Is it safe for pregnant women to inhale the scent of mugwort?

Although mugwort possesses excellent pharmacological properties, it promotes blood circulation to remove blood stasis and warms the meridians to stop bleeding, which can adversely affect pregnant women and potentially lead to miscarriage. Mugwort has the effects of relaxing muscles and promoting blood circulation, as well as warming the meridians to stop bleeding. For women, soaking feet in mugwort water can dispel cold and warm the uterus, but if used by pregnant women, it may cause bleeding, affecting the baby and even leading to spontaneous abortion. Besides pregnant women, people with blood stasis and allergic constitutions are also advised against using mugwort. Mugwort has the effect of stopping bleeding, but for those with blood stasis, the blood flow is sluggish. Using mugwort may exert the opposite effect, worsening the obstruction of blood circulation and hindering the resolution of blood stasis. Generally, those with special allergic constitutions should also avoid using mugwort. If mugwort causes an allergic reaction, it may lead to significant discomfort such as hives, redness, and itching.

While pregnant women cannot use mugwort due to its blood-warming and bleeding-stopping properties, it brings great benefits to normal individuals. Mugwort enters the liver and spleen meridians, warming and dispersing cold, nourishing qi and blood, warming the meridians, and can be used to treat various bleeding disorders caused by cold deficiency.