Mugwort allergy
Hay fever that comes back in July and August, long after the trees? Mugwort is a common weed whose pollen is one of the main late-summer triggers in central Europe. Our test checks IgE sensitisation to mugwort as part of 300 allergens and allergen components, including celery, a food it is often linked to.
- Group
- Pollen
- Season
- Roughly July to September in central Europe, peaking in August
- Also known as
- mugwort allergy, Artemisia vulgaris, common wormwood, Art v 1, weed pollen
Where you meet it
- Roadsides, wasteland, field edges and riverbanks
- Untended gardens and allotments
- Dried herb mixes and some herbal teas
- Outdoors on warm, dry afternoons in late summer
What mugwort is
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is a tall, grey-green weed that grows almost anywhere the ground has been disturbed. It is easy to overlook, but its pollen is a frequent cause of late-summer hay fever.
Its main allergen is called Art v 1. Mugwort belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae), the same family as ragweed, chamomile and sunflower.
What people commonly report
Mugwort causes classic hay fever symptoms: sneezing, runny or blocked nose and itchy eyes, typically from late July into September. Some people notice a cough.
Because it overlaps with the end of grass season and the start of ragweed, it is hard to pin down by timing alone. A panel that tests all three side by side does that job.
- Sneezing and itchy eyes from late July
- Blocked nose in August
- Itching in the mouth after some spices or raw celery
The celery, mugwort and spice link
Some people sensitised to mugwort also react to celery, especially celeriac, and to spices from the carrot family such as aniseed, fennel, coriander, cumin and caraway. This pattern is known as the celery-mugwort-spice syndrome.
These reactions are often limited to the mouth, but celery reactions are not always mild and are not reliably prevented by cooking. Any swelling or trouble breathing after food needs a doctor, not a test.
How the test checks mugwort
The lab measures IgE to mugwort pollen in your finger-prick sample as part of 300 allergens and allergen components. Ragweed, grasses and celery (Api g 1, 2, 6 and 7) sit on the same panel, so you see the late-summer picture in one report. Carrot-family spices are not on the panel.
A positive result shows sensitisation, not a clinical allergy. Your lab report gives each value a class from Negative to Very high, to discuss with a doctor.
- Whole mugwort pollen extract
- Art v 1: the main mugwort protein
- Art v 3: a lipid transfer protein (LTP), a protein family also found in many plant foods
Known cross-reactions
- Celery
- The best-known mugwort-associated food. Raw celery and celeriac are the usual culprits; cooking does not reliably help.
- Carrot-family spices
- Aniseed, fennel, coriander, cumin and caraway are reported in the celery-mugwort-spice pattern.
- Ragweed
- A related weed with a similar season. Many people are sensitised to both, though the main allergens differ.
Sources
- Marker allergens of weed pollen: basic considerations and diagnostic benefits in the clinical routine. Allergo Journal International, 2014.
- Cross-reactivity between aeroallergens and food allergens. World Journal of Methodology, 2015.
- EAACI Molecular Allergology User's Guide 2.0. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (EAACI), 2023.
Page last updated
300 allergens. One test.
A finger-prick sample at home, sent by post. A detailed lab report typically 5 days after the lab receives your sample, and our plain-English guide to reading it. €300, €1 per allergen.
Questions
When is mugwort season?
In central Europe mugwort flowers from about July to September, with the peak in August. It overlaps with the tail of grass season and the start of ragweed.
Why do spices make my mouth itch?
If you are sensitised to mugwort, your immune system may recognise similar proteins in celery and carrot-family spices such as fennel, aniseed or coriander. This is called the celery-mugwort-spice syndrome. Talk to a doctor about any reaction beyond a brief itch.
Can I be sensitised to mugwort and not have symptoms?
Yes. Sensitisation means your blood contains IgE to mugwort. Many people with IgE have no symptoms. A doctor weighs your result against what you actually notice.