Contents
Dangers of tansy
Is tansy toxic?
Tansy is a plant that should be used with caution, since in certain doses it presents certain toxicity due to its alkaloid content (tanacetin) and its essential oil, which is rich in thujone (toxic principle).
Tansy is also known by the names: common tansy, tansy, garden tansy, golden-buttons
What components does it have?
Tansy contains essential oil (0.6%) rich in thujone (up to 95%), borneol and cineole; a bitter principle, tanacetin; tannins, flavonoids and caffeic acid.
Dangers and toxicity of tansy
- Tansy essential oil is neurotoxic and convulsant due to its thujone content. Intoxication causes adverse effects related to the nervous system, vomiting and headache, since thujone is very toxic to the brain.
- Gastrointestinal inflammation with digestive symptoms also occurs: heartburn, belly pain, liver problems, diarrhea.
- The essential oil, due to the thujone content, is epilectigenic, that is, capable of producing epileptic seizures when taken in large quantities. People with epilepsy should not take tansy preparations.
- The internal use of tansy essential oil is contraindicated without the supervision of a specialist due to its possible toxic effects. Essential oil taken externally can bioaccumulate and have the same toxic effects as its internal use. The recommended doses must be respected and long treatments should not be carried out. In very high doses, the essential oil can cause cardiorespiratory arrest.
Tansy should not be taken during pregnancy and lactation.
It is a strong emmenagogue and its essential oil can cause metrorrhagia. Thujone has abortifacient properties and should not be taken by pregnant women.
It should also not be taken during lactation because the plant components can reach the baby through breast milk.
TOXIC PROPERTIES OF TANSY PLANT
Toxicity of tansy
High. Intoxications have usually taken place after ingesting too high doses of its toxic active principles by means of some infusion or, especially, because of the essential oil. In this case, a superior dose to 2 gr. is toxic. 15 gr. are mortal for an adult.
A possible risk of dermatitis exists if we get in contact with it. It is also a plant that can produce breathing allergies due to artemorin, which is a very known allergenic.
Symptoms: Stomachache, salivation, diarrhea, liver problems. In high doses, slowing of heart rate, convulsions, cardiorespiratory failure and death.
*Related information:
More information about medicinal plants.
