Mugwort works its magic

Medicinal effects: Wang showing the mugwort leaves at his Qichun county plantation and (right) a TCM practitioner burning mugwort while treating a client by moxibustion. — China Daily/Asia News Network

Beijing: When Wang Xingjian arrived in Qichun, Hubei province, 12 years ago to buy mugwort from local farmers, he was surprised to find there was none available in the county, traditionally famous for producing the herb.

“Farmers only grew a few mugwort plants around their houses for their own use, and never thought of growing more for sale,” Wang, a businessman from Qingdao, Shan­dong province, said.