Tansy

Tansy

by Wanderer MoonChild

🌱 Botanical Basics

1. Common Name(s): Tansy
2. Folk Name(s): Bitter Buttons, Ginger Plant, Golden Buttons, Mugwort (confused with), Parsley Fern, Buttons, Bitterwort
3. Scientific/Latin Name: Tanacetum vulgare
4. Family: Asteraceae (Daisy family)
5. Plant Type: Hardy perennial herb
6. Botanical Description: Upright clumping herb 2–4 feet tall with feathery, fern-like, aromatic leaves; flat-topped clusters of small, button-like yellow flowers with no petals; strong, bitter scent.
7. Growing Zones/Climate: USDA zones 4–8; hardy in temperate climates.
8. Best Zones for Growth: Thrives in cooler, northern temperate zones.
9. Habitat & Range: Native to Europe and Asia; naturalized in North America. Found along roadsides, meadows, and riverbanks.

🌿 Cultivation & Harvest

1. Soil & Sun Requirements: Prefers well-drained, sandy or loamy soil; thrives in full sun but tolerates partial shade.
2. Propagation: By division of root clumps in spring or autumn; also by seed but spreads aggressively and can become invasive.
3. Companion Planting: Repels pests such as ants, flies, moths, and beetles; often planted near roses, fruit trees, and vegetable gardens as a natural insect deterrent.
4. Harvesting Guidelines:
   
5. Leaves & Flowers – Harvest midsummer to early autumn when flowers are vibrant.
6. Cut aerial parts before seed heads form.
   
7. Drying/Preservation: Hang in bunches or dry flat in a ventilated space. Store in airtight containers away from light.

🌸 Traditional & Historical Use

1. Cultural Significance: Used since ancient Greece and medieval Europe for preserving corpses, flavoring food, and as a strewing herb to ward off pests. Associated with Easter feasting in Britain and with funeral rites.
2. Traditional Medicine: Used historically as an anti-parasitic (notably against intestinal worms), digestive bitter, and menstrual stimulant.
3. Symbolism: Immortality (for its preservative use), protection, endurance.

🌼 Medicinal & Practical Properties

1. Active Constituents: Thujone (toxic in high amounts), camphor, borneol, tannins, flavonoids, volatile oils.
2. Medicinal Uses (historical/traditional):
   
3. Vermifuge (worm expelling)
4. Digestive aid and bitter tonic
5. Menstrual regulation (emmenagogue)
6. Externally for bruises, sprains, scabies, lice
   
7. Preparation Methods:
   
8. Infusions and tinctures (low doses, historically used)
9. Poultices or compresses externally
10. Essential oil (extremely potent; external use only and diluted)
    
11. Dosage & Guidelines:
    
12. Internal use is strongly cautioned—modern herbalists rarely recommend due to toxicity of thujone. Historically, very small amounts (few drops tincture or teaspoon of dried herb) were used.
    
13. Safety/Precautions:
    
14. Toxic if taken in excess—may cause convulsions, liver damage, and even death.
15. Avoid in pregnancy, lactation, or with seizure disorders.
16. Not for regular internal use in modern herbal practice.

🌙 Magical & Spiritual Properties

1. Elemental Association: Venus/Water (sometimes linked to Mars for protective energy)
2. Planetary/Deity Correspondence: Venus, Hecate, associated with spirits of the dead due to funerary use.
3. Magical Correspondences: Protection, longevity, spirit communication, warding off illness and evil.
4. Ritual Use: Burned as incense for purification; carried in sachets for protection; used in funerary rites and ancestor work.
5. Symbolism in Divination/Dreams: May represent resilience, endurance, or warnings of excess/toxicity.

🌍 Ecological & Culinary Uses

1. Pollinator Value: Flowers attract bees, hoverflies, and beneficial insects.
2. Wildlife Uses: Bitter oils deter most grazing animals, though insects may use as host plant.
3. Culinary Uses: Historically used to flavor puddings, cakes, and omelets (Easter traditions), but no longer recommended due to toxicity.
4. Household/Practical Uses:
   
5. Used as a strewing herb to deter insects in households.
6. Placed in coffins for preservation.
7. Infused in vinegar for cleaning or pest control.

⚡ Fast Facts

1. Quick Uses: Protection herb, insect repellent, ancestor ritual herb.
2. Notable Traits: Strongly aromatic, insect-repelling, preservative qualities.
3. Special Notes: Once highly valued in Europe but now considered invasive in parts of North America. Internal medicinal use is discouraged today.

📖 Supporting Notes

1. Grieve, M. A Modern Herbal.
2. Chevallier, Andrew. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine.
3. Foster, Steven & Duke, James. Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants.

Dandelion

Dandelion

by Wanderer MoonChild

🌱 Botanical Basics

1. Common Name(s): Dandelion
2. Folk Name(s): Lion’s Tooth, Blowball, Priest’s Crown, Puffball, Swine’s Snout, Piss-a-bed (from its diuretic action), Fairy Clock
3. Scientific/Latin Name: Taraxacum officinale
4. Family: Asteraceae (Daisy family)
5. Plant Type: Perennial herbaceous plant
6. Botanical Description: Distinctive basal rosette of deeply toothed leaves; hollow stems with milky latex; bright yellow composite flowers; spherical seed heads (“clocks”) dispersing by wind. Taproot is thick, deep, and sturdy.
7. Growing Zones/Climate: Hardy in USDA zones 3–9; tolerates wide range of conditions.
8. Best Zones for Growth: Temperate regions worldwide.
9. Habitat & Range: Native to Europe and Asia; now naturalized and common across North America, South America, Africa, Australia, and beyond. Found in fields, lawns, roadsides, disturbed soils.

🌿 Cultivation & Harvest

1. Soil & Sun Requirements: Prefers well-drained soil, neutral to slightly alkaline; full sun for best flowering, though tolerates partial shade.
2. Propagation: By seed (wind-dispersed); also spreads by taproot. Self-seeds easily.
3. Companion Planting: Beneficial “dynamic accumulator,” drawing up nutrients (especially calcium, iron, potassium) from deep soil. Good near fruit trees and vegetables needing mineral support.
4. Harvesting Guidelines:
   
5. Leaves – Best in early spring before flowering (less bitter).
6. Roots – Harvest in autumn (highest concentration of inulin) or early spring.
7. Flowers – Gather fresh for wine, fritters, or infused oils.
   
8. Drying/Preservation: Air-dry leaves and roots in well-ventilated space; roots may be roasted for tea/coffee substitute. Flowers best used fresh or infused in oil.

🌸 Traditional & Historical Use

1. Cultural Significance: Used across Europe, Asia, and Native American traditions for medicine, food, and ritual. A symbol of resilience, survival, and hope.
2. Traditional Medicine: Ancient Greeks, Chinese, and Indigenous healers used dandelion for digestion, liver support, urinary health, and blood purification.
3. Symbolism: Persistence, transformation, wishes, and childlike joy (blowing seed heads).

🌼 Medicinal & Practical Properties

1. Active Constituents: Bitter glycosides (taraxacin), inulin, sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, triterpenes, phenolic acids, potassium, vitamins A, C, K, minerals (iron, calcium, magnesium).
2. Medicinal Uses:
   
3. Diuretic (supports urinary tract and kidneys)
4. Digestive stimulant (bitter tonic)
5. Liver cleanser (supports bile flow)
6. Mild anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
7. Root for blood sugar support and gut health
   
8. Preparation Methods:
   
9. Teas & infusions (leaf or root)
10. Tinctures (alcohol or glycerin)
11. Decoctions (root)
12. Poultices/Compresses (fresh leaves for skin)
13. Roasted roots (coffee substitute)
    
14. Dosage & Guidelines:
    
15. Tea: 1–2 tsp dried root/leaf per cup, 2–3x daily
16. Tincture: 30–40 drops, 2–3x daily (standard adult)
    
17. Safety/Precautions:
    
18. Generally safe, but avoid if allergic to Asteraceae family.
19. Use caution with diuretics, lithium, or blood-sugar–lowering medications.
    

🌙 Magical & Spiritual Properties

1. Elemental Association: Air (seeds on the wind) & Earth (deep roots)
2. Planetary/Deity Correspondence: Jupiter (expansion, abundance); linked to solar deities and Hecate (herbal healing).
3. Magical Correspondences: Divination, wishes, spirit communication, perseverance, prosperity.
4. Ritual Use: Blowing seeds to carry wishes to the spirits; flowers in solar workings; roots in grounding talismans.
5. Symbolism in Divination/Dreams: Seeing dandelion in dreams may signal resilience, hope, or the need to let go and trust the universe.

🌍 Ecological & Culinary Uses

1. Pollinator Value: Early nectar and pollen source for bees, butterflies, and beetles.
2. Wildlife Uses: Leaves browsed by rabbits and deer; seeds eaten by birds.
3. Culinary Uses:
   
4. Young leaves in salads or cooked as greens.
5. Roots roasted for coffee substitute.
6. Flowers for wine, fritters, or syrups.
   
7. Household/Practical Uses: Root dye (reddish-brown); latex once explored as natural rubber source.

⚡ Fast Facts

1. Quick Uses: Diuretic, digestive aid, detox tonic, edible wild food.
2. Notable Traits: One of the most resilient plants; survives mowing, drought, and disturbed soils.
3. Special Notes: Considered a “weed” yet is among the most useful plants for food, medicine, and spirit.

📖 Supporting Notes

1. Herbal references:
   
2. Ody, Penelope. The Complete Medicinal Herbal.
3. Chevallier, Andrew. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine.
4. Grieve, M. A Modern Herbal.
5. 
   
6. Research studies on dandelion’s medicinal effects (e.g., anticancer and liver support):
   
7. Google Scholar – Dandelion Research

🌼 Dandelion Root & Cancer: Ancient Remedy Meets Modern Science

Most of us know dandelions as stubborn weeds that pop up in gardens and sidewalks. But beyond their bright yellow flowers, dandelions have a long history of use in traditional medicine—for digestion, detox, and general wellness. Now, modern research is taking a closer look at this humble plant, and the findings are surprising.

In a 2016 study published in Oncotarget, researchers investigated how dandelion root extract affects colorectal cancer cells. The results were promising.

🔬 What the Study Found

Scientists treated colorectal cancer cells with aqueous dandelion root extract (a water-based preparation, similar to a strong tea).

✨ The results showed:

1. Cancer cells self-destructed through a process called apoptosis (programmed cell death).
2. The extract also triggered autophagy—a process where cells break down and recycle their own components.
3. Healthy colon cells were not harmed, showing selectivity.

When tested in mice with colorectal cancer, the extract also slowed tumor growth without noticeable toxicity.

🌱 Why This Matters

Current cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, can be effective but often damage healthy cells along with cancerous ones, leading to difficult side effects. A therapy that can target cancer cells while sparing healthy ones is an important goal in cancer research.

While these results are encouraging, it’s important to note: this research is still in the early stages. The study was done on cells in the lab and in mice—not yet in human clinical trials. That means we don’t know how effective or safe dandelion root extract would be as a treatment in people.

🌼 A Note of Care

Dandelion has been used safely in many traditional remedies, and research like this highlights its potential for future therapies. But it’s not a proven cancer treatment at this time. Anyone facing cancer should always rely on guidance from their healthcare team.

📖 References

1. Ovadje, P., Ammar, S., Guerrero, J. A., Arnason, J. T., & Pandey, S. (2016). Dandelion root extract affects colorectal cancer proliferation and survival through the activation of multiple death signalling pathways. Oncotarget, 7(45), 73080.
   
2. 👉 Read on Google Scholar
3. Ovadje, P., Roma, A., Steckle, M., & Pandey, S. (2012). Dandelion root extract induces apoptosis in human leukemia cells without toxicity to healthy cells. PLoS One, 7(2), e30604.
   
4. 👉 Read on PubMed
5. Sigstedt, S. C., Hooten, C. J., Callewaert, M. C., Jenkins, A. R., Romero, A. E., Pullin, M. J., … & Walter, T. H. (2008). Evaluation of aqueous extracts of Taraxacum officinale on growth and invasion of breast and prostate cancer cells. International Journal of Oncology, 32(5), 1085–1090.
   
6. 👉 Read on PubMed
7. Chatterjee, S. J., Ovadje, P., Mousa, M., Hamm, C., & Pandey, S. (2011). The efficacy of dandelion root extract in inducing apoptosis in drug-resistant human melanoma cells. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011, 129045.
   
8. 👉 Read on PubMed

WorkCited:

https://classes.witchschool.com/classes/BSCH102/L1/p01.asp

https://www.homeopathycenter.org/remedy/taraxacum

https://joybileefarm.com/harvesting-dandelion-root-tea/

Photo by Ela Haney from Pexels