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Healing and not only healing properties of tansy have been known since ancient times. In ancient Egypt and Persia, it was used for embalming. In Russia, with the help of this plant, they fought flies, mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and worms.
The wide geography of distribution and application has given tansy many names from the helminth and wild mountain ash to the nine-silver and calyx. Today there are more than 50 types of tansy in the world, most of them grow in Russia on the territory from the Caucasus to the floodplains of the northern rivers. Many of them are considered decorative.
What is tansy
For medicinal purposes, common tansy is most widely used. This unpretentious plant prefers patches of soil near roads, in fields and on the banks of rivers, where it often grows into entire thickets. At the same time, its leaves, like compass needles, are always deployed from north to south, and in a bouquet the plant does not lose freshness for a very long time. Tansy is aggressive and can crowd out neighboring plants, so it is recommended to grow it separately from ornamental crops.
In botany, common tansy is defined as a perennial herbaceous plant with golden yellow flowers and a characteristic aroma from the aster family. The height of tansy can exceed 1,5 m, and the flowering period is from July to September.
In herbal medicine, flower baskets and green parts of tansy are used. In dried form, the plant can be bought at the pharmacy in packs or in filter bags for brewing, or you can prepare it yourself. At the same time, it is important to follow a few simple rules: to make blanks in environmentally friendly places and not to pull out the tansy by the roots. The inflorescences are carefully cut along with the stems, not capturing more than 2 centimeters, and then the flower baskets are cut off. The plant is laid out in thin layers in attics, without turning over and avoiding overdrying in order to avoid sprinkling flowers. Dried grass is stored in a dry place for no more than 3 years.
Tansy is used in cosmetology and as a spice in cooking, for example, it can replace cinnamon or nutmeg in meat dishes. This plant is also popular with landscape designers.
The healing properties of tansy
For many years, herbalists have used tansy to get rid of worms and, in particular, pinworms and roundworms. Infusions and decoctions of the herb were drunk for indigestion and applied to wounds and sore spots with rheumatism. In Norway, they even managed to bake tansy into dough and gave tansy pie to people with toothache.
Tansy inflorescences do contain a lot of useful components, including flavonoids and their components: a heart muscle stimulant – acacetin, an antioxidant and immunomodulator – luteolin, and a natural immune defender – quercetin.
The plant contains an increaser in the secretion of the gastrointestinal tract and intestinal motility – tanacetin, tannins and phenolcarboxylic acids. Therefore, preparations based on tansy have a choleretic antispasmodic, astringent and anti-inflammatory effect. They improve appetite and normalize the digestion of food.
But a characteristic feature of tansy is the presence of alkaloids and essential oils in it, with which not everything is so simple. If the secret ingredient of Thai balms – borneol in its composition has tonic properties, then the hallucinogens beta-thujone and thuyol in high doses can lead to convulsive seizures. With the discovery of their negative effects on the nervous system, the European Union declared tansy poisonous and imposed a number of restrictions on its use. As a result, many components of this herb that are used in oral medicines are now derived from other, often more expensive, plants, which affects the price of medicines. In permitted preparations with tansy, its content is strictly defined and should not exceed the permissible dosages. These rules do not apply to the sale of tansy for external use.
In our country, dry tansy flowers are part of the choleretic collections and are the main component of the choleretic and antispasmodic drug Tanacehol.
Tansy contraindications
Tansy preparations are categorically contraindicated for lactating and pregnant women, since the substances in its composition penetrate into breast milk and increase the tone of the uterus, which can lead to miscarriage and premature birth.
Do not give tansy to children, as well as patients with gallstones, hypertension, people with neurological diseases and prone to allergies. When taking drugs from tansy inside, it is necessary to consult with your doctor and strictly observe the dosage. Excessive consumption of the plant due to its toxicity can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, and heart palpitations. At high doses, dizziness, muscle spasms and loss of consciousness are observed.
Tinctures and alcoholic extracts from tansy are dangerous, since thujone in its composition does not dissolve in alcohol.
The use of tansy
From worms
Alkaloids and thujone, contained in tansy, prevent the growth and development of parasites and remove their waste products from the body.
Infusion of pinworms and roundworms
Mix 1 teaspoon of tansy flowers with 1 teaspoon of chamomile flowers and 1 teaspoon of wormwood flowers, pour the mixture with a glass of boiling water and infuse until cool. Strain the finished infusion through cheesecloth, add chopped garlic clove and leave under a closed lid for 3 hours.
You need to take the infusion 3 teaspoons 4 times a day on an empty stomach for 4 days, then drink a laxative.
Enema from sedge
1 st. mix a spoonful of tansy flower powder with 2 medium cloves of garlic and cook in 2 cups of milk for 10 minutes in a sealed container over low heat.
The warm liquid is filtered and injected with an enema, trying to keep it inside longer. The procedure is repeated until the worms disappear.
For liver diseases
Phytotherapeutists claim that with proper use, tansy relieves inflammation, eliminates colic and helps restore liver function.
decoction
1 st. grind a spoonful of tansy, pour 2 full glasses and half a glass of water, leave for 4 hours and filter.
Take 5 full tbsp. spoons 3 times a day 20 minutes before meals.
With diseases of the gallbladder
Due to its composition and tanacetin, tansy is an effective choleretic agent.
Infusion
2 tbsp. spoons of tansy flowers pour 1 liter of boiling water. Infuse in a sealed container for a day and filter. Take an infusion of 1 tbsp. spoon with meals for no more than 2 weeks.
Do not take with cholelithiasis!
For skin diseases
Tansy components are effective for dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, wounds and scabies.
Compress
1 st. pour a spoonful of dried tansy with a slide into a glass and pour boiling water over it. Leave for half an hour.
Wet the cloth with warm liquid and apply to the damaged area for an hour. The resulting infusion can be added to the bath at the rate of 2 – 3 liters per container.
For hair
Tansy can not only tone the body, but also activate hair growth and strengthen weakened curls.
Infusion
2 tbsp. spoons of dry tansy pour a glass of hot water, insist in a sealed container for 4 hours until cool. Then the infusion is filtered.
Rub into hair roots after washing. Use this remedy at least 3 times a week for a month.
Reviews of doctors about tansy
Svetlana Barnaulova, candidate of medical sciences, cardiologist of the highest category, phytotherapist:
– Among the numerous properties of common tansy, first of all, I single out anthelmintic, choleretic, abortive (uterostimulating). But most often I use this plant as part of a multicomponent collection, where I try to imitate the Tibetan collection of Polyphytochol, which is used to treat, improve the functioning and preserve liver cells.