Artemisia princeps
Encyclopedia
Artemisia princeps, or Japanese mugwort
, is a perennial, very vigorous plant that grows to 1.2 meters and is known as yomogi (ヨモギ) in Japan. This species spreads rapidly by means of underground stolons and can become invasive. It bears small, buff colored flowers from July to November which are hermaphroditic, and pollinated by wind. The leaves are feather shaped, scalloped and light green, with white dense fuzz on the underside.
to which they give a pleasant colour, aroma and flavour. Mugwort mochi can be found in many North American health food stores.
in Moxibustion
, a traditional medical practice of China
, Japan
, Korea
, Vietnam
, Tibet
, and Mongolia
. An evaluation of the efficacy of the smoke and water extracts of the herb found that both preparations inhibited the growth of a specific line of breast cancer cells in vitro
.
Phenolics from A. princeps alleviated the oxidative stress and enhanced the viability of certain neuronal cells in vitro
.
are a fundamental ingredient in kusa mochi
(literally weed rice cake), a Japanese confectionery
, to which it imparts its fresh, springlike fragrance and vivid green coloring.
In Korea, it is called ssuk (쑥) or tarae ssuk (타래쑥) which is deeply related to Dangun Sinhwa
(단군신화), legend of Gojoseon
, the first Korean kingdom, It is also widely used in Korean cuisine as well as a medicine. It is used for making tteok
(rice cake), jeon
(Korean style pancake), ssuk kimchi
, (쑥김치), ssukguk
(쑥국, soup made with ssuk) and so forth.
called mugwort:
Artemisia vulgaris
Artemisia vulgaris is one of several species in the genus Artemisia which have common names that include the word mugwort. This species is also occasionally known as Felon Herb, Chrysanthemum Weed, Wild Wormwood, Old uncle Henry, Sailor's Tobacco, Naughty Man, Old Man or St...
, is a perennial, very vigorous plant that grows to 1.2 meters and is known as yomogi (ヨモギ) in Japan. This species spreads rapidly by means of underground stolons and can become invasive. It bears small, buff colored flowers from July to November which are hermaphroditic, and pollinated by wind. The leaves are feather shaped, scalloped and light green, with white dense fuzz on the underside.
Edible uses
Leaves and young seedlings can be eaten raw or cooked. They can also be used in salads and soups after removal of the bitterness. The young leaves can be lightly boiled before being pounded and added to glutinous rice dumplings known as mochiMochi
Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice pounded into paste and molded into shape. In Japan it is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki. While also eaten year-round, mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time...
to which they give a pleasant colour, aroma and flavour. Mugwort mochi can be found in many North American health food stores.
Traditional uses
A. princeps is one of the varieties of mugwort used as moxaMoxibustion
Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy using moxa, or mugwort herb. It plays an important role in the traditional medical systems of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Tibet, and Mongolia. Suppliers usually age the mugwort and grind it up to a fluff; practitioners burn the fluff or...
in Moxibustion
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy using moxa, or mugwort herb. It plays an important role in the traditional medical systems of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Tibet, and Mongolia. Suppliers usually age the mugwort and grind it up to a fluff; practitioners burn the fluff or...
, a traditional medical practice of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, and Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. An evaluation of the efficacy of the smoke and water extracts of the herb found that both preparations inhibited the growth of a specific line of breast cancer cells in vitro
In vitro
In vitro refers to studies in experimental biology that are conducted using components of an organism that have been isolated from their usual biological context in order to permit a more detailed or more convenient analysis than can be done with whole organisms. Colloquially, these experiments...
.
Phenolics from A. princeps alleviated the oxidative stress and enhanced the viability of certain neuronal cells in vitro
In vitro
In vitro refers to studies in experimental biology that are conducted using components of an organism that have been isolated from their usual biological context in order to permit a more detailed or more convenient analysis than can be done with whole organisms. Colloquially, these experiments...
.
Etymology
In China it is known as huang hua ai (黄花艾). In Japan it is called and the leaves are sometimes blanched and added to soups or rice. Its leaves, along with those of Gnaphalium affineGnaphalium affine
Gnaphalium affine D. Don, also known as Jersey Cudweed, is a species of plants belonging to the genus Gnaphalium. The species grows extensively in East Asia including temperate regions of China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan as well as some high altitude tropical regions of India, Nepal, and Thailand...
are a fundamental ingredient in kusa mochi
Kusa mochi
, also known as yomogi mochi, is a Japanese sweet. It is considered a seasonal dish for spring. It is made from mochi and leaf of yomogi , or more traditionally from the Gnaphalium affine . It may also be filled with red bean paste.Kusa mochi may also be used to make a kind of daifuku called yomogi...
(literally weed rice cake), a Japanese confectionery
Wagashi
is a traditional Japanese confectionery which is often served with tea, especially the types made of mochi, azuki bean paste, and fruits.Wagashi is typically made from natural ingredients...
, to which it imparts its fresh, springlike fragrance and vivid green coloring.
In Korea, it is called ssuk (쑥) or tarae ssuk (타래쑥) which is deeply related to Dangun Sinhwa
Dangun
Dangun Wanggeom was the legendary founder of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom, around present-day Liaoning, Manchuria, and the Korean Peninsula. He is said to be the "grandson of heaven", and to have founded the kingdom in 2333 BC...
(단군신화), legend of Gojoseon
Gojoseon
Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom. Go , meaning "ancient," distinguishes it from the later Joseon Dynasty; Joseon, as it is called in contemporaneous writings, is also romanized as Chosŏn....
, the first Korean kingdom, It is also widely used in Korean cuisine as well as a medicine. It is used for making tteok
Tteok
Tteok is a class of Korean rice cakes made with glutinous rice flour , by steaming. Normal rice flour can be used for some kinds of tteok. There are hundreds of different kinds of tteok eaten year round...
(rice cake), jeon
Jeon (food)
Jeon , buchimgae, jijimgae, or jijim refer to many pancake-like dishes in Korean cuisine. It has been also called jeonyueo or jeonyuhwa, especially in Korean royal court cuisine. Sometimes, jeonya is used as an abbreviated term for the two...
(Korean style pancake), ssuk kimchi
Kimchi
Kimchi , also spelled gimchi, kimchee, or kim chee, is a traditional fermented Korean dish made of vegetables with varied seasonings. There are hundreds of varieties of kimchi made with a main vegetable ingredient such as napa cabbage, radish, green onions or cucumber. It is the most common...
, (쑥김치), ssukguk
Guk
Guk , also sometimes known as Tang , is a class of soup-like dishes in Korean cuisine. Guk and tang are commonly grouped together and regarded as the same type of dish, although guk is more watery and a basic dish for the Korean table setting, and is usually eaten at home...
(쑥국, soup made with ssuk) and so forth.
Related species
There are other species in the genus ArtemisiaArtemisia (plant)
Artemisia is a large, diverse genus of plants with between 200 to 400 species belonging to the daisy family Asteraceae. It comprises hardy herbs and shrubs known for their volatile oils. They grow in temperate climates of the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere, usually in dry or semi-dry...
called mugwort:
- Artemisia douglasianaArtemisia douglasianaArtemisia douglasiana is a non-seeding aromatic shrub in the genus Artemisia. It is native to western North America, in the Western United States and into Baja California, Mexico. It is commonly called Mugwort, Douglas's Sagewort, or Dream Plant.-Uses:This plant has been used as a ceremonial plant...
– Douglas' Mmgwort - Artemisia glacialis – Alpine mugwort
- Artemisia norvegicaArtemisia norvegicaArtemisia norvegica is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names alpine sagewort, boreal sagewort, mountain sagewort, Norwegian mugwort, arctic wormwood, and spruce wormwood...
– Norwegian mugwort - Artemisia stelleriana – Hoary mugwort
- Artemisia verlotiorumArtemisia verlotiorumArtemisia verlotiorum is one of several species in the genus Artemisia which is native to East Asia - Kamchatka, North Japan and China. It is an invasive weed, widespread in Europe, North Africa, Central and East Asia.-Etymology:...
– Chinese mugwort - Artemisia vulgarisArtemisia vulgarisArtemisia vulgaris is one of several species in the genus Artemisia which have common names that include the word mugwort. This species is also occasionally known as Felon Herb, Chrysanthemum Weed, Wild Wormwood, Old uncle Henry, Sailor's Tobacco, Naughty Man, Old Man or St...
– Mugwort or common wormwood