Botanical atlas

Tansy Ragwort

Senecio jacobaea

Long before its toxicity was well understood, ragwort found its way into old English and Scottish herbals. Culpeper and other early herbalists described poultices of the bruised leaves applied to sores, burns, and gouty joints, and a gargle made from the plant for sore throats and mouth ulcers. Farmers and shepherds knew it differently, as a plant to pull from the hay field, since it was already suspected of sickening grazing animals. Its old names tell that same double story: St. James's Wort for its midsummer bloom near a saint's feast day, and Stinking Willie, a name folk tradition ties to the crushed, bitter smell of its foliage. Modern science has since confirmed what generations of farmers guessed at, and ragwort has been retired from any responsible herbal use.

Safety.

Tansy ragwort is toxic and should never be eaten, brewed as tea, or used in any home remedy. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that cause cumulative, often irreversible liver damage, and there is no safe ingested dose. This danger does not fade when the plant is dried, which makes contaminated hay or forage a well-documented cause of poisoning in horses, cattle, and other grazing animals. Handling the fresh plant can also irritate the skin of sensitive individuals, so gloves are recommended when pulling it for weed control. It is classified as a noxious or invasive weed in many parts of Europe, North America, and Australasia, and its removal from pastures and hay fields is often required by local regulation. If you suspect a person or animal has ingested this plant, contact poison control, a physician, or a veterinarian right away rather than attempting any home treatment.