How to do yomogi steam therapy at home | Tools, steps, precautions, and how to choose mugwort explained

Even without going to a salon, you can enjoy mugwort steaming at home if you assemble the tools and mugwort. That said, many people are unsure "what kind of tools do I need?" and "how much mugwort do I put in, and how do I proceed?" If you nail down the procedure and cautions, you can spend warming-care time with peace of mind at home too.

In this article, Agriture, which handles dried vegetable processing in Kyoto, explains how to do mugwort steaming at home—from the necessary tools, procedure, and guidelines for temperature and time to how to choose the mugwort to use and its amount, cautions, and aftercare. Please read it on the premise that mugwort steaming is not a medical act and that how comfortable it feels varies by individual.

What is home mugwort steaming? The difference from salons

Mugwort steaming is a warming-care method in which you bathe—mainly the lower body—in the steam from boiling medicinal herbs such as mugwort. It has been familiar in Korea since ancient times and is also incorporated in beauty salons. You sit in a dedicated chair, warming your body gently with the steam while sweating, enjoying relaxing time.

As a warming-care method that warms the body, many incorporate it in seasons when coldness is a concern, and a feature is that you can continue at your own pace to suit your constitution and condition. When actually experienced, many seem to like the refreshed feeling after sweating. However, how it feels varies by individual, and it does not guarantee effects.

The mechanism of mugwort steaming

You place a pot under a chair with a hole in the center, boil mugwort, and let the steam rise. The basic method is to put on a cloak, sit, and apply the steam so it envelops the lower body. Its appeal is being able to spend time slowly, wrapped in the aroma of mugwort.

The difference between home and salon

Salons have professional care and equipment in place but cost per session. At home, if you prepare a set, the advantage is that it's easy to continue at your preferred time. We have organized the differences of each.

Item	Home	Salon
Cost	The set cost initially, then only the mugwort cost thereafter	A fee per session
Convenience	Can do it at your preferred time	Reservation and visiting are required
Ease of continuing	Easy to make a habit	Takes the effort of going
Care	Manage it yourself	Support of specialist staff

If trying mugwort steaming for the first time, a flow of first experiencing it once at a salon and, if you feel like continuing, assembling a home set is also recommended. Home and salon are not opposed; you can combine and use them to suit your purpose and lifestyle. You can also use them separately—slowly at home on weekends, at a salon on special days.

The tools and set needed for home mugwort steaming

To do mugwort steaming at home, you need dedicated tools and mugwort materials. First, let's confirm what to prepare. Dedicated sets with everything assembled are also commercially available.

List of basic tools

• A chair for mugwort steaming (one with a hole in the center)
• An electric pot or electric stove to boil the mugwort
• A dedicated cloak covering from shoulders to feet
• Dried mugwort as the material (add medicinal herbs or herbs to taste)
• A towel to wipe sweat, and water for replenishment

How to choose a mugwort-steaming set

For the chair, confirming the load capacity, the width of the seat, and whether it folds makes it easier to choose. For the pot, one with temperature adjustment lets you moderate the amount of steam easily and with peace of mind. For the cloak, one with waterproof processing that is easy to wash is recommended for hygiene. A set with the tools assembled is an item easy for first-timers to start with.

You can also assemble the tools individually, but if the size and height of the chair, pot, and cloak don't match, it becomes hard to use. A method less prone to failure is to first choose a set with everything assembled, and once you get used to it, replace them with ones that suit you. Confirming the space for placement before purchase is also reassuring.

How to do home mugwort steaming | Procedure and tips

Once the tools are assembled, it's finally time to practice. Let's look at the basic procedure in order, from preparation to how to sit. There are no difficult steps, and if you nail down the points, you can do it easily at home too.

The procedure from preparation to practice

1. Place the electric pot under the chair and add dried mugwort and water
2. Heat it to let the steam rise, and adjust to a moderate temperature
3. Remove your underwear, put on the cloak, and sit in the chair
4. Spend relaxed time while applying the steam to the lower body
5. When finished, wipe your sweat and replenish fluids well

How to sit and guidelines for time and temperature

An effective way to sit is to straighten your back and wrap the hem of the cloak so it reaches your ankles to keep the steam from escaping. Placing your feet on the floor to stabilize your body makes you less prone to fatigue even sitting for a long time. Because just reviewing how you sit improves comfort, it's good to do it while checking your posture at first.

Use about 15–30 minutes as a guideline for the time, and it's important not to overdo it if you feel it's hot. Keep the steam temperature in a range that isn't too hot, and consider that how much you sweat will vary. In cold seasons, warming the room before you do it makes it easier to prevent chilling after you finish.

Tips for doing mugwort steaming comfortably

• Start the heat on the weaker side and raise it little by little while watching the temperature
• Straighten your back and put your feet on the floor to stabilize your posture
• Take fluids frequently before starting and during

An example where the steam was too hot to continue

We often hear voices saying they raised the heat too much wanting to warm up fast, and it was too hot to sit for long. Starting the steam on the weaker side and adjusting to a moderate temperature is the tip for continuing comfortably. Keeping the temperature down makes it easier to spend relaxed time.

How to choose the mugwort to use for mugwort steaming, and its amount

The aroma and satisfaction of mugwort steaming are governed by the quality of the mugwort used. It's easy to get distracted by the tools, but choosing the mugwort that serves as the material is also an important point. Here we introduce guidelines for the amount and how to choose good mugwort.

The amount of dried mugwort and how to boil it

The dried mugwort per session is a handful (about 15–30g) as a guideline. When you want to fully enjoy the aroma and steam, use more; when you want it modest, use less—adjust the amount to taste. Put water and mugwort in the pot and boil over medium heat, and start using it once the steam has risen sufficiently. The boiling time is about 5–10 minutes; once the aroma rises, weaken the heat and adjust the temperature. Combining medicinal herbs or herbs such as ginger or cinnamon to taste lets you add variation to the aroma, and there's also a way to enjoy changing the blend to suit your constitution and mood. Dried mugwort that retains the leaf shape has aroma that rises easily and is a form easy to use for home mugwort steaming. Concrete uses are also explained inHow to Use Dried Mugwort.

How to choose good mugwort

• Color: Vivid green or deep green, with the aroma firmly remaining
• Origin: A domestic product with a clear origin
• Specifications: Simple raw materials that use no additives or glucose

Agriture's dried mugwortis a raw material made by low-temperature drying domestic mugwort centered on Mie Prefecture, retaining its aroma and color. Drying all at once at high temperature makes the aroma components prone to escaping, whereas low-temperature drying keeps the aroma in the leaves, so the spread of aroma when made into steam differs. Because aroma is part of the enjoyment of mugwort steaming, this is a point that governs satisfaction. There is also a powder typeMugwort powder, so you can choose to suit the use. For mugwort steaming, the leaf type (cut), whose aroma rises easily along with the steam, is suited. Powder is easy to use for mixing into tea or cooking, and by selecting different forms for mugwort steaming versus drinking and cooking, you can use mugwort without waste.

An example of feeling unsatisfied with weakly aromatic mugwort

There are also voices saying that mugwort chosen for cheapness alone had weak aroma even when boiled and felt unsatisfying. Because aroma is one of the enjoyments of mugwort steaming, choosing one where the fresh-grass aroma firmly remains raises satisfaction.

Cautions for home mugwort steaming | To do it safely

To do it with peace of mind at home, there are cautions you should know. Let's confirm the basics for enjoying it safely before practicing.

Caution for burns and safety

If the steam is too hot or too close to the pot, there is a danger of burns. Do it at a temperature that isn't too hot, and take ample care in handling the pot and stove. If you feel unwell partway through, don't overdo it—stop, and it's important to be mindful of frequent fluid replenishment. Place the pot and stove on a stable, flat surface, and be attentive to the placement so small children and pets don't approach. Doing it while ventilating appropriately, so the steam doesn't build up, is even more reassuring.

Timing you should avoid

• During menstruation: For hygiene reasons, avoiding it is common
• During pregnancy or breastfeeding: Don't judge on your own; be sure to consult a doctor
• Right after eating, on an empty stomach, after drinking, or when unwell: Avoid it, as it burdens the body
• Those with an Asteraceae allergy or a chronic condition: Consulting a doctor in advance is reassuring

It's recommended to start from about once a week for frequency, and continue within a comfortable range to suit your condition.

Aftercare and cleanup for mugwort steaming

For mugwort steaming, the aftercare and cleanup after finishing also matter. Carefully doing body care and tool maintenance lets you continue pleasantly.

Body care after use

After finishing, wipe your sweat with a towel and replenish fluids with a glass of water. Keeping your body warm so you don't chill, and taking time to rest slowly, lets you spend the time pleasantly. Spend relaxed time in the afterglow of having enjoyed the aroma.

Tool maintenance and mold prevention

Wipe the chair with a soft cloth, and wash the cloak and dry it in a well-ventilated place. Let the electric pot cool before washing it, and store it after drying it thoroughly. Because moisture tends to remain from the steam, the habit of drying the tools you used leads to mold prevention. Dispose of the mugwort you finished using on the same day. Washing the cloak every few uses and wiping the chair's seat each time so sweat doesn't remain lets you use them cleanly for a long time. Making maintenance a habit is a point for continuing pleasantly.

The benefits of doing it at home and points to know

Home mugwort steaming has the major advantage of being easy to continue. On the other hand, there are also points to know before starting. Understand both sides and incorporate it.

The benefits of doing it at home

• You can do it at your preferred time, without worrying about others' eyes
• The more you continue, the easier it is to keep the per-session cost down
• You can enjoy choosing mugwort and medicinal herbs to your own taste

At home, you can change the time and medicinal herbs to suit that day's condition and mood. Deciding a day and time makes it easy to make a habit, and it's good to try shorter times at first and, once used to it, find a pace that suits you. The more you accumulate experiences, the more you'll come to understand your preferred temperature and blend of medicinal herbs.

Points to know before starting

An example where the aroma remained in the room

While mugwort's aroma is pleasant, doing it in a closed-off room can leave the aroma and moisture behind. Doing it while ventilating and opening the windows after finishing makes it less noticeable. It's also good to know in advance that a dedicated chair or set involves an initial cost.

Uses of mugwort besides mugwort steaming

The dried mugwort used for mugwort steaming can also be used for other purposes. If you're going to prepare mugwort, let's make wide use of it in daily life.

Use as mugwort tea and a mugwort bath

Dried mugwort can be boiled into mugwort tea, or chopped and put into a tea pack for use in a mugwort bath. Mugwort tea can be enjoyed just by putting dried mugwort in a teapot and steeping it with boiling water, or by boiling it from cold water. For a mugwort bath, just chop a handful, put it in a tea pack, and put the boiled liquid, pack and all, into the bathtub. Being able to use up the mugwort you bought for mugwort steaming without waste is also an appeal. Recipes and detailed uses for tea and bathing are compiled inHow to Use Dried Mugwort.

If using at a salon or class, commercial mugwort

For cases using a large amount of mugwort, such as a mugwort-steaming salon or class, commercial procurement is suited. Because the amount needed differs from home use, choosing a source you can stably source from is reassuring.

Commercial and OEM procurement

When using it at a salon, the points to look at differ from home use. Good color that governs the visual impression on customers, aroma reproducibility that keeps the finish of the menu consistent, and continuity of stable sourcing become the axes of selection.Commercial and OEM dried mugwortcan support everything from small-lot prototyping to full manufacturing, and you can also consult on cut specifications, powdering, and blend adjustment. If you are considering an original blend or product development for salons, you can also consultFood OEM Directory.

Summary

Home mugwort steaming lets you enjoy warming-care time at your own pace if you assemble tools such as a chair, electric pot, cloak, and mugwort and nail down the procedure and cautions. Keeping the steam temperature in a comfortable range, not overdoing it during menstruation or pregnancy, and not forgetting fluid replenishment and frequent maintenance are the tips for continuing with peace of mind. Choose domestic dried mugwort with good aroma and color, and try incorporating mugwort steaming at home.

Frequently asked questions

Recommended reading

• Complete guide to using dried mugwort | From rehydrating to popular recipes and storage tips
• Dried mugwort (product page)
• Mugwort powder