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Tansy Herb - Uses And Side Effects

Tansy is a very strong herb, the ancient Greeks used tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) as an embalming preservative. The Micmac and Malecite Indians of eastern Canada used it as a diuretic and to induce abortions. Now tansy serves mainly as a food flavoring.

A member of the Compositae family, tansy is a common perennial weed with flat clusters of button-sized, yellow flowers. Active compounds come from the dried leaves and flowering tops.

The stem is erect and leafy, about 2 to 3 feet high, grooved and angular. The leaves are alternate, much cut into, 2 to 6 inches long and about 4 inches wide. The plant is conspicuous in August and September by its heads of round, flat, dull yellow flowers, growing in clusters, which earn it the name of 'Buttons.' It has a very curious, and not altogether disagreeable odour, somewhat like camphor.

It is often naturalized in our gardens for ornamental cultivation. The feathery leaves of the Wild Tansy are beautiful, especially when growing in abundance on marshy ground, and it has a more refreshing scent than the Garden Tansy.

Common doses of Tansy

Tansy comes as essential oil, fluid extract, and tea. Experts disagree on what dose to take because the plants and preparations made from them vary greatly in the amount of active compounds they contain.

Uses of Tansy herb

Tansy has been used effectively for various problems in some instances by knowledgeable people, Specifically, tansy may help to :-

• Bruises
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Headache
• Inflammation
• Muscle spasms
• Tapeworms
• Sore throat
• Swelling

Tansy can be used in small amounts in cooking.  It has a strong, peppery taste and can be used as a substitute for pepper.  It  compliments scrambled eggs and omelets, herb butters, marinades, and stuffings, and can be used in baking cookies, pancakes, waffles, etc.  It can be used fresh or minced, and can be propagated by seeds or division.

Side effects of Tansy

Call your health care practitioner if you experience these possible side effects of tansy:

• nasal allergy
• skin inflammation
• personality changes
• sneezing

Long-term tansy use can cause kidney damage. Thujone, a toxic compound in tansy, may cause poisoning. People have died from ingesting just 10 drops of tansy oil. Symptoms of tansy poisoning include a fast, weak pulse; seizures; severe gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining); and violent muscle spasms.

Are there any interactions?

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Tell your health care practitioner about any prescription or nonprescription drugs you're taking.

Important points to remember

• Don't use tansy if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
• If you suspect you're .pregnant or plan to become pregnant, tell your health care practitioner right away.
• Don't take this herb if you're allergic to it or its components.
• Know that tansy preparations may contain toxic amounts of thujone, which can befatal.
• Don't confuse tansy with plants of similar names, such as tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea).

What the research shows

Scientific studies don't support medicinal tansy use. The herb's main role in folk medicine is to repel insects and to expel worms from the digestive tract. However, safer and more effective products are available for these uses. What's more, tansy may contain toxic compounds and cause skin rashes in some people.

Other names for Tansy

Other names for tansy include bitter buttons, golden buttons, and yellow buttons.

Products containing tansy are sold under such names as Tansy Extract and Tansy Oil.