Masterwort vs Tansy

Side-by-side comparison of medicinal herbs

Herb

Masterwort

Peucedanum ostruthium

Digestive

Tanacetum vulgare

Digestive

Masterwort

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Tansy

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Description

Alpine European herb used since medieval times as a tonic, diaphoretic, and digestive bitter. Was known as Imperial Herb and considered a cure-all.

A strongly aromatic European herb historically used as a vermifuge and insect repellent, now used with caution.

Active Compounds

imperatorin, ostruthin, ostruthol, furanocoumarins

Thujone, Camphor, Parthenolide, Tanacetin

Traditional Uses

General tonic in medieval European medicine, Digestive bitter, Fever and infection treatment, Traditional Alpine medicine

Intestinal worms, Insect repellent, Menstrual regulation, Digestive bitter

Modern Uses

Digestive bitter, Diaphoretic, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial

Anthelmintic, Insect repellent, Anti-inflammatory, Emmenagogue

Adult Dosage

1-3g dried root tea or 2ml tincture daily

LOW DOSE ONLY: 0.5-1g dried herb as tea; short-term use

Contraindications

Phototoxicity, Pregnancy, Anticoagulants (coumarins)

Pregnancy, Epilepsy, Liver disease, Children

Side Effects

Phototoxic skin burns, GI upset, Blood thinning

Thujone toxicity (seizures), Hepatotoxicity, Abortifacient, Death (large doses)

Drug Interactions

0 known interactions

Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals

Sources: WHO Monographs · NCCIH · PubMed · Commission E