Evidence supporting the use of: Mugwort
For the health condition: Colds (with fever)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems, particularly in East Asia and Europe. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), mugwort (known as "Ai Ye") is valued for its warming properties and is often used in the treatment of "wind-cold" conditions, which may include colds with fever. Mugwort is commonly used in the practice of moxibustion, where dried mugwort is burned near the skin to stimulate circulation and dispel cold and dampness, which are thought to contribute to symptoms like chills and fever. In European folk medicine, mugwort was sometimes brewed as a tea to induce sweating, which was believed to help "break" a fever and expel illness from the body.

However, scientific studies specifically evaluating mugwort’s efficacy for treating colds with fever are lacking. The plant does contain volatile oils and flavonoids with mild antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, but there is no robust clinical evidence demonstrating that mugwort can effectively treat viral infections such as the common cold or reduce fever in humans. Thus, its use for this indication is justified more by tradition and historical use rather than modern scientific validation.

In summary, mugwort’s application for colds with fever is rooted in traditional medicine practices, and while there are some plausible mechanisms, the scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness for this purpose remains weak.

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