Plants Pacific Northwest

Tanacetum Bipinnatum/Vulgare - Common Tansey

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Plate 228 Plate 229

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Tanacetum Bipinnatum/Vulgare: Dune Tansey, Common Tansey, Bachelor's Buttons, Bitter Buttons, Yellow Buttons, Golden Buttons, English Cost, Ginger Plant, Stinking Willie, Scented Fern, Parsley Fern, Hind Heal.

Tansey grows throughout Canada, United States, and Europe. Tansy (not to be confused with tansy ragwort) is a widespread, tall, strong scented herb, with deeply toothed leaves. It is common in disturbed areas at low elevations. The entire plant is toxic and capable of causing severe illness and sometimes death. Tansy is sometimes misused as an herbal tea. Poisoning symptoms include rapid and feeble pulse, stomach lining inflammation, spasms and convulsions. The dried leaves and flowers have been used to kill intestinal worms, promote menstruation, and cause abortion.

The bright yellow flower heads of tansy are a common sight in late summer and early fall. These tall plants are easily seen. The compound leaves are quite aromatic and have a very lacy appearance. New plants can sprout from the stout, spreading roots. Occurring naturally in the wild but originally from Eurasia, tansy was likely an escape from early American gardens. It still is part of many flower garden in Michigan. About the only thing you might confuse tansy with is wild parsnip. However, wild parsnip is usually done blooming by the time tansy begins. There is a native tansy that grows in sand dunes around the Great Lakes (T. huronense).

In Britain, common Tansey was sold in 16th Century apothecaries (places where drugs were prepared) as 'anathasia' and 'tanacetum' for placing under the winding sheets of the dead to repel vermin. The bitter juice of the Tansey was also used to flavour Easter cakes. Some aboriginal peoples of southern Vamcouver island used the Tansey as a good luck charm.

Tanacetin oil has been used as an insect repellent. Small doses decocted from the leaves and flowers were used to kill and expel worms, as a tonic and narcotic both, as a stomachic to stregthen the digestive system, for inducing perspiration on the dry skin of fever patients, to quiet hysteria, to assist convalescents in regaining strength, to encourage sleepiness, aid kidney disturbances, cleanse the lower intestines, help gall bladder sufferers, and also help jaundice.

Tansey was also used as a pepper substitute, in making liqueur Chartreuse, and sparingly in salads and omelets as flavour additives. In Colonial kitchens, plants were sometimes hung, or scattered on the floor to keep insects away. In Foklore medicine, the decoction of flowers and leaves were supposed to aid fertility when applied to external sex organs. The decoction was also applied to minor sores and skin eruptions. Crushed leaves have also been used as pultices for sprains, contusions, and stomachache. The Catawbas used the aromatic Tansey in steam baths for sore, bruised, and swollen feet, ankles, and lower legs.