TANSY TANACETUM VULGARE

TANSY (Tanacetum vulgare L.) ++

Synonyms :
Chrysanthemum vulgare (L.) Bernh., Tanacetum boreale Fisch. ex DC.

Activities (Tansy) :
Abortifacient (1; CRC; PHR; PH2); Analgesic (1; APA; CAN); Antibacterial (1; APA; TAD); Antiedemic (f; PH2); Antiencephalitic (1; APA); Antifeedant (1; HH3); Antiseptic (1; DEM; FNF; HH3; PH2); Antispasmodic (1; APA; CAN; MAD); Antitumor (1; APA; CAN; CRC); Antiulcer (1; PH2); Antiviral (1; APA); Aperitif (1; APA; CAN; MAD); Ascaricide (1; CRC; WOI); Bitter (1; PNC); Carminative (f; CAN); Choleretic (1; APA; CAN); Contraceptive (f; DEM); Dermatitigenic (1; APA); Diaphoretic (f; CRC; DEM); Digestive (1; CAN); Emmenagogue (1; APA; PNC); Enterotonic (1; CAN); Fungicide (1; APA; TAD); Hypocholesterolemic (1; CAN); Immunostimulant (1; APA); Insecticide (1; CRC); Insectifuge (1; APA; PH2; TAD); Lipolytic (f; APA); Narcotic (f; CRC); Nephrotonic (f; GMH); Nervine (f; CRC); Pain (1; APA; CAN); Phototoxic (1; PH2); Pulicide (f; CRC); Sedative (f; CRC); Stimulant (f; CRC); Stomachic (f; CRC; MAD); Swelling (f; PH2); Tonic (1; DEM; PNC); Uterotonic (1; AHP); Vermifuge (1; APA; CRC; PHR; PH2); Vulnerary (f; CRC).

Indications (Tansy) :
Ague (f; CRC; GMH); Amenorrhea (f; CRC; FEL; PNC); Anorexia (1; APA; CAN; DEM; MAD; PH2); Arthrosis (f; HH3; PH2); Ascaris (1; CRC; WOI); Backache (f; DEM); Bacteria (1; APA; TAD); Bone (f; DEM); Bruise (f; CRC; DEM; PH2); Burn (f; CRC); Cancer (1; APA; CAN; CRC; JLH); Candida (1; HH3); Catarrh (f; FEL); Childbirth (f; FEL); Cholecystosis (1; CRC; APA); Chorea (f; CRC); Cold (f; CRC); Colic (f; DEM); Cramp (1; APA; CAN; MAD); Debility (f; DEM; FEL); Dermatosis (f; MAD); Diarrhea (f; DEM); Diphtheria (f; FEL); Dizziness (f; DEM); Dropsy (f; CRC; WOI); Dysmenorrhea (f; CRC; FEL; MAD); Dysuria (f; FEL); Encephalosis (1; APA); Enterosis (f; MAD; PH2); Epilepsy (f; CRC); Escherichia (1; HH3); Fever (f; CRC; DEM; PH2); Freckle (f; CRC); Fungus (1; APA; TAD); Gas (f; CAN; MAD; PHR; PH2); Gastrosis (f; CRC; DEM; PH2); Gout (f; CRC; HH3; MAD; PH2); Headache (f; APA; CRC); Hematachezia (f; DEM); Hepatosis (f; APA; CRC; WOI); High Cholesterol (1; CAN); Hydrophobia (f; CRC); Hysteria (f; CRC; MAD); Immunodepression (1; APA); Infection (1; APA; DEM; FNF; PH2; TAD); Inflammation (f; CRC; FEL); Insomnia (f; CRC); Itch (f; APA); Jaundice (f; MAD); Leukorrhea (f; CRC); Malaria (f; HH3; MAD; PH2); Migraine (f; APA; PHR; PH2); Miscarriage (f; DEM); Mycosis (1; APA; TAD); Nausea (1; PNC); Nematode (1; APA); Nephrosis (f; CRC; DEM; GMH); Nervousness (f; CRC); Neuralgia (f; APA; PHR; PH2); Neurosis (f; APA; CRC); Nephrotonic (f; GMH); Ophthalmia (f; CRC); Osteoporosis (f; DEM); Otosis (f; DEM); Pain (f; HH3; PH2); Palpitation (f; CRC); Paralysis (f; CRC); Pinworm (1; APA); Proctosis (f; APA); Rheumatism (f; APA; CRC; HH3; PHR; PH2); Roundworm (1; APA); Scabies (f; APA; PNC); Sciatica (f; CRC); Shigella (1; HH3); Sore (f; CRC); Sore Throat (f; DEM; FEL); Spasm (f; CRC); Sprain (f; GMH; PH2); Staphylococcus (1; HH3); Stomachache (f; CRC); Strabismus (f; CRC); Strangury (f; FEL); Streptococcus (1; HH3); Sunburn (f; CRC); Swelling (f; CRC; MAD; PH2); Tendinitis (f; CRC; JLH); Toothache (f; CRC; MAD); Tuberculosis (f; CRC); Tumor (1; APA; CAN; CRC); Ulcer (1; PH2); Uterosis (f; MAD); Vertigo (f; DEM; HH3; MAD; PH2); Virus (1; APA); Worm (1; APA; CAN; CRC; HH3; PHR; PH2); Wound (f; DEM; MAD; PH2); Yeast (1; HH3).

Dosages (Tansy) :
Should not be used (APA); 2–4 g powdered seed (MAD); 1–2.5 g flower several ×/day (MAD); 2 tsp (~4 g) flower in hot tea (MAD); 1–2 g dry herb, or in tea, 3 ×/day (CAN); 1–2 ml liquid herb extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 2–8 ml liquid herb extract (PNC).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Tansy) :
Class 2b, 3. Commission E reports flower and herb are not permitted for therapeutic use. Contains EO with neurotoxic thujone in such amounts that normal doses may already be toxic (AEH). CAN cautions that thujone in the volatile oil can cause severe gastrosis and convulsions. Documented fatalities have been mainly associated with ingestion of the oil (LD50 = 1150 mg/kg orl), but fatalities are reported with infusions and powders. Oil should not be used internally or externally (10 drops of oil is potentially fatal (CRC)), even the tea has been fatal (thujone may likely be responsible). Because of abortifacient and uterine activity caused by the thujone in the oil, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. Contact dermatosis has been documented. May interfere with hypoglycemic and liver therapy. Therapeutic window only 2:5 (cf digitalis 1:2) (CAN). “The potential toxicity of this plant outweighs its benefits.” The lethal dosage is approximately 15–30 g oil (HH3; PH2).

Extracts (Tansy) :
Camphor, sabinene (especially), thujone and sabinene chemotype ethanolic extracts are strongly antibacterial against Gram-positive Bacillus and Staphylococcus (100–200 mg/ml). Thujone type EO is effective against Bacillus, Escherichia, and Staphylococcus at 100 µg/ml), umbellulone type at 100–150 µg/ml (HH3). Teas and ethanolic extracts clinically stimulate bile in patients with gallbladder and liver problems, increasing appetite and digestion while alleviating pain. I frequently include tansy in my after dinner herbal liqueur, but don’t recommend it to anyone else.