Guide To Blue Tansy Essential Oil and Its Benefits and Uses

Blue tansy essential oil (Tanacetum annuum) has a strong blue color due to naturally occurring chamazulene produced during distillation of the yellow, daisy-like flowers.

Confusingly, this oil is sometimes called or Moroccan tansy or Moroccan blue chamomile — it's not the same oil as Moroccan chamomile (Ormenis multicaulis).
 
Important: Do not confuse blue tansy (Tanacetum annuum) with tansy (Tanacetum vulgare). They are different plants that produce very different oils. Tanacetum vulgare is generally not recommended for home use.

Basic Blue Tansy Facts

Plant family: Asteraceae/Compositae (the daisy family)

Production: Steam distilled from the flowering plant.

Aroma: Slightly sweet, herbaceous.

Perfume/Aromatic note: Middle.

Is blue tansy safe to use during pregnancy? No, according to Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art and The Essential Oils Complete Reference Guide.

Is blue tansy essential oil safe for children? Some sources recommend not using the oil with young children.

Cautions: The oil's strong blue color can potentially stain clothes, porous material, and skin.

Some sources indicate this oil is frequently adulterated. Make sure you buy from a reputable supplier.

There is a theoretical risk of adverse interaction between blue tansy and drugs metabolized by the CYP2D6, CYP1A2, or CYP3A4 enzyme, according to Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition. See the book's Appendix B for a list of drugs, which includes some antidepressants.

Main components:

• chamazulene     17.0–38.3%
• beta-myrcene    2.2–13.8%
• camphor          3.1–12.4%
• sabinene          4.1–8.6%
• beta-eudesmol   3.5–6.7%

Blue Tansy Aromatherapy Benefits

Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art: Use blue tansy for hay fever, asthma, hives, rashes, eczema, and dry skin.

375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols: Blue tansy is indicated for asthma and skin care. Use the oil as a nerve sedative, on couperose skin, and to relieve neuritis and sciatica. Not appropriate for certain women with endocrine imbalance.

The Essential Oils Complete Reference Guide: Blue tansy relieves stress and nervous tension and calms nerves and nervous system. Uses of the oil include muscle aches and pains, sprains and strains, arthritis, rheumatism, and sciatica. The oil also helps relieves the symptoms of asthma and allergies. It's useful for skin conditions, such as itching, rash, irritation, and dermatitis.

The book suggests using the oil in a blend to balance the fifth (throat) chakra:

• 5 drops blue tansy
• 4 drops blue yarrow essential oil
• 10 drops Roman chamomile essential oil
• 15 drops lavender essential oil
• 15 drops frankincense essential oil
• 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) carrier oil

Add all the oils to a small dark bottle. Cap and shake well. Let set at least eight hours before using. To use: Apply a few drops to your throat chakra.

Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Volume I: Psychologically, blue tansy promotes emotional stability, flexibility, and renewal. The oil also calms the mind and promotes relaxation. Physically, this essential oil relaxes and cools hypertonic/tense and excessively vigorous/hot conditions.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine the essential function of blue tansy is to activate the Qi, settle the heart, and calm the Shen. The oil is considered neutral to cool. Its five-element affinity is wood and fire.

Aromatica suggests the following blends:

• For conditions involving pain, spasm, and inflammation: Blue tansy + German chamomile
• To help relieve the congestion of varicose veins: Blue tansy + either atlas cedarwood or patchouli
• For stress-related conditions involving tension, anxiety, or insomnia: Blue tansy + mandarin
• To help relieve all type-1 allergies, including rhinitis, otitis, asthma, dermatitis, and urticaria: Blue tansy + helichrysum

Blue Tansy Essential Oil Uses and Recipes

Add blue tansy essential to a personal aromatherapy inhaler and use it to help encourage the spirit and boost confidence.

To encourage positivity, diffuse a blend of blue tansy, marjoram, and juniper essential oils, according to Young Living. Skin care suggestions:

• For parched skin, add a drop or two of blue tansy to unscented lotion.
• For facial care, add a drop of the essential oil to your night cream.
• Use the oil in a steam facial to open pores and reduce the appearance of blemishes.

Itch Relief

To relieve the itching of skin rashes, dilute blue tansy essential oil in tamanu oil (Calophyllum inophyllum), coconut oil, or jojoba oil.

Source: Lisa Mertz, LMT, PhD. "Tending the Fire Element of Summer." NAHA Aromatherapy Journal, Summer 2013.2, p. 40.

Allergy Symptom Relief

Combine the following essential oils in a small, dark glass dropper bottle.

• 50 drops blue tansy essential oil
  
• 30 drops helichrysum italicum essential oil
• 10 drops blue yarrow essential oil
• 5 drops peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops lemongrass essential oil
• 1-3 drops eucalyptus radiata essential oil

Cap the bottle tightly and shake to blend oils thoroughly. Let the blend set to synergize for at least eight hours before using it. Refrigeration recommended to keep oils fresh.

To use: Place 1-3 drops onto a cotton ball and inhale. You could also make an aromatherapy inhaler. Use as needed to relieve allergy symptoms.

Adapted from KG Stiles. "Using Aromatherapy for Allergies." NAHA Aromatherapy Journal Spring 2017.1, pg. 54.

Muscle and Joint Pain Relief

To one tablespoon carrier oil, add the following essential oils:

• 4 drops blue tansy
• 6 drops cypress
• 2 drops German chamomile
• 1 drop helichrysum italicum
  

Massage into painful areas several times a day.

Adapted from Plant Therapy.

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Photo Credit: Tanacetum annuum by Miguel Port licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0