T
Migraine (f; APA; PHR; PH2); Miscarriage (f; DEM); Mycosis (1; APA; TAD); Nausea (1; PNC);
Nematode (1; APA); Nephrosis (f; CRC; DEM; GMH); Nervousness (f; CRC); Neuralgia (f;
APA; PHR; PH2); Neurosis (f; APA; CRC); Nephrotonic (f; GMH); Ophthalmia (f; CRC);
Osteoporosis (f; DEM); Otosis (f; DEM); Pain (f; HH3; PH2); Palpitation (f; CRC); Paralysis
(f; CRC); Pinworm (1; APA); Proctosis (f; APA); Rheumatism (f; APA; CRC; HH3; PHR; PH2);
Roundworm (1; APA); Scabies (f; APA; PNC); Sciatica (f; CRC); Shigella (1; HH3); Sore (f;
CRC); Sore Throat (f; DEM; FEL); Spasm (f; CRC); Sprain (f; GMH; PH2); Staphylococcus
(1; HH3); Stomachache (f; CRC); Strabismus (f; CRC); Strangury (f; FEL); Streptococcus (1;
HH3); Sunburn (f; CRC); Swelling (f; CRC; MAD; PH2); Tendinitis (f; CRC; JLH); Toothache
(f; CRC; MAD); Tuberculosis (f; CRC); Tumor (1; APA; CAN; CRC); Ulcer (1; PH2); Uterosis
(f; MAD); Vertigo (f; DEM; HH3; MAD; PH2); Virus (1; APA); Worm (1; APA; CAN; CRC;
HH3; PHR; PH2); Wound (f; DEM; MAD; PH2); Yeast (1; HH3).
Dosages (Tansy) — Should not be used (APA); 2–4 g powdered seed (MAD); 1–2.5 g flower
several ×/day (MAD); 2 tsp (~4 g) flower in hot tea (MAD); 1–2 g dry herb, or in tea, 3 ×/day
(CAN); 1–2 ml liquid herb extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 2–8 ml liquid herb
extract (PNC).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Tansy) — 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 (AEH). 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 (LD50 = 1150 mg/kg orl), but fatalities are
reported with infusions and powders. Oil should not be used internally or externally (10 drops
of oil is potentially fatal (CRC)), even the tea has been fatal (thujone may likely be responsible).
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 (cf digitalis 1:2) (CAN). “The
potential toxicity of this plant outweighs its benefits.” The lethal dosage is approximately 15–30
g oil (HH3; PH2).
Extracts (Tansy) — Camphor, sabinene (especially), thujone and sabinene chemotype ethanolic
extracts are strongly antibacterial against Gram-positive Bacillus and Staphylococcus (100–200
mg/ml). Thujone type EO is effective against Bacillus, Escherichia, and Staphylococcus at 100
μg/ml), umbellulone type at 100–150 μg/ml (HH3). Teas and ethanolic extracts clinically stimulate
bile in patients with gallbladder and liver problems, increasing appetite and digestion while alle-
viating pain. I frequently include tansy in my after dinner herbal liqueur, but don’t recommend it
to anyone else.
TANSY RAGWORT (Senecio jacobaea L.) XMadaus rightly or wrongly says that S. jacobaea L. and S. vulgaris L. have the same effects. So
most of the MAD entries below have also been transcribed to S. vulgaris, and may really belong
only there.
Activities (Tansy Ragwort) — Antiperistaltic (1; HHB); Antispasmodic (f; EFS); Carcinogenic
(1; AEH; PH2); Depurative (f; EFS); Detergent (f; EFS); Diaphoretic (f; EFS); Emmenagogue (f;
EFS); Hemostat (f; EFS; MAD); Hepatotoxic (1; AEH; PH2); Laxative (f; EFS); Pectoral (f; EFS);
Poison (1; PH2).
Indications (Tansy Ragwort) — Amenorrhea (f; MAD); Anemia (f; HHB; MAD; PH2);
Arthrosis (f; PH2); Bleeding (f; EFS; MAD); Catarrh (f; MAD); Cerebrosis (f; MAD); Chlorosis