Indications

Similar actions to wormwood and shares similar classes of constituents; not commonly used due to its toxic effects.

Infection
• helminths
• roundworms
• pinworms

Gastrointestinal
• dyspepsia - stimulates digestion but generally not used due to toxicity.

Gynecological
• traditionally used to regulate menstrual cycles
• dysmenorrhea
• amenorrhea

Actions

• Anthelmintic
• Diaphoretic
• Emmenagogue
• Bitter
• Stomachic
• Cholagogue
• Choleretic
• Carminative
• Antimicrobial
• Febrifuge
• Antiinflammatory
• Emmenagogue

Constituents

• Sesquiterpene Lactones (E.g. Arbusculin)
• Essential Oils
• Monoterpenes (Thujone, Camphor)
• Flavonoids

Posology

• Tincture: 1-30 drops
• Liquid extract (1:1 25% EtOH): 1-2 ml tid

Safety

High doses:
• May lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, paralysis and convulsions
• Essential oil contains thujone, which is a neurotoxin.

Contra-Indications:
• Gastritis & stomach ulcers
• Obstructed gallbladder

Caution:
• Asteraceae allergy: contains sesquiterpene lactones
• Depression
• Epilepsy • thujone os a excitory neurotoxin

Pregnancy & Lactaction:
• Unsafe: uterine stimulant & thujone is teratogenic.

Interactions

• Antiepitileptic drugs • the neurotoxin thujone present in tansy may reduce the efficacy of medications used to prevent seizures including: lamotrigine, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, primidone, valproic acid, gabapentin, phenytoin.

References

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Barnes J, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines, 3rd ed. London: Pharmaceutical Press, 2007.

Bone K. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.

Bone K. A Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs: Herbal Formulations for the Individual Patient. St Louis, MO: Churchill Livingstone, 2003.

Brinker F. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, 3rd ed. Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications, 2000.

Felter HW, Lloyd JU. King's American Dispensatory. 1898. http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/eclectic/kings/main.html. Accessed: August 19, 2006.

Hoffman D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester, Vermont: Healing Arts Press, 2003.

Weiss RF. Herbal Medicine. Beaconsfield, England: Beaconsfield Publishers Ltd, 1988.

Williamson EM, ed. Major Herbs of Ayurveda. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2002