Plant Comparison
Cranberry vs Tansy
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Cranberry and Tansy: they share 5 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, infection (general), inflammation (general), …); 3 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Cranberry | Tansy | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis / joint pain | 1/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Infection (general) | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Inflammation (general) | 2/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Skin irritation | 1/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Wounds | 1/10 | 1/10 | Comparable evidence |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
The A-type proanthocyanidins are considered responsible for inhibiting bacterial adhesion to the urinary tract lining.
Give the fruit its characteristic tartness and are traditionally credited with a mild urinary-acidifying effect.
Thujone is the neurotoxic, safety-limiting constituent responsible for tansy's real internal-use toxicity.
Contribute to the plant's bitter taste and antimicrobial activity.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from digestive action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antispasmodic action
inferred from antispasmodic action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Food amounts are generally considered safe (berries in meals, drinks, sauces). (Williams et al., 2023).
Duke (2002) includes cranberry primarily at the experimental level for its astringent, diuretic, and antioxidant properties. Commission E has not approved cranberry for specific indications, though there is evidence supporting its role in preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) by inhibiting bacterial adhesion to uroepithelial cells (proanthocyanidins). Duke notes the high vitamin C and organic acid content. Food-grade consumption is considered safe and beneficial as a urinary acidifier (Duke, 2002).
CAUTION: Tansy is considered toxic in medicinal doses and is NOT recommended for internal use. Thujone can cause convulsions, liver and kidney damage. Contraindicated in pregnancy (uterotonic and abortifacient). External use (as insect repellent) is generally safe. For information and historical reference only — do not use internally.
Duke (2002) rates tansy as ++ but emphasizes important safety concerns. The plant contains thujone (a neurotoxic ketone) and camphor, making it potentially toxic with internal use. Documented activities include emmenagogue, abortifacient (score 1), and insecticide. Duke strongly cautions against internal use except under professional supervision, noting that historical cases of tansy poisoning have resulted in convulsions and death. Topical use as an insect repellent is safer but should still avoid prolonged skin contact due to the essential oil's sensitizing potential. Strictly contraindicated in pregnancy (Duke, 2002).
External Ids
Botanical Description
Low, creeping, evergreen dwarf shrub (Ericaceae) with slender, wiry stems that root at the nodes. Leaves are tiny, alternate, leathery and ovate with in-rolled margins, dark green above and whitish beneath. Flowers are small, pink and four-petalled, sharply reflexed backward so that the protruding stamens and style resemble a crane's head and neck - the origin of the name 'craneberry', later shortened to 'cranberry'. The fruit is a small, round, tart red berry.[8]
Aromatic perennial herb (Asteraceae), 50-120 cm tall, with erect, reddish, ridged stems. Leaves are finely divided, fern-like and strongly camphor-scented. Flat-topped clusters of small, yellow, button-like flower heads lack ray florets (petals).[11]
Habitat
Native to boggy, acidic wetlands - sphagnum bogs and marshes - across northern and central Europe and northern Asia, requiring waterlogged, nutrient-poor, acidic peat soils.[8]
Native to Europe and temperate Asia, widely naturalised elsewhere; grows on roadsides, waste ground, riverbanks and disturbed grassland.[11]
Harvesting
Berries are hand-picked or wet-harvested (traditionally by hand-raking the bog) in autumn once fully ripe and deep red.[8]
Flowering aerial parts are cut in summer, when in full flower, and dried for external/historical use; given this plant's real toxicity (thujone content) at internal doses, this record does not recommend or describe internal harvesting for medicinal consumption.[11]
Traditional Uses
Cranberry has a long northern-European and Native American tradition as a food and folk remedy for urinary complaints, valued for its tart, astringent, vitamin-C-rich fruit. Modern research on its proanthocyanidins supports a role in reducing bacterial adhesion in the urinary tract, consistent with the traditional use for cystitis and recurrent urinary tract infections.[2, 11]
Tansy has a long European history as a strewing herb, insect repellent and, historically, an internal vermifuge and emmenagogue, but its thujone and camphor content make internal medicinal use unsafe by modern standards. Today it is used, with caution, mainly as an external insect repellent; the traditional internal uses are recorded here for historical reference only, not as a recommendation.[11]
Preparations
References
Lookalikes Review
Dosage
Not documented
Tansy is NOT recommended for internal use at any dose given its thujone content and documented toxicity (convulsions, liver/kidney damage) - internal use recorded here is for historical reference only. External use (e.g. as an insect repellent) should avoid prolonged skin contact. Educational reference only, not a prescription; strictly avoid in pregnancy.
Dangerous Lookalikes
Not documented
References & Sources
- Shareef, S.M., Khaleel, R.A. and Maryoosh, T.M (2024) 'Nephroprotective effect of cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) in streptozocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in mice', Drug Metabolism and Personalized Therapy, 39(1), pp. 35-45. doi:10.1515/dmpt-2023-0092 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1515/dmpt-2023-0092 - Jurikova, T., Skrovankova, S., Mlcek, J., Balla, S. and Snopek, L (2018) 'Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Activity, and Biological Effects of European Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos)', Molecules, 24(1), pp. 24. doi:10.3390/molecules24010024 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24010024 - Sedbare, R., Raudone, L., Zvikas, V., Viskelis, J. and others (2022) 'Development and Validation of the UPLC-DAD Methodology for the Detection of Triterpenoids and Phytosterols in Fruit Samples of Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton and Vaccinium oxycoccos L', Molecules, 27(14), pp. 4403. doi:10.3390/molecules27144403 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27144403 - Sedbare, R., Sprainaityte, S., Baublys, G., Viskelis, J. and Janulis, V (2023) 'Phytochemical Composition of Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos L.) Fruits Growing in Protected Areas of Lithuania', Plants (Basel), 12(10), pp. 1974. doi:10.3390/plants12101974 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12101974 - Brown, P.N., Turi, C.E., Shipley, P.R. and Murch, S.J (2012) 'Comparisons of large (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) and small (Vaccinium oxycoccos L., Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) cranberry in British Columbia by phytochemical determination, antioxidant potential, and metabolomic profiling with chemometric analysis', Planta Medica, 78(6), pp. 630-640. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1298239 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0031-1298239 - Harini, K., Janani, K., Teja, K.V., Mohan, C. and Sukumar, M (2022) 'Formulation and evaluation of oral disintegrating films using a natural ingredient against Streptococcus mutans', Journal of Conservative Dentistry, 25(2), pp. 128-134. doi:10.4103/jcd.jcd_143_21 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.4103/jcd.jcd_143_21 - Cesoniene, L., Daubaras, R., Jasutiene, I., Vencloviene, J. and Miliauskiene, I (2011) 'Evaluation of the biochemical components and chromatic properties of the juice of Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton and Vaccinium oxycoccos L', Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 66(3), pp. 238-244. doi:10.1007/s11130-011-0241-5 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-011-0241-5 - Van Rossum, F., Vereecken, N.J., Bredat, E. and Michez, D (2012) 'Pollen dispersal and fruit production in Vaccinium oxycoccos and comparison with its sympatric congener V. uliginosum', Plant Biology, 15(2), pp. 344-352. doi:10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00646.x Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00646.x - Kawash, J., Colt, K., Hartwick, N.T., Abramson, B.W. and others (2022) 'Contrasting a reference cranberry genome to a crop wild relative provides insights into adaptation, domestication, and breeding', PLoS One, 17(3), pp. e0264966. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0264966 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264966 - Stobnicka, A. and Gniewosz, M (2017) 'Antimicrobial protection of minced pork meat with the use of Swamp Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos L.) fruit and pomace extracts', Journal of Food Science and Technology, 55(1), pp. 62-71. doi:10.1007/s13197-017-2770-x Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-017-2770-x - Hooton, T.M., Vecchio, M., Iroz, A., Tack, I., Dornic, Q., Seksek, I. and Lotan, Y (2018) 'Effect of increased daily water intake in premenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections: a randomized clinical trial', 178(11), pp. 1509--1515. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.4204 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.4204 - Jepson, R.G., Williams, G. and Craig, J.C (2012) 'Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Cranberries%20for%20preventing%20urinary%20tract%20infections - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
- Kowalonek, J., Stachowiak, N., Bolczak, K. and Richert, A (2023) 'Physicochemical and Antibacterial Properties of Alginate Films Containing Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.) Essential Oil', Polymers, 15(2), pp. 260. doi:10.3390/polym15020260 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15020260 - Ak, G., Gevrenova, R., Sinan, K.I., Zengin, G. and others (2021) 'Tanacetum vulgare L. (Tansy) as an effective bioresource with promising pharmacological effects from natural arsenal', Food and Chemical Toxicology, 153, pp. 112268. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2021.112268 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2021.112268 - Paderin, N.M., Saveliev, Y.N. and Popov, S.V (2020) 'The effect of pectin of tansy, Tanacetum vulgare L., on anxiety and overeating food rich in fats and sugars in mice in modelling binge eating', Voprosy Pitaniia, 89(6), pp. 14-22. doi:10.24411/0042-8833-2020-10074 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.24411/0042-8833-2020-10074 - Babich, O., Larina, V., Krol, O., Ulrikh, E. and others (2023) 'In Vitro Study of Biological Activity of Tanacetum vulgare Extracts', Pharmaceutics, 15(2), pp. 616. doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics15020616 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15020616 - Puk, K. and Guz, L (2021) 'Parasiticidal effects of Tanacetum vulgare extract against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis', Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 24(1), pp. 159-161. doi:10.24425/pjvs.2021.136805 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.24425/pjvs.2021.136805 - Roman, H., Niculescu, A.G., Lazar, V. and Mitache, M.M (2023) 'Antibacterial Efficiency of Tanacetum vulgare Essential Oil against ESKAPE Pathogens and Synergisms with Antibiotics', Antibiotics, 12(11), pp. 1635. doi:10.3390/antibiotics12111635 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12111635 - Sukele, R., Lauberte, L., Kovalcuka, L., Logviss, K. and others (2023) 'Chemical Profiling and Antioxidant Activity of Tanacetum vulgare L. Wild-Growing in Latvia', Plants, 12(10), pp. 1968. doi:10.3390/plants12101968 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12101968 - Korpinen, R.I., Valimaa, A.L., Liimatainen, J. and Kunnas, S (2021) 'Essential Oils and Supercritical CO2 Extracts of Arctic Angelica, Marsh Labrador Tea and Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)-Chemical Compositions and Antimicrobial Activities', Molecules, 26(23), pp. 7121. doi:10.3390/molecules26237121 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26237121 - Jovanovic, M. and Poljacki, M (2003) 'Compositae dermatitis', Medicinski Pregled, 56(1-2), pp. 43-49. doi:10.2298/mpns0302043j Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.2298/mpns0302043j - Rohloff, J., Mordal, R. and Dragland, S (2004) 'Chemotypical variation of tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.) from 40 different locations in Norway', Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52(6), pp. 1742-1748. doi:10.1021/jf0352430 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/jf0352430 - Grieve, M (1931) 'A Modern Herbal'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A%20Modern%20Herbal - Kivilaan, A. and Bandurski, R.S (1981) 'The 1879 Beal seed viability experiment', 68(9), pp. 1290--1292. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=The%201879%20Beal%20seed%20viability%20experiment - Orav, A., Raal, A. and Arak, E (2006) 'Essential oil composition of Tanacetum vulgare L', 20(12), pp. 1129--1142. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Essential%20oil%20composition%20of%20Tanacetum%20vulgare%20L - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board 'Tansy Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)'. Available at: https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/tansy-ragwort Traditional / reference
https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/tansy-ragwort - Schneider, J. and Tsegaye, Y. and W/Tensae, M. and G/Selassie, S. and Haile, T. and Bane, A. and Ali, A. and Mesfin, G. and Seboxa, T (2012) 'Veno-occlusive liver disease: a case report', Ethiopian Medical Journal, 50 Suppl 2, pp. 47-51. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22946295/ Clinical study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22946295/
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.