Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) Dried Leaf and Flowering Top Liquid Extract — External Use Only

Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) Dried Leaf and Flowering Top Liquid Extract — External Use Only

For external use only. Not for internal use. Apply it to the skin only — do not swallow.

A liquid extract of dried Tanacetum vulgare leaf and flowering tops, for use on the skin.

What you get

• One botanical, named to species. Only Tanacetum vulgare — not to be confused with feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium, which we list separately.
• Leaf and flowering top together, cut at flowering when the aromatic fraction is at its strongest.
• Cold maceration, never heated. The material steeps at room temperature rather than being boiled or spray-dried.
• A traditional strewing and repellent herb. Tansy has been used around doorways, linen and stored goods in northern Europe for centuries.
• Made in the USA in an FDA-registered facility.
• Sizes from 2 fl oz to 2 gallons, including multi-packs — the same extract whether you are testing a formula or running a batch.

About the plant

Tansy is a stiff, upright perennial of the daisy family (Asteraceae), native across temperate Eurasia and long naturalised in North America, where it escaped from colonial dooryard gardens and took to roadsides. It grows to about a metre, with deeply cut, fern-like leaves and flat-topped corymbs of yellow flowerheads that have no ray petals at all — just tight golden discs, which is why country names for it include bitter buttons and golden buttons. Crushed foliage gives off a sharp camphoraceous scent from its thujone-rich volatile oil, and it is that scent, not any gentleness, that earned tansy its place strewn across medieval floors and packed among stored linen.

Suggested use

Shake well before use. Apply a small amount directly to clean, intact skin with a fingertip or a cotton pad. You can also add it to a cream or oil of your own — shake before each use, as the extract does not dissolve in oil. Patch-test on a small area first and wait 24 hours before wider use.

Warnings

For external use only. Do not take internally. Tansy contains thujone, which is neurotoxic when swallowed and can trigger seizures; poisonings and deaths from internal use of tansy are on record. Do not use during pregnancy in any form, including on the skin — tansy is a documented abortifacient. People allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds or other Asteraceae may react to it. Patch-test first.

Keep out of reach of children. Do not use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, including on the skin. Not for use on broken skin, open wounds or damaged skin. Discontinue use if irritation, redness or a rash develops. Do not use if the tamper seal is broken or missing. Store tightly capped in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Actual packaging may carry different or additional information; always read the label before use.