The health benefits of tansy essential oil can be attributed to its properties as an antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-histaminic, antiviral, febrifuge, insecticide, hormone stimulant, sedative, and a vermifuge substance.
What is Tansy Essential Oil?
The essential oil of tansy is extracted by steam distillation of all the plant parts. Tansy is a common European herb and the scientific name of tansy is Tanacetum vulgare or Tanacetum annuum. The chief components that form this essential oil are artemisone, borneol, camphone, camphor, isopinocamphone, piperitone, and thujone.
Although this herb is very poisonous, it was still popular among the poor people, villagers, and nomadic groups like Gypsies, since they found some medicinal uses of the plant.
Health Benefits of Tansy Essential Oil
There are many amazing health benefits of tansy essential oil. Let us discuss them in detail below.
Prevents Bacterial Infections
It should not be very hard to understand that the essential oil, which is so poisonous and can be fatal to humans, would also be deadly for those tiny bacteria. Although some bacteria can survive unimaginable extremities of temperature and toxins, for most of the bacteria which live in the human body, this oil is lethal. Tansy essential oil kills them and inhibits their multiplication. This gives effective protection against bacterial infections, provided that it is taken in very, very mild doses.
Protects Against Fungal Infections
There is little doubt that the essential oil, which can kill some very adamant and hardy species of bacteria infecting the human body, will also be harsh on fungus as well. The fungus cannot stand the toxicity of this oil and are killed when subjected to this oil. Their spores are also destroyed. This makes tansy essential oil an efficient protector against fungal infections, which cause skin diseases, running ears, hair problems, and dysentery.
Tansy essential oil is fresh and enticing with a sweet aroma. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Reduces Inflammation
The essential oil of tansy has been found to be effective in giving relief from inflammation, particularly those pertaining to the skin, and others as well. It also gives relief, to some extent, from inflammation in the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems.
Controls Allergic Reactions
Histamine in the body is responsible for triggering allergies and the various problems related to allergies such as rashes, itches, severe coughs, asthma, breathing troubles, continuous sneezes, or hiccups. Allergies can turn seriously fatal if they take over the internal organs, particularly the liver and heart. These attacks of allergies can be countered by lowering the levels of histamine in the body and checking its production. Tansy essential oil neutralizes histamine and checks its further production, thereby controlling these allergic reactions.
Protects against Viral Diseases
The components like thujone and camphor, in tansy essential oil, are toxic to living cells and capable of killing viruses as well. These components rupture the cyst, probe inside, and kill the virus. This stops the growth of the virus and gives immunity against viral diseases like the common cold, mumps, measles, and pox.
Reduces Fevers
Most fevers are actually indications of the ongoing fight between the body’s immune mechanism and infection by bacteria (like typhoid, yellow fever, and black fever), viruses (like influenza), protozoa (like malaria and a few others) and fungi. The more severe our body’s reaction, the higher the body temperature becomes. Therefore, if infections are causes for fevers, then inhibiting these infections would be the way to reduce fevers. The essential oil of tansy, being an antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral substance, all at the same time, assists our body in countering these infections and thereby reduces body temperature. The anti-inflammatory property of this oil adds to this effect since inflammation can also raise body temperature.
Acts as an Insecticide
Insects like cockroaches, ants, termites, and moths that are very commonly found in our households, and parasitic insects like mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, lice, and bed bugs, prefer to keep a safe distance from this oil as it is poisonous to them and has a pungent aroma that they cannot withstand. Therefore, this oil serves as an effective insect repellent when used in fumigants, vaporizers, and sprays. Even smaller animals like wall lizards and mice avoid this oil.
Stimulates Secretion of Hormones
Tansy oil stimulates the endocrine glands and increases the secretion of hormones. It was found particularly effective on the thyroid and thymus glands, which directly affect growth and maturity.
Relieves Nervous Afflictions
Tansy essential oil acts as a sedative for nerves and emotional impulses. In cases of anxiety, depression, anger, convulsions, nervous afflictions, epilepsy, hysteric attacks, and impulsive behavior, it can be used to pacify them and induce a relaxing effect on the nerves and the brain.
Tansy essential oil can help prevent bacterial infections and more. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Kills Intestinal Worms
The poisonous effect of tansy essential oil kills the intestinal and other parasitic worms in the human body, such as roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and others. It is also used to kill worms that develop into wounds. This helps in the regrowth of healthy cells and quicker healing of wounds.
Other Benefits
It is also used to treat sciatica, dyspepsia, skin infections, and can help prevent miscarriages.
Word of Caution: Tansy oil is a potent poison due to the presence of high concentration of thujone and even small doses can be fatal. It can also trigger hallucinations and severe nervous or neurotic disturbances while having addictive, narcotic effects. While the correct dose isn’t still clear as it depends on many factors like age, health condition and many other things, make sure to consult with a doctor before using it.
Blending: The essential oil of tansy blends well with those of cedar wood, helichrysum, lavender, ravensara, and rosemary.
