THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT TANSY

Tansy, also known as Tanacetum vulgare, is a perennial, herbaceous flower that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is native to moderate areas of Asia and Europe but it has also been introduced to some other regions of the world, including North America. The plant has a straight, stout, a bit reddish stem that can grow up to 50-150 cm in height. The fragrant, fern-like leaves are alternately arranged. The flowers are bright yellow and resemble small golden buttons. They are usually produced in close-packed, flat-topped clusters. Tansy usually grows in the fields, meadows, ditches, pastures, along the roads and rivers. Some other popular names of this plant are golden buttons, cow bitter, scented fern, bitter buttons.

Parts Used: leaves and flowers.

Key Components

• flavonoids
• alkaloids
• tannins
• essential oils
• volatile oil
• thujole, myrtenol, camphor (toxic substances!)
• minerals (iron, magnesium, sulphur, calcium, manganese, silicon)
• vitamin C

Interesting Facts

• Tansy was first used by ancient Greeks.
• The name of the plant derives from the Greek word “athanaton” which stands for “immortal”. It refers to the long-lived tansy flowers and the use of its leaves for food preservation and embalming.
• Germanic people used to hang tansy flowers on their houses in order to wade off monsters.
• Tansy flowers can be a source of yellow dye. Young sprigs of the plant can be used to produce a green dye.