Mugwort in pregnancy and breastfeeding

What NCCIH says about safety

There’s not enough evidence to know whether it’s safe to take mugwort orally or to use it topically. Mugwort should not be used during pregnancy. Little is known about whether it’s safe to use mugwort while breastfeeding.

Quoted in full from NCCIH so nothing is lost in summarising. Where they say “little is known”, that means the studies do not exist — not that the herb is known to be safe, and not that it is known to be harmful.

How much is actually known

Very little research has been done on mugwort in people. There is not enough evidence to determine whether mugwort is safe or useful for any health condition; therefore, more studies are needed before definitive conclusions can be reached.

What the research has found

One preliminary study showed that a topical lotion containing mugwort and menthol relieved itching associated with hypertrophic scars. Because the product contained more than one ingredient, it is not clear whether mugwort was responsible for the effect. There’s not enough evidence to say whether mugwort is helpful for any other conditions.

Before you take this

Dose and form change the answer completely. A culinary amount of a spice, a cup of tea, and a concentrated supplement extract are three different things, and most research is done on the last of them.

Supplements are also not regulated like medicines, so strength and purity vary between products. Bring the actual bottle to your midwife, doctor or pharmacist — that conversation is worth more than any page, including this one.