Latin Name: Artemisia dracunculus
Plant Family: Asteraceae
Extraction: Distillation of the leaves
Tarragon is distilled from the leaves and produces oil that has a sweet, spicy-green scent. Tarragon is invigorating and may help maintain a healthy digestive system.
It's a perennial herb with smooth narrow leaves, an erect stem up to 1.2 meters tall, and small yellow-green, inconspicuous flowers. Native to Europe, southern Russia and western Asia. Now cultivated worldwide, especially in Europe and the USA. The oil is mainly produced in France, Holland, Hungary and the USA.
The name is thought to derive from an ancient use as an antidote to the bites of venomous creatures and rabid dogs - the word dracunculus actually means “Little Dragon” and tarragon literally means that.
Find out more in Penny's Blog - Unusual Essential Oils - Tarragon
Pure Essential Oil - Available in 10ml, 25ml, 50ml & 100ml.
Tarragon tea was given to patients during the plague to purify and disinfect them from the inside out. It was also used to treat bites and stings from wild animals. Armenians used the herb to treat ulcers, while Europeans used it to stimulate appetite and improve digestion. In addition, the Chinese used tarragon as a traditional medicine for a range of problems due to its antiviral and antispasmodic properties, the ancient Greeks used tarragon to treat toothaches and Prehistoric Iranian healers used it to increase appetite levels and as an anticonvulsant.
Tarragon was favoured by the maharajahs of India who took it as a tisane, and in Persia it was used to induce appetite. Today, the leaf is commonly used as a domestic herb, especially with chicken or fish, and to make tarragon vinegar.
Tarragon essential oil is a Top Note and blends labdanum, galbanum, lavender, oakmoss, vanilla, pine and basil, and can add a special ‘something’ to an ordinary blend.
Estragon (estragole or methyl chavicol can be an irritant so please use Tarragon essential oil in moderation only. Used in normal aromatherapy dilutions it is non-irritant and non-sensitising. However please avoid it during pregnancy.
