2024 April 18 Medicinal Mugwort in a High School Garden

Among other medicinal plants, I smoked Mugwort in college. A friend bought a bit of it from an herbal store and we rolled it into joints. We didn’t know much about it, other than it had ”medicinal benefits” and it smelled amazing when burnt. It reminded me of a clove cigarette, a lovely thing to smoke on a night hike through the woods or just around campus.

This summer, when I took a free class at LCCC I was delighted to reconnect with my college friend, Mugwort. We used it as a bundle of incense like sage. The memories from college came back instantly with the smoke. Since then, my wife and I have been smoking it before bed, and we have found that it really intensifies dreams. I do remember having vivid dreams in college too.

Yesterday, I met a coworker friend at the high school where we were founding teachers. She asked for some garden advice and help determining “weeds” from “native plants”. Lo and behold, the native plant garden was overtaken by my friend, soft, silvery, Mugwort. 

The native garden to the left was founded by science teacher Jason Tout, and maintained by Spanish teacher Sarah Schwab. It’s absolutely beautiful and full of life. I hope to update when it’s in bloom.

When I told her how much I love this plant (which is not part of the native garden) and how nice of a sleep you get when it’s smoked, she joked, “Don’t tell the kids that!” It made me stop and think. American medicine really has no plants that you smoke. Cannabis still has a taboo about it, despite its amazing healing properties. Tobacco and opium can be horribly misused. I understand why she’d be hesitant about telling kids about Mugwort as medicine. 

Someone once told me that the plants in your yard grow specifically for the needs of people around them. It’s not a surprise to see Mugwort overtaking a garden maintained by sleep-deprived high schoolers then. Maybe high schoolers should know what could help them.

I lovingly helped pull the mugwort from the garden. I harvested a big batch to take home. Last night, I bundled up the freshest looking ones to dry, then I made some tea with mint and honey. I slept so deep last night. 

My friend, Mugwort, ready for tea with our other tea friend, Mint. Washed and steeped in boiling water for 8 minutes.