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Tansy

Tansy is a plant whose parts growing above ground are used to make medicine despite serious safety concerns. Tansy is used for digestive tract problems including stomach and intestinal ulcers, certain gallbladder disorders, flatulence, bloating, stomach pain, stomach cramps and poor appetite. Tansy is also used for painful conditions including migraines, nerve pain and rheumatic joint pain, as well as heart conditions including painful heartbeat and water retention caused by heart failure. Some women use tansy to induce menstruation or to induce abortion.

Tansy is also used to treat roundworm and pinworm infections in children.

Other uses include the treatment of epileptic seizures, colds, fevers, hysteria, gout, kidney problems and tuberculosis. Tansy is also used to kill bacteria, cause sweating, calm the nerves and act as an antioxidant, tonic and stimulant. Tansy is applied directly to affected areas for scabies, itching, bruising, ulcers, sprains, swelling, freckles, inflammation, vaginal discharge, toothache and tumors. In addition, tansy is applied to the skin to repel insects. Tansy is used as a flavoring agent in food and beverages. In industrial production, tansy is used in the manufacture of perfume and as a source of green dye.

How does tansy work?

The chemicals in tansy increase salivation and blood flow to body tissues around the mouth, stomach, intestines and pelvis. Some scientists believe that the chemicals in tansy have an effect on the brain. Tansy extracts may also relieve pain, reduce bile acid production and stimulate appetite in people suffering from liver and gallbladder problems.

How effective is tansy?

There is not enough scientific data to say how effective tansy is for migraines, seizures, joint pain, flatulence, stomach cramps, bloating, stomach ulcers, water retention and kidney problems, as well as when used to induce menstruation, induce abortion, treat roundworm and pinworm infections in children, kill bacteria, improve digestion and appetite and calm the nerves. There is also insufficient scientific information on the effectiveness of tansy applied directly to the affected areas for scabies, itching, bruising, ulcers, sprains, swelling, freckles, sunburn and toothache, as well as when used on the skin to repel insects. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of tansy in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Oral ingestion of tansy is not safe or harmless. Tansy contains a toxic chemical called thujone. People have died after taking just 10 drops of tansy oil. There have also been reports of deaths after consuming tansy tea and powdered tansy.

In addition to deaths, tansy can also cause restlessness, vomiting, severe diarrhea, stomach pain, dizziness, tremors, liver and kidney damage, bleeding, abortion in pregnant women and seizures.

It is also not safe to use on the skin, as tansy can cause severe skin reactions.

Precautions and warnings

The use of tansy is not safe for anyone, but some people have additional reasons to avoid tansy:

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: tansy is not safe or safe to use during pregnancy. Tansy can induce the menstrual period, cause uterine contractions and induce abortion.

It is also not safe to use tansy during breastfeeding due to the toxic thujone it contains.

Allergies to broomrape and related plants: Tansy may cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to plants of the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this plant family include broomsedge, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies and many others. If you suffer from allergies, you should consult your doctor before taking tansy. Porphyria, a hereditary disease that affects the metabolism: there are concerns that tansy may aggravate this condition.

Interactions

Tansy should not be taken in combination with the following medications

Alcohol

Alcohol can cause drowsiness and dizziness. Tansy may increase the drowsiness and dizziness caused by alcohol, so tansy should not be taken in combination with alcohol.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of tansy depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At the present time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for tansy. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

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  2. Chiasson, H., Belanger, A., Bostanian, N., Vincent, C., and Poliquin, A. Acaricidal properties of Artemisia absinthium and Tanacetum vulgare (Asteraceae) essential oils obtained by three methods of extraction. J Econ.Entomol. 2001;94(1):167-171. view abstract.
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