2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Tansy (English Tansy) is a herbaceous perennial plant that has a branched stem reaching 1.5 in height. It grows along rivers, screes and roads, as well as in grassy weedy places up to 1200 meters above sea level. Tansy is found throughout Bulgaria. Tansy leaves are elliptical in shape and yellow. There are many small flowers that resemble daisies and are arranged in groups.
Tansy originated in Southeast Europe, but nowadays can be found throughout Europe, Australia and North America. It emits a very strong and at the same time sharp aroma. It has been used for centuries in folk medicine as a remedy for arthritis, headaches and fever. The name of the tansy comes from the Latin word "febrifugia", which literally means "fever-reducing".
Tansy gained very wide popularity in Britain in the 80's, as an exclusive alternative to the well-known conventional migraine remedies.
Composition of tansy
Tansy contains 1% essential oil, which has a characteristic odor resembling camphor. The main part of the essential oil is the ketone b-thuion and its isomer a-thuion. Tansy contains flavonoids, alkaloids, organic substances, the bitter substance tanacetin, tannins, vitamin C, carotenoids. Contains borneol, terpenes and thujole. Resins and gallic acid have been found in the herb.
Collection and storage of tansy
The usable part of the plant is the ground. It is harvested during flowering, namely - June-September. Dry in an oven at 40 degrees or in the shade. The permissible humidity in the room where the brat will be stored is 13%. If stored properly, you can keep it cut for two years, or whole - for three years. Dried tansy has a yellow color, characteristic odor and sweet-bitter taste.
Benefits of tansy
Tansy is very rich in sesquiterpene lactones, the most valuable of which is parthenolide. It protects the cerebral vessels from narrowing because it relaxes the spasms of the otherwise smooth muscles. Parthenolide also prevents excessive platelet aggregation and inhibits the release of certain chemicals.
As it turned out, in the United Kingdom discovered the valuable properties of the plant in the 80s of last century. Then, a study of about 300 migraine patients found that 70% of them felt better after eating 2-3 fresh leaves of tansy every day. That is why tansy has been declared an alternative to migraine pills.
Nowadays, doctors use tansy except not only for severe headaches, but also for arthritis and other similar conditions, which are accompanied by severe pain. Tansy is also used to treat psoriasis, tinnitus, asthma and various allergies.
The drug from tansy tones the muscles and enhances the work of the gastrointestinal tract in case of constipation, duodenal ulcer or stomach. It has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect on pain and gas in the intestines. Tansy increases heart rate, slows the heart rate and raises blood pressure.
Tansy essential oil is useful in diseases of the gallbladder and liver because it enhances the secretion of bile. It has anthelmintic, antiseptic and antimicrobial action, but be careful because it is toxic.
Folk medicine with tansy
Folk medicine recommends the use of tansy in conditions such as kidney and bladder stones, as well as various other inflammatory processes. Externally used for baths for rheumatism and hair washing for persistent dandruff, headaches, malaria, nervous disorders.
In rheumatism, soak 50 g of tansy in 1 liter of wine and leave for 8 days. Then 40 mg of the decoction is taken after main meals. In other diseases, tansy infusion is made. For this purpose, a tablespoon of the flowers of the herb is poured with 400 ml of boiling water. They soak for two hours. The resulting extract is drunk three times daily before meals, one cup of tea.
To treat worms, mix tansy flowers with dried wormwood flowers and chamomile flowers. The three herbs should be in equal parts. 8 g of the resulting mixture is poured into 250 ml of boiling water and acidified until cool. The resulting extract is filtered and an enema is made with it.
Harm from tansy
Use the herb only on the prescription of a phytotherapist, because it is highly toxic and can lead to dangerous situations. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should not take tansy because there is a very high risk of miscarriage or premature birth.
