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Found throughout most of Europe, Asia, and North America, Mugwort is the herb used in the Chinese treatment called moxibustion. In this variation of acupuncture, small cones of smoldering Mugwort are placed on the trigger points said to govern the flow of life force throughout the body. It is by redirecting and balancing this flow that moxibustion is thought to promote healing. In medieval Europe, Mugwort was believed to be the plant used as a belt by John the Baptist during his sojourn in the desert. As such, it was thought to confer protection from evil spirits, sunstroke, fatigue, and wild beasts. In modern laboratory tests, extracts of Mugwort do in fact exhibit a protective effect--but only against microbes.
Mugwort has been used to treat indigestion, stomachaches, worm infections, convulsions, vomiting, poor circulation, and restlessness. The root has been taken for emotional problems, including depression, anxiety, and insomnia. For none of these problems, however, has its effectiveness been verified.
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