Collecting and Identifying Mugwort in Central Park

The beginnings of a new video podcast called the Plant of the Week. Describes how to find and identify this psychoactive plant Mugwort in New York City's Central Park, how it affects dreams, and it's relation to wormwood used to make absinthe.
Filmed by Steve Mirsky of Scientific American for the Science Talk podcast.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• ethnobotany
• psychoactive
• plants
• botany
• biology
• foraging
• herbs
• herbal
• medicine

[westvillagenycity]

I grew up eating in Okinawa. Leaves were mixed in with left over miso soup and rice. Eat as Congee ,porridge, consistency. The leaves gives definitely distinctive taste and aroma. It's an acquire taste. I should go out to Central Park for picking my leaves for dinner!

[nbletter]

@westvillagenycity Very interesting! I've heard of mugwort being used in mochi and Korean soups but never in miso and congee. Thanks for the info!

[MrHumbolthippy]

do us a better favor and harvest properly and replant instead of just pulling up for education vid all he did is pull branch,he didnt even [ask]cut it so proper regrowth,im really just think u are blissfull.hungry people dont have camera crew and after your guy explains to everyone how artesma is drug u go and tell us its a veggie ?and go pick in park wich is against national and ferderal law ,by the way,u need permit to pick mushrooms also.why do u act like your helping peoplei lik vid not u 

[nbletter]

Mugwort is a very invasive weed in NY, growing by the thousands of plants in any empty lot, so you're actually making more space for native plants by harvesting it here. It is also NOT illegal whatsoever. I've talked to many people in the Central Park Conservancy and US Forest Service and they've told me it's not illegal to pick plants, especially weeds such as this, for personal use. Just make sure you deal with rangers who know the rules as many will think picking any plant is illegal.

[nbletter]

OTOH, a weed in the park has a negative carbon footprint as it's absorbed atmospheric carbon, used no fertilizer or pesticides to grow it, has no market running lights and refrigerators to store it, & you're getting exercise & saving a health-club membership and improving your health by walking around the park collecting it rather than taking the bus to buy it in the market. So do yourself and the environment a favor & get your herbs & veggies from the park, & just give them a good rinse.

[nbletter]

Seymour,

It's ironic that many NYers will worry about eating park plants that might have sterile urine on them which washes off easily, but then go stuff their face with twinkies and hot dogs that are loaded with nitrates, sulfates, and who knows what other toxic chemicals that cannot be removed from the food, and have a huge carbon footprint for their manufacture and transport.

[karonvick]

This is sad... He's talking about an herb that grows readilly in a park... and it becomes a debate on laws.. too bad missing something here.

[KannibalKenny]

I was introduced to this stuff not too long ago. It DOES in fact intensify your dreams, but don't expect it to always be pleasant! Also, don't abuse it! Mugwort does contain thujone, which is toxic in large amounts. I smoked it a few times a day for 4 days in a row and started getting headaches! not good!

[bronzeprince]

@MountAnalogue I hear you. I smoked some and it made me have horrible dreams. I thought it was bs also but it did make me hear like voices or angels from another demension. It make my chest hurt. Not good!

[MrHumbolthippy]

@nbletter that it ?well thanks i like good info ,no metion of rest of family?is emphasis on plants in newyyork park or thujne,or foraging i like either way ,cool i live in land of giants,and [cedar] forage harvest everthing i find lots of cedar out here ,,thanks for pointing out that they make or extract most of thujn out of absith,thats good reportin,peace

[MrHumbolthippy]

@cappygurl352 not sure what moxioh wait moxibustion,either way not toxic,and if put in product by chinese they are traditional and safe practicers of medicine.u have to take plant in certain way and amoun to get efects.anyone prescribing is probably not like idiots on page tellin how to get high off of a plnt.it sounds like weed its not .diferent medicine dont worry,peace

[MrHumbolthippy]

@bronzeprince what a real good guy hmm a prince?yea cool ,