Artemisia vulgaris, commonly known as mugwort, is a familiar vegetable in Vietnamese cuisine. Mugwort has a distinctive bitter taste and is often used in dishes such as fried eggs with mugwort, braised chicken with mugwort, and balut egg cooked with mugwort. Each dish has its own unique flavor and offers numerous health benefits.
Health Benefits of Mugwort
In traditional East Asian medicine, mugwort is believed to have a bitter, spicy, and warm nature, affecting the liver, spleen, and kidney meridians. It is thought to disperse stagnant energy, expel cold and dampness, warm the meridians, and relieve pain caused by cold. Fresh or dried mugwort leaves can be used.
This herb is commonly used in treatments for joint pain, helping to reduce pain, improve blood circulation, and prevent and treat respiratory diseases.
Modern scientific research has revealed that mugwort possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, inhibiting the growth of bacteria and parasites. Mugwort is rich in antioxidants, which help protect cardiovascular health and may prevent diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Traditional Remedies Using Mugwort Leaves
- Regulate Menstrual Cycle
For women, mugwort is a valuable herb that helps regulate menstrual cycles, reduce fatigue, and treat prolonged periods. From the first day of menstruation until the end, take 20g of dried mugwort leaves and boil them in 400ml of water until reduced to 200ml. Add a little honey to taste, if desired. Drink this infusion in the morning and evening.
- Relieve Joint Pain, Sciatica, and Headaches
Use 300g of fresh mugwort leaves, wash and pat dry, then crush them to extract the juice. Mix the juice with 2 teaspoons of honey and consume this mixture at noon and in the evening for a week.
- Improve Blood Circulation to the Brain
Consuming fried eggs with mugwort can help improve blood circulation to the brain.
- Treat Loss of Appetite and Physical Weakness
Take 250g of fresh mugwort, one black bone chicken (around 150g), 2 pears, 20g of wolfberries, and 10g of Chinese angelica. Place all the ingredients in a pot, add 500ml of water, and simmer on low heat until the liquid is reduced by half. Consume the entire dish in one day.
- Relieve Abdominal Pain Caused by Cold
Use 100g of fresh mugwort leaves and 100g of minced pork tenderloin to make a soup. Eat this soup with rice for two days to treat abdominal pain caused by cold.
- Treat Cough, Sore Throat, Cold, Headache
Take 300g of mugwort, 100g of eucalyptus leaves, and 100g of grapefruit leaves (or orange or lemon leaves). Wash the leaves, add them to a pot with 2 liters of water, and boil for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and use the steam for inhalation therapy for about 10 minutes.
Alternatively, take 100g each of mugwort, perilla leaves, thick leaf grass, and 50g of lemongrass. Boil these ingredients in 1 liter of water until reduced to 500ml. Drink the infusion throughout the day for 3-5 days.
- Treat Itching, Boils, and Pimples
Wash fresh mugwort leaves and crush them. Apply the crushed leaves directly to the affected area for about 20 minutes, then rinse with clean water. Alternatively, blend the leaves with a little water, filter the mixture, and use it as a bathwater additive.
While mugwort has been used extensively in traditional medicine and offers numerous health benefits, it should not be overused. Excessive consumption of mugwort can lead to central nervous system excitation, causing tremors in the hands and feet and even whole-body convulsions. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a doctor before using mugwort, especially for pregnant women and individuals with chronic illnesses or those taking medication.
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