Tag: Poisonous herbs

Historically, common tansy was used in small amounts as a flavoring agent and for medicinal purposes. Despite this history, eating common tansy is highly dangerous and toxic to humans due to the presence of thujone, a poisonous chemical.

Over 70% of gardeners grow basil, but many wonder about its safety beyond the flavorful leaves. The good news is that for most common varieties, no part of basil is poisonous when consumed in standard culinary amounts. However, specific chemicals like estragole in concentrated forms, certain life stages, or large medicinal doses can raise important safety concerns.