Can pregnant women smell mugwort?

Whether pregnant women can be exposed to the scent of artemisia (mugwort) should be carefully evaluated. Generally, limited exposure is acceptable, but long-term contact is not recommended.

From a pharmacological perspective, artemisia contains various volatile components such as eucalyptol and borneol, which have certain pharmacological activities. An appropriate amount of artemisia fragrance can have a calming effect on emotions and help alleviate anxiety and tension during pregnancy. Furthermore, artemisia is warm in nature, bitter and pungent in taste, and acts on the liver, spleen, and kidney meridians. It has functions of warming the meridians to stop bleeding and dispersing cold to relieve pain. For discomfort caused by cold in the uterus, appropriate use of artemisia fumigation or moxibustion may provide some auxiliary therapeutic effects.

However, when the aroma of artemisia is too strong, inhaling large amounts of volatile oils may irritate the sensitive respiratory mucosa of pregnant women, causing coughing or difficulty breathing. Some pregnant women may be allergic to artemisia, experiencing symptoms such as rashes or asthma. Moreover, artemisia has the effect of warming the meridians and promoting circulation in traditional medicine; prolonged and excessive exposure to artemisia smoke may cause uterine contractions, especially in early pregnancy, thereby increasing the risk of threatened miscarriage. Therefore, before being exposed to artemisia scent, pregnant women should try a small amount first. If discomfort occurs, they should immediately move away and seek medical attention if necessary.

During pregnancy, women should maintain healthy lifestyle habits and a positive mindset to ensure the healthy development of the fetus.