"Once upon a time, in the heavenly realms, lived a god named Hwanung, the son of the Lord of Heaven, Hwanin. Hwanung yearned to live among the humans on Earth, and so, upon hearing his son's wishes, Hwanin granted him permission. Hwanung, along with 3000 followers, descended to a sacred sandalwood tree atop Mount Taebaek. On Earth, Hwanung established a city named Sinsi, meaning "City of God," where he ruled and taught humans various aspects of civilization, including agriculture, law, and medicine.
One day, a bear and a tiger living in a nearby cave prayed to Hwanung. They yearned to become human. Touched by their sincerity, Hwanung set them a challenge: they must eat only a bundle of mugwort and twenty cloves of garlic and stay out of sunlight for one hundred days. The bear and the tiger accepted the challenge and retreated to their cave. However, after twenty days, the tiger lost patience and left the cave, failing the task. But the bear remained and, at the end of the one hundred days, was transformed into a beautiful woman, named Ungnyeo.
Ungnyeo was very grateful, but soon she grew lonely as there were no other beings like her. She prayed under the sacred sandalwood tree for a child. Hwanung, moved by her prayers, took Ungnyeo as his wife, and they had a son, who was named Dangun Wanggeom. Dangun inherited his father's throne and established the first Korean kingdom, Gojoseon, in 2333 BCE. He was not just a ruler but also a culture hero, teaching his people various cultural and technological practices. Dangun's reign marked the beginning of recorded history in Korea, with his ascension celebrated annually on National Foundation Day."
Embedded in the lore of ancient mythology, specifically within the Dangun myth from South Korea, an intriguing event unfolds. A bear consumes Mugwort transforming into a woman and establishing the lineage for the nation. This powerful herb, scientifically termed as Artemisia and named after the Greek goddess Artemis, is universally recognized as a symbol of femininity in both Eastern and Western cultures. Mugwort is a perennial plant native to Europe, certain regions of Asia and Africa, and it has since proliferated to many parts of the world, including North America. This essay uncovers the compelling tale of Mugwort, its significance in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and its valued role in Western herbology.
Part 1: The Role of Mugwort in Traditional Chinese Medicine
In the sphere of TCM, Mugwort's application is most commonly associated with addressing women's health issues. The herb is characterized by its warming nature and its distinct bitter and acrid taste. Believed to direct its healing properties into the liver, spleen, and kidney channel, Mugwort is typically consumed in quantities ranging between 3 and 9 grams. Its attributed benefits include warming the womb and reducing bleeding, dispelling cold, alleviating pain, driving out dampness, and curbing itching.
However, it's important to heed certain precautions and contraindications. In particular, Mugwort should be administered carefully when dealing with heat derived from yin deficiency. Overdosage, approximately 20 to 30 grams, may result in symptoms such as dry mouth, vomiting, gastric discomfort, and dizziness.
In the context of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Mugwort plays a crucial role in the therapeutic method of Moxibustion. The term 'Moxa' originates from the Japanese pronunciation of Mugwort. In Korean, Mugwort is referred to as 'Ssook' (쑥), in Japanese as 'Mogusa' (艾), and in Chinese as 'Ai Ye'. In Chinese, Moxibustion is called 'Jiu' (灸). In Japan, 'Mogusa' (艾) is commonly used to refer to both moxibustion and its key ingredient, mugwort. 'Yomogi' (蓬) is another term frequently used in Japan to refer to moxibustion, but technically, it refers to the moxa stick.
Part 2: The Importance of Mugwort in Western Herbology
Despite its origins in Eastern healing traditions, Mugwort has also made a significant impact on Western herbology. Administered orally, Mugwort is advocated for managing digestive problems, irregular menstruation, and high blood pressure. Additionally, it's promoted as a sedative, laxative, and liver tonic. Applied topically, Mugwort lotion is recommended for relieving itching caused by hypertrophic scars. This plant is also thought to possess antioxidant properties and have antibacterial and antifungal effects. Its roots, leaves, stems, and blossoms are all used in folk medicine to produce tinctures, extracts, tonics, teas, powders, and essential oils. [1]
2-1. The Use of Mugwort for Dyspepsia:
In Western herbology, Mugwort was predominantly employed to combat digestive disorders. A notable example is a natural drug developed in South Korea called "Stillen", which contains Mugwort. This medication is primarily employed for the management and prevention of select gastrointestinal conditions. It's often prescribed for treating gastritis, a condition marked by inflammation of the stomach lining leading to discomfort and indigestion. Additionally, it's utilized in treating gastroenteritis, an ailment involving inflammation of both the stomach and the small intestine, often resulting in symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
One double-blind placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy and safety of DA-9601(Stillen) on erosive gastritis, using cetraxate as a comparison. The 512 participants were divided into three groups and given either 180 mg or 360 mg of DA-9601, or 600 mg of cetraxate, for two weeks. Endoscopic observations before and after treatment showed that both doses of DA-9601 resulted in significantly higher cure and improvement rates than cetraxate. Symptom relief over the two weeks was not significantly different between groups, and no treatment-associated adverse events were reported, thus attesting to DA-9601's safety and efficacy in treating erosive gastritis.[2]
In another randomized double-blind study, researchers examined the effectiveness of combining DA-5204 (Stillen 2X, a derivative of Artemisia asiatica) with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Although the combination did not significantly improve the endoscopic healing rate compared to PPI alone, it was found to be more effective in resolving minimal changes, thus indicating a potential benefit.[3]
2-2. Mugwort as an Oneirogen:
An oneirogen, derived from the Greek words for "dream" and "create", is a substance that enhances dreamlike states of consciousness, closely resembling REM sleep. These states can range from realistic to abstract, even alien experiences. Artemisia douglasiana, also known as California mugwort, Douglas's sagewort, or the dream plant, belongs to the sunflower family. This aromatic herb is recognized for inducing vivid and lucid dreams when used as a scent, tea, or smoke. Mugwort, specifically Artemisia vulgaris, is highly recommended for dreamwork due to its ability to amplify the quality, complexity, resolution, and recall of dreams. Depending on an individual's usual dream state, Mugwort can offer a variety of enhancements. For instance, it may introduce colors to those who typically dream in black and white. It could engage other senses for those who usually have solely visual dreams. Moreover, it might promote lucid dreaming, wherein one can consciously manipulate their dream state.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mugwort is an incredibly versatile herb, boasting a wide range of applications from aiding in digestion and treating a variety of health issues, to enhancing dream states. Its significance in both Eastern and Western cultures attests to its unique, potent properties, solidifying its place in the annals of both traditional and modern medicine.
Three kinds of Ssuk in TCM;
https://acupunctureherbalmedicine.blogspot.com/2023/04/hua-tuo-and-yin-chen.html
References
1. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/mugwort
2. Seol SY, Kim MH, Ryu JS, Choi MG, Shin DW, Ahn BO. DA-9601 for erosive gastritis: results of a double-blind placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial. World J Gastroenterol. 2004;10(16):2379-2382. doi:10.3748/wjg.v10.i16.2379
3. Cho JH, Yoon H, Shin CM, Park YS, Kim N, Lee DH. Efficacy of DA-5204 (Stillen 2X) for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(44):e22729.