Emma Etaka
- Jul 7
- 3 min read

Harnessing The Power of Mugwort Herb For Irregular Periods

#irregularperiods #periodtips #periodpositivity #herbalremedy #naturalhealth

Let's talk about the Herb Of The Month: Mugwort!

In this first part, we'll focus on its benefits for physical and menstrual health.

First, some facts about this amazing herb.

Plant family: Asteraceae

Botanical name: Artemisia vulgaris (remember this bame for future post on the holistic aspects of this herb)

Best time to sow: Late winter/early spring - she likes nitrogen-rich, well draining soil

Best time to pick: July - September

Now let's get into it.

Is irregular bleeding and never knowing when you're due (unless you experiences cramps during PMS) something that resonates with you? Well stop nodding your head because mugwort has your back - this herb is primed and ready to tackle irregular periods! This herb is vital when it comes to creating a cycle. Yes, YOU - not a gynaecologist of doctor - can do that.

Mugwort is an emmenagogue - meaning "to bring on bleeding" - that stimulates your pituitary gland. That's the part of your brain that creates and releases hormones. Your hypothalamus - do you remember this from the first few blogs post? If not, check it out here - tunes into your body to feel/see what's already going on, then receives the mugwort and gets to work. It sends a signal to your pituitary gland which steps in by creating and releasing your follicular stimulating hormone on a regular basis. This hormone is responsible for the start of your period/menstruation; its amount builds up the closer you get you coming into your period. With this phase of our cycle being regular, mugwort also helps to smooth out and regulate the rest of our cycle by doing the same to each hormone of each phase.

And it really is that simple, so get to Yoni steaming!

I remember as a pre-teen, being told that a cycle lasts 28 days and this is normal. By the time I started my period, I was so disconnected from my body and had such internalised misogyny in regards to my cycle, that I never paid attention to the regularity of it.

While being regular is the case for many, by the time I had an awareness of my cycle, I realised I wasn't. And I thought back to those lessons in school: what do you if /when you're not regular? Answer: nothing or go on the pill. That's ofthen the answer for a lot of girls and women, along with a string of side-effects: weight-gain, mood swings, diet changes and just messing with your bosy. But hey ho, we're women - it's part of the territory, right? 😤🤯🤬

Three months into Yoni steaming, my periods became regular and I was astounded I didn't even know this was possible! I was grateful to have found a solution that's natural, affordable, accessible -Yoni steaming is so easy. Wanna see? Watch my "How to Yoni Steam At Home" video below.

But most of all, I loved that no-one else was involved. No doctors, GPs, gynaecologists to dismiss, not believe, gaslight or test out medicine on me. No waiting lists or referrals with no end of solution in sight.

Just me.

Yoni steaming - and mugwort - helped me to reconnect to MY cycle and build a relationship with it. No-one else's narrative.

Just mine.

A few months down the line, more comfortable with my body and having a regular cycle, I was more aware of PMS - the phase before your period/menstruation. But more about that in part three. For now...

HOW I WORK WITH MUGWORT HERB

Regular Yoni steam with this herb in all of my blends! Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it; steaming 3-4 days before and after my period has been working for the past ten years, so clearly, something's working.