Magickal uses include health, invisibility, immortality, longevity; keeps evil out of the home.
The name Tansy is probably derived from the Greek Athanaton (immortal), says Dodoens, because it lasts so long in flower or, as Ambrosius thought, because it is capital for preserving dead bodies from corruption. It was said to have been given to Ganymede to make him immortal.
Tansy was one of the Strewing Herbs mentioned by Tusser in 1577, and was one of the native plants dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Parkinson grew Tansy amongst other aromatic and culinary herbs in his garden.
It is connected with some interesting old customs observed at Easter time, when even archbishops and bishops played handball with men of their congregation, and a Tansy cake was the reward of the victors. These Tansy cakes were made from the young leaves of the plant, mixed with eggs, and were thought to purify the humours of the body after the limited fare of Lent. In time, this custom obtained a kind of symbolism, and Tansies, as these cakes were called, came to be eaten on Easter Day as a remembrance of the bitter herbs eaten by the Jews at the Passover. Coles (1656) says the origin of eating it in the spring is because Tansy is very wholesome after the salt fish consumed during Lent, and counteracts the ill-effects which the 'moist and cold constitution of winter has made on people . . . though many understand it not, and some simple people take it for a matter of superstition to do so.'
'This balsamic plant,' says Boerhaave (the Danish physician), 'will supply the place of nutmegs and cinnamon,' and the young leaves, shredded, serve as a flavouring for puddings and omelets. Gerard tells us that Tansy Teas were highly esteemed in Lent as well as Tansy puddings.
All of our herbs are sold in dried form, are of the highest grade available, non irradiated and GMO free, are Wild Harvested and none of our products have been tested on animals.
All our Dried herbs are available in quantities from 25g up to 1kg and are packed in a food grade polythene grip seal bag.
Please Note. Unfortunately due to new FDA & Customs regulations we cannot export these herbs outside of Europe. If you try to add items from this page to your order you will not be allowed to proceed through checkout until they have been deleted from your basket.
