Mugwort

Mugwort is a common name for several species of aromatic plants in the genus Artemisia. In Europe, mugwort most often refers to the species Artemisia vulgaris, or common mugwort. While other species are sometimes referred to by more specific common names, they may be called simply “mugwort” in many contexts. For example, one species is often called “mugwort” in the context of traditional Asian medicine Artemisia argyi but may be also referred to by the more specific name “Chinese mugwort”. Mugworts are used medicinally, especially in Chinese, Japanese and Korean traditional medicine, and are used as an herb to flavor food. In Korea, mugworts were also used for plain, non-medicinal consumption; in South Korea, mugworts, called Ssuk, are still used as a staple ingredient in many dishes including rice cakes and soup.