marychain13

Wasn’t Tansy seed oil also used for birth control when you dipped a sponge in it and used as a barrier against the cervix during sex?

@marychain13, yes though it wasn’t 100% effective (the sponge blocking the cervix was considered birth control on its own).  If we’re talking middle ages to pre-Enlightenment Europe, a more effective method of birth control was using a sponge or wad of fabric soaked in vinegar which also had the benefit of being easier to get.  There was also the suggestion of lemon which was harder to acquire but was really promoted as working almost as well but being better for ladies, because it made everything smell fancy I assume?.  Some people even suggested the use of salt, which, ow.

Due to its possible toxicity when ingested, tansy was sometimes suggested as an aide for ‘women’s problems’ (ie unwanted pregnancy) but that was/is a terrible idea that either didn’t work or almost caused the death of the woman.  It is really toxic to overdose on, no one try drinking it ever please.  I want to be clear on this, it can cause the sort of intense vomiting that requires medical intervention to prevent internal bleeding, seizures, and damage to the liver and kidneys.  Fantasy literature kind of became obsessed with this alleged ye olde miracle birth control herb and modern women have begun to think they rediscovered something great.  But tansy wasn’t/isn’t a miracle contraceptive and it wasn’t used that often as a form of birth control.  It was actually used more often in small doses as a fertility drug.