Artemisia vulgare (Tanecetum vulgare) is also known as common tansy, bitter button, cow tansy, or golden button. The Latin word "vulgare" means "ordinary". Native to temperate Europe and Asia. It has been introduced to other parts of the world, including North America. In hotter countries, it reproduces faster - self-seeding in light soil, rapidly increasing in size. The ancient Greeks were probably the first to cultivate it as a medicinal herb.
It is listed on the noxious weed list in many U.S. states.
toxicity
Many tansy varieties contain volatile oils that can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
If taken internally, toxic metabolites are produced when the oil is broken down in the liver and digestive tract.
It is highly toxic to internal parasites, and herbalists have used tansy tea to ward off parasites for centuries. Tansy is an effective insecticide and is highly toxic to arthropods. Due to the presence of thujone, the US FDA restricts the use of tansy in alcoholic beverages and the final product must be thujone-free.
Tanacetum annuum is often confused with common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), but the essential oil produced by the former is chemically completely different as it contains no thujone and high amounts of matriculene, which gives the oil its dark blue color, giving rise to its common name " Blue” Tansy Oil. Although some unscrupulous essential oil dealers claim to adulterate the very expensive blue tansy (Tanacetum annuum) oil with the much cheaper chrysanthemum essential oil, the color of chrysanthemum essential oil is never blue because it does not contain chamomile azulen ene. Therefore, high-thujone oils from chrysanthemums should never be called "blue tansy" oil, and any blue oil containing high amounts of thujone is an adulterated product.
The active ingredients of volatile oils include
- 1,8-Cineole (1,8-Cineole is a toxin believed to protect plant leaves from attack by herbivores.)
- trans-thujone
- Camphor and
- Myrtenol
Its content and proportion vary with seasons and plants.
Ethnomedicine uses
Artemisia has a long history of use
- The first historical records of mugwort for medicinal purposes involve the ancient Greeks. It has been used to treat intestinal worms, rheumatism, digestive problems, fevers, sores and measles.
- In the Middle Ages and beyond, high doses were used to induce abortion.
- Artemisia has also been used to help women conceive and prevent miscarriage.
- Tansy cakes are eaten during Lent because it is believed that eating fish during Lent can cause intestinal worms.
- Used as a facial cleanser, it is reported to lighten and purify the skin.
- In the 19th century, Irish folklore suggested that bathing in a thick and salty solution could cure joint pain.
Studies have found that 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-DCQA) and axillarin in tansy are antiviral compounds active against the herpes simplex virus.
Some other uses
- Traditional dyers use tansy to produce a golden yellow color.
- Tansy can also be used as a companion plant, especially with cucurbits such as cucumbers and pumpkins, or with roses or various berries. It is thought to repel ants, cucumber beetles, Japanese beetles, squash bugs and certain flying insects, among others.
- Some beekeepers use dried tansy as fuel for their smokers.
