Artemisia dracunculus, Tarragon
French Tarragon
Tarkhun 'Little Dragon' (Arabic, Unani)
Xia Ye Qing Hao (TCM)
Tarkhun 'Little Dragon' (Arabic, Unani)
Xia Ye Qing Hao (TCM)
Oeder, G.C., Flora Danica
(1761-1861) |
Kerner, J.S., Abbildungen aller ökonomischen Pflanzen (1786-1798)
|
Botanical name:
Artemisia dracunculus (syn. A. dracunculoides, Dracunculus hortense)
Parts used:
Whole Herb or Root
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Bitter, Pungent (some classed as Cool)
'Cuts, digest, opens Obstructions'
Classification:
Artemisia dracunculus (syn. A. dracunculoides, Dracunculus hortense)
Parts used:
Whole Herb or Root
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Bitter, Pungent (some classed as Cool)
'Cuts, digest, opens Obstructions'
Classification:
Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Cold, Resists Poison:
-Cold, Flu, acute Fever
-'an enemy to the Plague' (Salmon); infectious diseases
-resolves Phlegm in Cough, Asthma
-Snake bite, Dog bite
-proven effect against pathogens associated with food poisoning
2. Promotes Menstruation:
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea
3. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-mild Edema, obstructed urine
-Gravel, Stones
-Gout, Arthritis, Rheumatism
-'arouses desire'
4. Warms Stomach, Promotes Digestion:
-promotes digestion for which reason it is used in French cooking and added to Salads
-indigestion, poor appetite, spasmodic colitis
-'It dulls both taste and smell' (Avicenna); chewed before it masks nauseating and foul-tasting medicines)
-sweetens the breath when chewed
5. Kills Worms:
-Worms
6. Externally:
-root, herb or vinegar of the herb is applied to toothache
-compress of the herb can be applied to pain and swelling.
Dose:
Usually used as a culinary herb.
Infusion: 1–2 teaspoonfuls per cup.
Decoction: a small handful of the fresh herb can be decocted briefly.
Corrective:
Celery (seed?) is regarded as the corrective (Unani)
Substitute:
Artemisia Qing Hao
Comment:
1. Tarragon can be regarded as a milder, culinary version of its stronger cousins, Wormwood, Mugwort and Southernwood. It has a similar nature and a not dissimilar smell and taste.
2. The fresh herb is commonly used in French cooking, a vinegar of the herb commonly being mixed with mustard. It is used in various sauces or infused in oil for use.
Usually used as a culinary herb.
Infusion: 1–2 teaspoonfuls per cup.
Decoction: a small handful of the fresh herb can be decocted briefly.
Corrective:
Celery (seed?) is regarded as the corrective (Unani)
Substitute:
Artemisia Qing Hao
Comment:
1. Tarragon can be regarded as a milder, culinary version of its stronger cousins, Wormwood, Mugwort and Southernwood. It has a similar nature and a not dissimilar smell and taste.
2. The fresh herb is commonly used in French cooking, a vinegar of the herb commonly being mixed with mustard. It is used in various sauces or infused in oil for use.
Main Combinations:
1. To promote digestion and relieve colic and indigestion:
i. Tarragon with Mustard
ii. Tarragon, Cumin, Ginger
2. To promote Urine, Tarragon, Celery seed
3. Cold and Flu, Tarragon with Mint, Thyme
4. To promote Menstruation, Tarragon with Mugwort
5. Worms, Tarragon, Garlic
Major Formulas:
Cautions:
1. French Tarragon contains methylchervicol which is toxic. The plants contains around 0.8% essential oil, of which about 70% is methylchervicol. German and Russian grown specimens don't contain this as a major constituent however.
2. Avoid medicinal doses during Pregnancy.
3. Not used in Yin deficiency
4. Reduces Libido with excess use (Avicenna)
Main Preparations used:
1. French Tarragon contains methylchervicol which is toxic. The plants contains around 0.8% essential oil, of which about 70% is methylchervicol. German and Russian grown specimens don't contain this as a major constituent however.
2. Avoid medicinal doses during Pregnancy.
3. Not used in Yin deficiency
4. Reduces Libido with excess use (Avicenna)
Main Preparations used: