with the absorption of certain antibiotics.

Page 3

Often occurring together in Indian and Asian foods, ginger, turmeric and garlic juice add a warm blend of complementary flavors to curry recipes, meat and vegetable dishes, soups and stews. Ginger is also important in Western cuisines, appearing often in desserts and baked goods, while garlic features prominently in the Mediterranean diet. Whether used individually or combined to create appealing, flavorful meals, these spices offer certain potential health benefits.

Ginger may help prevent or manage Type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in the September 2012 issue of "Planta Medica." In the tissue culture study of animal muscle cells, ginger extract increased the number of glucose receptors on the cells' surfaces. Ginger also improves blood sugar management by increasing insulin levels and decreasing fasting blood sugar levels, according to Pennington Biomedical Research Center. A tissue culture study published in the March 2012 issue of "Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology" found that ginger offers anti-inflammatory benefits that may protect the liver from inflammation associated with high-fat diets.

Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, demonstrated liver-protective benefits in a study published in the September 2012 issue of "BMC Alternative and Complementary Medicine." In the animal study, researchers administered curcumin daily for six weeks along with a liver irritant. Results showed less inflammation and fibrosis, or scar tissue formation, in the curcumin-supplemented group compared to a control group that did not receive curcumin. The turmeric compound also offers potential antimicrobial, cancer-preventive and pain-relieving benefits and acts as an antioxidant, preventing damage to cells from accumulated toxins and waste products, noted authors of a study published in the March 2012 issue of "Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology."

Garlic juice offers antibiotic benefits that may be effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, and other drug-resistant strains of bacteria, according to Drew University's Governor's School in the Sciences. A water extract of garlic inhibits H. pylori, a bacteria that causes stomach ulcers. Its antimicrobial effects against E. coli and Salmonella make garlic potentially useful as a food preservative. When you eat garlic or garlic juice, it releases allicin, its aromatic active compound, through your respiratory system, helping to ward off colds and flu.

Ginger and turmeric may help treat arthritis with fewer side effects than some conventional medications, according to recent research studies. In one trial, published in the June 2012 "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine," participants with knee and hip osteoarthritis consumed a combination of ginger and the drug diclofenac daily for four weeks. Results showed relief of arthritis symptoms with less attendant stomach pain, a common side effect of the drug, in the ginger-supplemented group compared to a control group that did not receive ginger. In a study published in the April 2012 "Acta Medica Indonesiana," turmeric exhibited slightly better anti-inflammatory benefits than diclofenac in patients with knee arthritis.

Page 4

Lemon, ginger and honey offer complementary flavors that enhance tea and other beverages and provide characteristic flavor to some of your favorite baked goods. By themselves or in combination, these familiar foods also provide certain health benefits, some of which pertain to your liver. Always consult your doctor for guidance before using food or supplements to treat a medical condition.

Narirutin, a compound in lemon peel, might protect the liver from alcohol-induced damage, according to an animal study published in the February 2013 issue of "Food and Chemical Toxicology." In the study, high-alcohol diets supplemented with narirutin for eight weeks showed less depletion of antioxidant enzymes, decreased levels of oxidized lipids -- those damaged by accumulated toxins and waste products -- and lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the liver compared to a control group that did not receive the lemon extract. In addition, researchers observed less inflammation in the livers of narirutin-supplemented animals.

Ginger demonstrated protective effects against liver damage induced by a high-sugar diet in an animal study published in the November 2012 issue of "Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine." High-fructose diets supplemented with 50 milligrams per kilogram body weight of ginger per day for five weeks lowered triglyceride levels and reduced fat production in the liver. In addition, liver cells of ginger-supplemented animals appeared healthier under the microscope compared to a control group that consumed a high-fructose diet but did not receive ginger.

An active compound in ginger, 6-Shogaol, induced apoptosis, or early cell death, by impairing protein production in liver cancer cells in a tissue culture study of human liver cancer published in the June 2012 issue of "PLoS One." The ginger extract also inhibited tumor growth in an animal portion of the study. When scientists combined 6-shogaol with a cancer chemotherapy drug, they observed a significant increase in apoptosis of liver cancer cells, indicating that ginger offers potential as a safe, adjunctive treatment for liver cancer.

Honey protected against acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity in an animal study published in the November 2012 "Archives of Iranian Medicine." In the study, honey significantly reduced elevated liver enzyme levels -- a sign of stress on the liver -- from high doses of acetaminophen. Antioxidant enzyme levels were maintained and levels of oxidized lipids, which can promote inflammation, decreased in honey-supplemented animals. Researchers also observed fewer acetaminophen-induced areas of damage in the livers of animals that consumed honey compared to a control group.