Tarragon
Other Names: Armoise Âcre, Artemisia dracunculus, Artemisia glauca, Dragonne, Estragon, Estragón, Herbe Dragon, Herbe au Dragon, Little Dragon, Mugwort, Petit Dragon
Tarragon is an herb. Some people call it “mugwort.” Be careful not to confuse tarragon with mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). The parts of the tarragon plant that grow above the ground are used to make medicine.
Special Precautions of Tarragon
- Tarragon is safe in food amount and seems to be safe when used short-term as a medicine. Long-term use of tarragon might cause cancer, because it contains a chemical called estragole.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It’s UNSAFE to use tarragon in medicinal amounts if you are pregnant. It might start your period and endanger the pregnancy.
- Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Tarragon may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking tarragon.
- Be careful not to confuse tarragon with mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris).
Benefits and uses of Tarragon are
There are different kinds of the tarragon herb, but the most notable are the Russian and French ones. The French variety happens to be one of the most important herbs used in French cuisine thanks to the exquisite flavor and scent it brings to various dishes. It is also an excellent source of various vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, B and C, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc. Based on a report published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Turkish tarragon apparently has superior antioxidant properties. Some studies have noticed that its oil works effectively to help contain or reduce any damages that free radicals do cause, such as increasing the pace of aging.
- Tarragon is used to treat digestion problems, poor appetite, water retention, and toothache; to start menstruation; and to promote sleep.
- Antibacterial : A study published by the Iranian Journal of Microbiology shows that tarragon may very well possess quite potent antibacterial properties. Tests were done essentially using white cheese to determine the kind of effects tarragon had on strains of the E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. The results clearly showed that tarragon was capable of reducing the bacterial count found in cheese.
- Appetizer and Digestive : Back in 2010, as reported by the Diabetes publication, some studies performed on laboratory mice concluded that tarragon was reliable for helping increase appetite. This is believed to be quite valuable for the elderly or ill people struggling to find the will to eat. Tarragon has long been known as a tonic for the liver because it helps with bile, but now the Alternative Medicine journal reports that tarragon works remarkably well to help alleviate upset stomachs caused by stress. It may in fact also play a substantial role in treating irritable bowels and even dyspepsia.
- Toothache : The recognition of its ability to get rid of toothaches goes as far back as ancient Greece. It is tarragon's high concentration of eugenol that's mostly responsible for its pain-relieving effect. Some also say that it will minimize sore gums which may go along with any possible toothache.
- Hiccups : If you want to get rid of hiccups, you may want to follow Dr. Jean Valnet's recommendation which consists of either chewing tarragon leaves or taking three to four drops of its essential oil on a lump of sugar as soon as the problem occurs.
- Bodybuilders may be happy to hear that research shows how tarragon, more specifically the Russian kind, helps enhance creatine absorption. This could be a way to replace using big quantities of carbohydrates in order to obtain similar results.
- In foods and beverages, tarragon is used as a culinary herb.
- In manufacturing, tarragon is used as a fragrance in soaps and cosmetics.
