Botanical Index No. 1020

Tansy

tanacetum vulgare

Medicinal Actions

Colic, Nephrotonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Ague Amenorrhea Anorexia Arthrosis Ascaris Backache Bacteria Bone Bruise Burn Cancer Candida Catarrh Childbirth Cholecystosis Chorea Cold Cramp Debility Dermatosis Diarrhea Diphtheria Dizziness Dropsy Dysmenorrhea Dysuria Encephalosis Enterosis Epilepsy Escherichia Fever Freckle Fungus Gas Gastrosis Gout Headache Hematachezia Hepatosis High Cholesterol Hydrophobia Hysteria Immunodepression Infection Inflammation Insomnia Itch Jaundice Leukorrhea Malaria Migraine Miscarriage Mycosis Nausea Nematode Nephrosis Nervousness Neuralgia Neurosis Ophthalmia Osteoporosis Otosis Pain Palpitation Paralysis Pinworm Proctosis Rheumatism Roundworm Scabies Sciatica Shigella Sore Sore Throat Spasm Sprain Staphylococcus Stomachache Strabismus Strangury Streptococcus Sunburn Swelling Tendinitis Toothache Tuberculosis Tumor Ulcer Uterosis Vertigo Virus Worm Wound Yeast

General Dosage

Should not be used; 2–4 g powdered seed; 1–2.5 g flower several ×/day; 2 tsp flower in hot tea; 1–2 g dry herb, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 1–2 ml liquid herb extract 3 ×/day; 2–8 ml liquid herb extract.

Safety & Contraindications

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. 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, but fatalities are reported with infusions and powders. Oil should not be used internally or externally), even the tea has been fatal. 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. “The potential toxicity of this plant outweighs its benefits.” The lethal dosage is approximately 15–30 g oil.

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