Tansy Herb

Photo: flickr user Per Ola Wiberg (Powi) Away....again !

About

Tansy is a widely grown herb with a number of traditional medicinal uses, though most modern herbalists warn against its use by laymen. The active constituents are toxic in large doses, and it's difficult to judge the amount of thujone (the most toxic of its elements) without a chemical analysis. Its most common medicinal use was to 'bring on a stalled period', a euphemism for abortifacient. A strong tea made of tansy leaves and flowers can cause miscarriage, and there have been reports of deaths in women attempting to use the tea in this way. Aside from treating menstrual problems, tansy also is useful as a vermifuge, treating worms in children, and as a poultice to treat skin infections. The volatile oil can be toxic even used externally, though, so care should be taken when using tansy for medicinal purposes. Despite these warnings, tansy is also used in cooking, and in small amounts adds a spicy tang to salads akin to cinnamon or nutmeg.

Information

Translations: Biškrēsliņi Herb, Vetrice Herb, Buhač Herb, Graminis Herb, Boerenwormkruid Herb, Reinfann Herb, Пижма Херб, حشيشة الدود العشب., 탠시 허브, Vratič Herb, Tansi Herb, 艾菊香草, Vratič Herb, Tanaceto Herb, Tansy הרב, Renfana Herb, Бухач Биље, タンジーハーブ, Tanaisie Herb, Rainfarn Herb, Rejnfan Herb, टैन्ज़ी हर्ब, Пижмо Трава, Pietaryrtti Herb, Вратига Херб

Physical Description

Tansy is a flowering herbaceous plant with finely divided compound leaves and yellow, button-like flowers. It has a stout, somewhat reddish, erect stem, usually smooth, 50—150 cm tall, and branching near the top. The leaves are alternate, 10—-15 cm long and are pinnately lobed, divided almost to the center into about seven pairs of segments, or lobes, which are again divided into smaller lobes having saw-toothed edges, thus giving the leaf a somewhat fernlike appearance. The roundish, flat-topped, button-like, yellow flower heads are produced in terminal clusters from mid to late summer. The scent is similar to that of camphor with hints of rosemary.

Selecting and Buying

Procuring: Tansy plants are easy to grow and low maintenance. They prefer full sun to partial shade. They grow well in average or even poor soils. Add a general purpose fertilizer when planting them, especially if the soil is poor.

Once your Tansy are established, they should grow well with few problems and no maintenance. Keep the soil moist to slightly dry. Water them during dry periods, once a week.

Preparation and Use

Tansy was formerly used as a flavoring for puddings and omelets, but is almost unknown now.

Conserving and Storing

During the American colonial period, meat was frequently rubbed with or packed in common Tansy to repel insects and prevent decay.

Social/Political

Although most of common Tansy’s medicinal uses have been discredited, it is still a component of some medicines in the early 21st century and is listed by the United States Pharmacopeia as a treatment for fevers, feverish colds, and jaundice.In England, bunches of Tansy were traditionally placed at windows to keep out flies. Sprigs were placed in bedding and linen to drive away pests.
Tansy has been widely used in gardens and homes in Melbourne, Australia to keep away ants

History: Tansy was first recorded cultivated by the ancient Greeks for a variety of medicinal purposes. In the eighth century A.D., it was grown in the herb gardens of Charlemagne (Charles the Great) and by Benedictine monks of the Swiss monastery of St. Gall. Tansy was considered a cure for intestinal worms, helped with rheumatism, digestive problems, fevers, used to heal sores, and “brought out” measles.In the 15th century, Christians began serving Tansy with Lenten meals to commemorate the bitter herbs eaten by the Israelites.Tansy was thought to have the added Lenten benefit of controlling flatulence brought on by days of eating fish, beans, and peas. Lenten Tansy cakes were also superstitiously served to prevent the intestinal worms brought on by eating fish.