Omnia SanaCommon names in 26 European languages →
The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 5 pharmacological actions, 9 traditional / indicated uses, with 17 cited sources.
Botanical Description
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 & Distribution
Native to Europe and temperate Asia, widely naturalised elsewhere; grows on roadsides, waste ground, riverbanks and disturbed grassland.[11]
Harvesting
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]
Key Constituents
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 digestive 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
inferred from antimicrobial action
Traditional Use & History
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it is used, with caution, mainly as an external insect repellent; the traditional internal uses are recorded here for historical reference only, not as a recommendation.[11]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
Dosage
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its thujone content and documented toxicity (convulsions, liver/kidney damage) - internal use recorded here is for historical reference only.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.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
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).
Dangerous Lookalikes
Harvest Readiness
[12]
[12]
[12]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- 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 - Plants For A Future 'Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tanacetum+vulgare Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tanacetum+vulgare - 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/
Selected studies & references
All 14 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.