Health, Longevity
Habitat: This common English wild plant was formerly cultivated in gardens, but is now rarely seen away from the borders of fields and waysides.
Features ? The tough, slightly ribbed stems reach a height of two or three feet, terminating in the peculiar bunch of yellow, flat, button-like flowers by which the plant may be easily recognised in July and August; the flowers look, indeed, as if all the petals had been pulled off, leaving only the central florets. Leaf stalks grow on alternate sides of the stem, the leaves themselves being six to eight inches long by about four inches broad, deeply cut pinnately. The crushed leaves and flowers give a pronounced aromatic smell, and have a bitter taste.Tansy herb is probably the best of all the media for getting rid of worms in children, and a dose according to age should be given night and morning fasting. The infusion of 1 ounce to 1 pint of boiling water is used.The medicine is also esteemed in some quarters for the treatment of hysteria and certain other of the nervous disorders of women. For this purpose a wineglassful of the infusion should be taken frequently.The old-time herbalists used Tansy as a stimulating tonic for a poor digestive apparatus, but to-day herbal compounds of greater efficacy are prescribed for dyspepsia.TOAD FLAX.Linaria vulgaris. N.O. Scrophulariaceae.Synonym: Butter and Eggs, Flaxweed, Pennywort. The name "Toad Flax" because of a supposed similarity between the mouth of the flower and that of the toad.Habitat: Hedgerows and cornfields.
Features ? Stem one to two feet higli, upright, only slightly branched. Leaves numerous, grass-like, tapering to a point. Stem and leaves are smooth, with a pale bluish hue. Flowers shaped like the snapdragon (antirrhinum), pale yellow, mouth closed by projecting orange-coloured lower lip ; clustered together at top of stem.Part used ? Herb.Action: Hepatic, alterative, astringent, detergent.
To some extent in prescriptions for jaundice, hepatic torpor and skin diseases. Is also sometimes included in pile ointments. The 1 ounce to 1 pint infusion is taken in doses of 2 fl. ounces.FAMILY: Asteraceae (Compositae)
SYNONYMS: Chrysanthemum vulgare, C. tanacetum, buttons, bitter buttons, bachelor’s buttons, scented fern, cheese.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A hardy perennial wayside herb, up to 1 metre high with a smooth stem, dark ferny leaves and small, round, brilliant yellow flowers borne in clusters. The whole plant is strongly scented.
DISTRIBUTION: Native to central Europe; naturalized in North America and now found in most temperate regions of the world. The essential oil is mainly produced in France, Germany, Hungary, Poland and the USA.
OTHER SPECIES: Closely related to the medicinal herb feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), the marigolds and daisy family.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: Traditionally used to flavour eggs and omelettes. It has a long history of medicinal use, especially among gypsies, and is regarded as something of a ‘cure all’. It was used to expel worms, to treat colds and fever, prevent possible miscarriage and ease dyspepsia and cramping pains. Externally, the distilled water was used to keep the complexion pale, and the bruised leaves employed as a remedy for scabies, bruises, sprains and rheumatism. It was also used generally for nervous disorders and to keep flies and vermin away.
The flowers are still current in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia as a specific (used externally) for worms in children.
ACTIONS: Anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, febrifuge, nervine, stimulant, tonic, vermifuge.
EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the whole herb (aerial parts).
CHARACTERISTICS: A yellow, olive or orange liquid (darkening with age) with a warm, sharp spicy herbaceous odour.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Thujone (66–81 per cent), camphor, borneol, among others.
SAFETY DATA: Oral toxin – poisonous due to high thujone content. Abortifacient.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE None. ‘Should not be used in aromatherapy whether internally or externally.’.
OTHER USES: Occasionally used in herbaceous-type perfumes. The oil used to be used in alcoholic drinks – it is no longer used for flavouring.
Health Encyclopedia