Table of contents
- 5 beneficial properties of tansy inflorescences
- Who is contraindicated for tansy?
Fragrant round plate-inflorescences are branched into yellow shields, like bunches of rowan. Meet the common tansy. By the way, the comparison of tansy with rowan has been going on since ancient times, because other names for tansy are: wild rowan, yellow rowan and field rowan.
This bright herbaceous plant blooms in the central zone of our Motherland from June to September. It must be said that tansy is widespread everywhere, except in the Far North.
An indispensable inhabitant of the fields, tansy has many beneficial properties. In former times, tansy was used to get rid of intestinal parasites, Giardia. Tansy is capable of defeating many bacteria and stopping their reproduction, i.e. It can be classified as an antibiotic plant. Tansy flowers have an unusually beneficial effect on the liver and bile ducts, and also have an immunomodulatory effect.
The healing properties of tansy are explained by the chemical composition of its inflorescences. The flowers contain 2% essential oil, flavonoids, phenolcarboxylic acids, bitterness tanacetin (from the Latin name for tansy Tanacetum), tannins (6%) and alkaloids. Tansy essential oil includes a number of substances that not only have beneficial properties, but are also poisonous, so when consuming tansy, the dosage must be strictly observed.
The tansy flower itself is unusually small. What we call a round flower is actually an inflorescence - a basket of small flowers. This can be clearly seen in macro photography:
To prepare round tansy inflorescences in the summer, you need to wait until it blooms and cut off no more than 2 cm of flower stalks. Next, separate the round yellow inflorescence plates from the stems. In this form, the raw materials are dried by natural drying.
So, it’s time to list the beneficial properties that tansy has on the entire body.
What tansy looks like
The most common types of tansy are ordinary and balsamic. Both plants have been known in folk medicine for more than three thousand years, as they thrive in different climatic conditions in many countries in Europe, Central and East Asia, and North America.
Tansy
This species grows wild, so unpretentious that it is found everywhere: in meadows and forest edges, in fields and steppes, along roads and near human habitation. With enough light it reaches one and a half meters in height.
It is not so easy to pick it - the stem is very strong, and the branching root holds tightly to the ground. The leaves are oblong, dissected. Juicy yellow flower baskets with a characteristic camphor smell are collected in inflorescences at the top of the stem.
Tansy balsamic
This herb is more common as a garden plant. It has long been successfully cultivated as a spice and seasoning, popular in cooking because it also has a distinct but pleasant aroma. It differs from its wild “relative” in the shape of its leaves – elongated, oval and slightly velvety to the touch.
The flowers are small pale yellow baskets that make up the inflorescences.
Both species are perennials with a rich chemical composition, bloom from July to September, and bear fruit with small oblong seeds in August-September. Tansy is mostly used for medical purposes.
Pests afraid of tansy
The components of the plant have a detrimental effect on a number of pests. Tansy is effective against moths, bedbugs, cockroaches, and flies. Sometimes it’s enough just to place dried bouquets around the house or beautifully decorate the interior with them. To prepare the bait in the form of sweet syrup, you will also need sugar. Tansy and sugar are boiled to a viscous state, poured into containers that are placed in problem areas of the room. This composition is safe even for children's rooms. Read the article: Medicinal chamomile: medicinal properties and contraindications.
What is contained in the plant
Usually, when making medicines, it matters which part of the plant is used as the main source of valuable components. In tansy, all the beneficial substances are concentrated mainly in the inflorescences, which contain:
- essential oil;
- camphor;
- flavonoids;
- alkaloids;
- thujone;
- tanacetin;
- borneol;
- pinene;
- tannins;
- bitterness;
- organic acids;
- vitamin C;
- carotene.
The leaves of the plant are also used, most often as part of dry collections.
Medicinal properties
The preparations that include tansy have comprehensive medicinal properties on the human body, for example, anthelmintic, choleretic (for liver diseases), antimicrobial and antispasmodic.
Together with other herbs, tansy is used as a natural antidote for nitrate poisoning.
The plant has an effective effect on the body during allergic reactions in cases where provoking factors have not been identified.
Tansy contains essential oils that relieve inflammation and enhance the ability of tissues and the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract to regenerate. In combination with other medicinal herbs, tansy helps cure gastric and duodenal ulcers. It is also used to enhance bile secretion in diseases such as cholangitis, cholecystitis, liver cirrhosis, and viral hepatitis.
The diuretic properties of the plant help with inflammation of the bladder and kidneys, ascites.
Medical use
Despite the potential toxicity, tansy is used in various fields of traditional medicine. The main thing is not to forget about precautions.
For helminthiasis
This fragrant bitter plant has long established itself as a reliable anthelmintic agent. How to brew tansy to get rid of worms was known back in Ancient Egypt. Knowledge has been passed on from generation to generation, the properties of the plant have been studied for thousands of years, but little has changed in tansy recipes.
The infusion is prepared in the proportion of 1 part inflorescences to 10 parts boiling water and kept under the lid for at least 3 hours. It is recommended to take a tablespoon up to 4 times a day. Parasites cannot stand the bitterness of tansy and the alkaline environment it creates in the body.
For preventive purposes, combined mixtures of tansy, yarrow, buckthorn, wormwood and cloves are also prepared. All components in equal parts are ground into powder and taken a teaspoon before breakfast.
If you don’t have the time or desire to collect herbs by hand, you can buy trichatka in pharmacies - a good old anti-worm drug, consisting of three components: tansy flowers, wormwood grass and clove buds. The components of the drug contain substances that are active not only against parasites, but also fungal infections, pathogenic intestinal microflora, and also strengthen the body as a whole.
In gynecology
Tansy preparations should be used in this area according to strict indications. Self-medication is generally a favorite topic for women, hence the attempts to use a decoction of this plant when menstruation is delayed to speed it up.
Provided that such a delay is not caused by serious hormonal disorders and does not exceed four days, tansy can be used as an exceptional measure. But under no circumstances should you take it to permanently affect your cycle, as it can lead to unpredictable complications.
However, there are practically no restrictions on the external use of the herb in gynecology. As a douche, its decoction has proven itself to be an anti-inflammatory and bactericidal agent.
For cardiovascular disorders
Tansy is a salvation for hypotensive people, as it can increase blood pressure and increase the heart rate. As a result of this effect, the headaches characteristic of low blood pressure disappear.
For men, who often suffer from heart disease in adulthood, this is especially important, since the risk of developing hypotension is no lower than hypertensive abnormalities.
For the gastrointestinal tract
Bitters, which the plant is rich in, are effective components in the treatment of gastritis with low acidity, improve digestion, and stimulate intestinal motility. It has been clinically established that tansy has a therapeutic effect on stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers and enterocolitis.
In addition, tansy preparations stimulate the secretion of bile and have proven themselves in the complex therapy of cholecystitis and even hepatitis.
For external use
Decoctions and infusions of tansy work well in the form of compresses, baths and lotions for the treatment of swelling, irritation, poorly healing wounds, and relieve pain in the joints during dislocations and inflammatory processes.
They are also used in the treatment of fungal skin diseases, psoriasis, scabies, trophic ulcers and abscesses. For sore throats, tonsillitis and stomatitis, rinsing with tansy infusion gives a quick positive effect.
Tansy in the fight against parasites and pests
The most popular use of the plant's components is to combat parasites. They effectively drive out roundworms and pinworms. Dried tansy flowers against worms are used in many cleansing proprietary programs. The plant is effective both individually and as part of anthelmintic plant mixtures.
Tansy for pinworms
Enterobiasis is often accompanied by a disorder of the nervous system. This is especially true for children. Dried tansy flower is used as an independent remedy for treating worms. Used as an infusion in periods of three to four weeks. During this time, all pinworm parasites, even young individuals, should hatch.
Tansy for roundworms
Nematodes live in the small intestine. When infested, they penetrate the stomach and can leave the human body through the mouth or penetrate the respiratory tract, liver, and gall bladder. The painful sensations caused by ascariasis are numerous. Once these parasites are diagnosed, treatment should begin as soon as possible.
An effective remedy for roundworms is prepared based on a mixture of tansy, chamomile, and wormwood:
- one tablespoon of crushed collection is poured with a quarter liter of water;
- not cooked, but only brought to a boil;
- cools;
- add grated clove of garlic;
- the liquid is infused for three hours;
- filtered and used as a microenema before bedtime.
After administering the medicine, do not get up for 40 minutes.
Mixtures with tansy for general antiparasitic treatment
In complex deworming when cleansing the body of worms, tansy acts as a component in an effective mixture, also consisting of oak bark, buckthorn, and wormwood.
All herbal ingredients are taken in equal proportions. The liquid is prepared from evening to morning: the day before you need to pour one teaspoon of the mixture with half a liter of water. The next morning, drink 100 ml before meals.
The infusion is drunk for six days. The seventh day is the most important and large-scale in the fight against parasites and their safe removal. On this final day, herbal preparations are also taken. The complex includes 300 grams of pumpkin seeds, washed down with a mixture of oak bark and buckthorn (prepared in the same way as the main composition). After 2 hours, 25 grams of Epsom salts diluted with half a glass of warm water are administered. No additional fluid should be given on this day. The composition containing tansy flowers against parasites is no longer accepted.
Regardless of which particular parasite (or several types at once) is expelled, it is important to remember about their removal from the body. In systemic deworming, if possible, it is worth introducing a set of cleansing measures (in particular, enemas). It is recommended to support the digestive system and intestinal condition with vegetable oils. Pumpkin and flaxseed are effective in this case.
In everyday life and national economy
Thujone, which determines the toxicity of this plant, creates many problems for livestock farmers, since on pastures it is not always possible to control what and in what quantities grazing animals eat. There are even cases of poisoning of cattle by tansy, which is excessively contained in hay or grows abundantly in grazing areas.
However, for herbivorous rodents, for example, for domestic rabbits, tansy is attractive due to its pungent odor and is perceived as a delicacy. When dried, a small branch per day, the plant will be useful as a vitamin supplement to food and the prevention of helminthiases.
The specific smell of the inflorescences repels insects - mosquitoes, flies, fleas, moths, bedbugs. It is enough to place a bouquet of freshly cut flowers in a vase or place a sachet of dried inflorescences indoors, and insects will stop bothering you.
Collection and preparation
The first thing you need to consider is that the collection must be carried out when the plant is blooming. It is necessary to collect tansy in an ecologically clean area, since excessive pollution negatively affects its beneficial qualities. Drying must be done in a dark place so that the plant is blown with fresh air. It is advisable to spread the tansy in a thin layer; during mixing, care should be taken not to damage the inflorescences. Tansy inflorescences should be yellow, have an unusual smell and a bitter taste.
Tansy has many beneficial properties that are used to treat many chronic diseases. If you follow all the rules when harvesting, the medicinal qualities of the plant are preserved for three years.
Contraindications and precautions
Tansy, for all its benefits, is a rather insidious plant. The organic toxins included in its composition can cause poisoning if used incorrectly or overdosed. These properties are associated with a number of restrictions on its use.
- It is strictly not recommended to be treated with tansy during pregnancy, as it causes contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus and can cause miscarriage or premature birth.
- During breastfeeding, it should also be excluded from the diet of a nursing mother, since toxins that enter the baby’s body along with milk can cause serious poisoning.
- Hypertensive patients should also forget about this plant, since it increases blood pressure and heart rate and can aggravate an already problematic condition.
- For children under 12 years of age, it is better to limit themselves to the external use of tansy preparations, since it is not possible to accurately calculate the safe dosage for a growing child’s body.
- To prevent the concentration of thujone in the body from exceeding the safe limit and negating all the positive effects of using the herb, the duration of treatment should not exceed a week. After a month's break, the course of treatment can be repeated.
Contraindications to the use of tansy
Confirmed contraindication: pregnancy. Any form of tansy can act as an abortifacient. The contraindications of tansy flowers for children are controversial. The fact is that the results of studies on the toxicity or toxicity of the plant vary. But the thujone found in flowers is still recognized as poisonous.
Therefore, it is worth limiting the intake of tansy. There is evidence that 500 grams of tincture per day is the maximum safe dose for an adult. An overdose can manifest itself in the form of stomach upset, depression, and kidney damage. If the described reactions occur, you urgently need to rinse the stomach using a manganese solution.
Determination of the main groups of biologically active substances
Thin layer chromatography
On the starting line of an analytical chromatographic plate with a layer of silica gel with a fluorescent indicator on an aluminum substrate measuring 10 × 15 cm, 20 μl of the test solution is applied (see section “Quantitative determination” preparation of solution A of the test solution), 10 μl of a standard sample solution (SS) is applied next to it. luteolin (see section “Quantitative determination” solution A CO of luteolin). The plate with the applied samples is dried, placed in a chamber pre-saturated for 1 hour with a mixture of solvents: chloroform - 96% alcohol - water (26:16:3), and chromatographed using an ascending method. When the front of solvents has passed about 80 - 90% of the length of the plate from the starting line, it is removed from the chamber, dried until traces of solvents are removed and viewed under UV light at 254 nm.
The chromatogram of the test solution should show purple adsorption zones below and above the adsorption zone on the chromatogram of the CO solution of luteolin-7-glucoside.
Then the plate is treated with diazo reagent and kept at 100 – 105 °C.
The chromatogram of the CO solution of luteolin-7-glucoside should show an adsorption zone with yellow or yellow-orange fluorescence.
The chromatogram of the test solution should show a yellow adsorption zone below the luteolin-7-glucoside zone; detection of other adsorption zones is allowed.
Tansy for women's diseases
A decoction of tansy (fruits and flowers) is consumed by women when menstruation stops. In gynecology, tansy is used according to strict indications. On professional medical websites, women are earnestly asked not to self-medicate with medicinal herbs, because the consequences can be very unpredictable.
Tansy for abortion. Tansy has abortive properties. But, using tansy miscarriage at home can lead to serious complications. Delayed menstruation occurs for various reasons, not just because of pregnancy, and women drink tansy in large quantities, not knowing about the nature of the disease. The medical point of view is clear: if pregnancy is not desirable for a woman, then an abortion should be done in a hospital.
Menstrual irregularities are treated with a decoction of tansy flowers and fruits, but after consultation with a gynecologist, in order to reliably know the cause of the cycle irregularity. By the way, it not only induces menstruation, but also helps with heavy menstruation, reducing the heaviness.
