Thread: Some questions about mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

I just received a kilo of dried mugwort leaves in the mail today. I know a lot about mugwort and that it isn't good to ingest too much of it, but I have never tried it as a tea, only inhaled oils made out of it. I was wonder first of all, about how much of the leaf should I use in a cup of tea? Is it best to mix it with other mild caffeine free teas (I typically drink a set of teas called something like "good night tea" or is it best to drink it alone? How does it taste as a tea?

Mugwort is a very common plant here where I live as it can be found in any unkempt field or around ponds and other moist areas, so therefore I have easy access to the fresh plant. I simply got the dry leaf because I figured it would be easier to start from there as it already was dried and coming from Europe it wasn't very expensive. So I guess my question here is, can fresh leaves be used for anything, or is it best to stay with dried leaves? Should I try drying my own leaves from the plants that grow naturally in the area I live in?

My last question is, how much would it be recommended to drink of this tea? Since it is toxic in very large quantities, how much is too much then? I've heard of people who drink it once or twice a day, but I don't know if they do or should drink it everyday. Does anyone know if the thujone in mugwort is a controlled substance in any country in the world? I just wondered that, since it just pops up everywhere here. Some people are allergic to its pollen.