Tansy
OTHER NAME(S): Barbotine, Bitter Buttons, Buttons, Chrysanthemi Vulgaris Flos, Chrysanthemi Vulgaris Herba, Coq des Jardins, Daisy, Erva dos Vermes, Herbe Am ère, Herbe du Bon Chasseur, Herbe de Chartreux, Herbe au Coq, Herbe de Saint-Marc, Herbe de Sainte-Marie, Herbe aux Vers, Hind Heal, Parsley Fern, Scented Fern, Sent-Bon, Stinking Willie, Tanaisie Commune, Tanaisie Vulgaire, Tansy Flower, Tansy Herb, Tanacetum vulgare, Chrysanthemum vulgare, Tanacetum boreale, Hindheal, Tansy Flower, Tansy Herb, Tanaceto, Tanaisie
Overview
Tansy is a plant. Despite serious safety concerns, the parts of the tansy plant that grow above the ground are used to make medicine.
Tansy is used for digestive tract problems including stomach and intestinal ulcers, certain gallbladder conditions, migraines, nerve pain, joint pain, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using tansy might also cause toxic effects.
Be careful not to confuse tansy with tansy ragwort (Senecio species) and other plants generically referred to as "tansy."
Tansy seems to have activity against tics, fungus, bacteria, and parasites. It also might have anti-inflammatory activity.
Tansy seems to have activity against tics, fungus, bacteria, and parasites. It also might have anti-inflammatory activity.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea).
- Ending a pregnancy (abortion).
- Infection of the intestines by parasites.
- Migraines.
- Epilepsy.
- Joint pain.
- Fluid retention.
- Calming nerves.
- Kidney problems.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of tansy for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: When used in the amounts found in foods, tansy is LIKELY SAFE. However, it is LIKELY UNSAFE when used in the amounts found in medicine. Tansy contains a poisonous chemical called thujone. People have died after taking as little as 10 drops of tansy oil. Deaths have also been reported from prepared tansy teas or powdered forms. Tansy can also cause restlessness, vomiting, severe diarrhea, stomach pain, dizziness, tremors, kidney or liver damage, bleeding, and seizures.
When applied to the skin: Tansy is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. It can cause a severe skin reaction.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: When used in the amounts found in foods, tansy is LIKELY SAFE. However, it is LIKELY UNSAFE when used in the amounts found in medicine. Tansy contains a poisonous chemical called thujone. People have died after taking as little as 10 drops of tansy oil. Deaths have also been reported from prepared tansy teas or powdered forms. Tansy can also cause restlessness, vomiting, severe diarrhea, stomach pain, dizziness, tremors, kidney or liver damage, bleeding, and seizures.
When applied to the skin: Tansy is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. It can cause a severe skin reaction.
It is LIKELY UNSAFE for anyone to take tansy by mouth and POSSIBLY UNSAFE to apply it to the skin, but some people with the following conditions have extra reasons not to use it:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's LIKELY UNSAFE to use tansy if you are pregnant. It could start your period, cause your uterus to contract, and cause an abortion.
It's also LIKELY UNSAFE to use tansy if you are breast-feeding because of the poisonous thujone it contains.
Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Tansy may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking tansy.
Porphyria, an inherited condition that affects metabolism: There is some concern that tansy might make this condition worse.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Alcohol (Ethanol) interacts with TansyAlcohol can cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Tansy might increase the sleepiness and drowsiness caused by alcohol. Do not drink alcohol and take tansy at the same time.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of tansy depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for tansy. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
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- The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
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- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
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- Jovanovic, M., Poljacki, M., Duran, V., Vujanovic, L., Sente, R., and Stojanovic, S. Contact allergy to Compositae plants in patients with atopic dermatitis. Med Pregl. 2004;57(5-6):209-218.
- Croteau, R. and Shaskus, J. Biosynthesis of monoterpenes: demonstration of a geranyl pyrophosphate:(-)-bornyl pyrophosphate cyclase in soluble enzyme preparations from tansy (Tanacetum vulgare). Arch Biochem.Biophys. 2-1-1985;236(2):535-543.
- Chandler, R. F., Hooper, S. N., Hooper, D. L., Jamieson, W. D., and Lewis, E. Herbal remedies of the Maritime indians: sterols and triterpenes of Tanacetum vulgare L. (Tansy). Lipids 1982;17(2):102-106.
- Schinella, G. R., Giner, R. M., Recio, M. C., Mordujovich, de Buschiazzo, Rios, J. L., and Manez, S. Anti-inflammatory effects of South American Tanacetum vulgare. J Pharm.Pharmacol. 1998;50(9):1069-1074.
- Mark, K. A., Brancaccio, R. R., Soter, N. A., and Cohen, D. E. Allergic contact and photoallergic contact dermatitis to plant and pesticide allergens. Arch Dermatol. 1999;135(1):67-70.
- McGuffin M and et al. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. 1997.
- The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. 1999.
- Blumenthal, M and et al. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. 1998;
- LeCain, R and Sheley, R. Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) MontGuide fact sheet #9911. Agriculture from the Montana State University Extension Service 2002.