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Yomogi Japanese Artemisia Scientific name: Artemisia princeps (Pamp.) Plant family: Compositae Part used: Leaf and root Principal uses: Asthma, inflammatory joint disease, inflammatory skin diseases, sciatic pain, coughs, colds, infections Principal Actions: Anti-infective, anti-inflammatory History and Traditional uses of Yomogi Yomogi is a perennial member of the Daisy family, native to Japan. It can be seen in the mountains, fields, roadsides, and banks and is known as a very vigorous plant. Its leaves are feather shaped with deep incisions, bearing white dense hairs on the underside. It bears small, buff colored flowers in summer. Yomogi is an essential thread in the fabric of traditional Japanese life. In the past, at the time of the spring and autumn equinox, people visited their ancestors’ graves and made offerings of flowers and foods to the souls of their ancestors. In the old days, it was customary for housewives to pick young Yomogi leaves and mix them with rice to make Kusa Mochi –a special rice cake. Kusa mochi was an important offering to the spirits of dead relatives. The collection of Yomogi leaves for this purpose was a family event and outing. Beyond this, Yomogi was used to keep evil at bay and to prevent plagues from entering the house. During the May festival, parents say special prayers to insure children grow to maturity and adulthood. As a part of this ritual, Yomogi leaves and Calamus root (Acorus calamus) are bundled together and placed under the eaves of the house. As long ago as the year 8000 BC parents made balls of musk, cloves, Yomogi leaves and calamus and put them under the eaves of the house for this purpose. Today, the tradition has been simplified and parents simply bundle Yomogi and calamus and place it around the house. The origin of this ancient custom is Chinese and predates the Japanese custom! Perhaps the most famous use of Yomogi is in Moxibustion. It appears in the ancient medical book, ‘Meiibetsuroku’ published in China in 500 AD. Moxibustion involves placing cones of Yomogi on the afflicted area of the body (or corresponding acupuncture point) and setting them alight (don't worry, the burning herb is removed before the smolder reaches the skin). This use of Yomogi leaves was probably introduced to Japan by the Chinese Buddhist monks. ‘Meiibetsuroku’ describes Yomogi as a source of healing power for whatever ailed a person. Moxibustion became the rage among commoners in the Edo period. At that time having a treatment of moxibustion became an annual event to maintain health. Another common name for the plant is Mogusa or moxibustion grass. As moxibustion was widely used in in the Edo period, detailed information on cultivation, preservation, and preparation of Yomogi for moxibustion can be found in books from that period. The Japanese primarily used moxibustion to stop bleeding in conditions like the irregular menstrual bleeding of women, hemorrhoids, and coughing up of blood. Apart from moxibustion, Yomogi has been diversely used in Japanese folk medicine, internally and externally. Today, people who chose not to use steroids for chronic inflammatory conditions used it as an alternative. Specifically, people with eczema or atopic dermatitis, asthma and chronically inflamed joints take the infusion internally and use it in the bath to keep their conditions under control. Science of Yomogi Chemical Constituents Terpene: trans-caveol, α-terpineol, 4- terpineol, α-phellandrene, camphene, α-cedrene, bornyl acetate, elemol, isoborneol, carvone, ethyl palmitate, ethyl oleate, ethyl linoleate, lupenone, lupenyl acetate, α-amyrin acetate, β-amyrin acetate, glutinone, fernenone, 24-methylene-cycloartanone, simiarenol, trans-phenylitaconic acid Flavones: eupatilin, 5-hydroxyl-6-7-3-4-tetramrthoxyflavone Bitter lactones: isoridentin, chrysartemin B, chrysartemin A Volatile oil: d-α-phellandrene, cadinene I,8-cineole Adenine Cholines Tannins Vitamins and Minerals Polysaccharides Infection Cure
Asthma Aid
Chronic Inflammatory Conditions Yomogi is highly recommended in all inflammatory conditions, especially asthma, hay fever and atopic dermatitis. In these cases, it should be used internally and put into the bath. It is safe to be used long term and should be used first to get the condition under control and then at any sign of a return of the condition. Anti Infection A recently rediscovered use of Yomogi is in the prevention and treatment of malaria. Travelers venturing to countries with malaria are now again at risk, as the traditional treatments are no longer working as effectively. Recent research and history reveals Yomogi is an excellent preventative which modern travelers should think about adding to their travel bag before heading to countries troubled with malaria. It can be used to stimulate the body whenever infection is a problem. Dosage Internally : Herb Dried herb 5g per day Tincture 1:1 5ml per day Tincture 1:5 25ml per day Essential oil: check with your local herbalist Herb for Bathing:: Bath herb bag for skin problems such as atopic dermatitis. (Cheesecloth bag filled with the leaves of Yomogi, then dropped into your hot bath) Bibliography
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