Two Blues

Blue Tansy and German Chamomile

Hypertonic. A word that begins as breath, haaah. A word that already knows what’s going to happen and is quick to ask for release before the rest of the syllables have a chance to catch up. Alas. This word comes up periodically in aromatherapy literature and quite often in body work literature. As a therapeutic massage student, I’m getting to better understand the holistic nature of this word more. Hypertonic means: Having extreme muscular or arterial tension. And, perhaps more generally, in a state of abnormally high tension. (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition). This piece on two blues, Blue Tansy and German Chamomile, whose natural blue hue immediately calm the lake of my soul, was first intended to be a feminist piece addressing anger, another kind of hypertonic state, as both botanicals support a fabulous ability to calm the nervous system helping one to release tension in the body and mind, but I’m realizing these days my body has had enough of anger and it’s resultant tension. It tells me in various ways. In my muscles that are tired of protecting. The occasional bout of hives. Headaches.

The blue oils, blue because of their azulene content, a constituent known for both its powerful ability to help support healthy levels of inflammation in the body and of course, its denoted blue hue, are often called upon when a cool body of water to float in is simply unavailable and the bathtub feels like a mere thimble to contain you. When long lost hurts resurface on the skin of the heart. When control becomes slippery, eventually impossible to grasp. Blue Tansy, German (Blue) Chamomile, both aromatically reminiscent of apples which we’ll discuss today, also Blue Yarrow and Blue Cypress with their own distinct and unique aromas, seem to provide what the color blue universally provides for the mind via the eye - tranquility and the low hum of deep spiritual grounding.

Several years ago, I offered express Reiki sessions with an aroma of choice to women at an herbal apothecary. Blue Tansy (Tanacetum annuum) was overwhelmingly chosen to facilitate our connection, its fresh apple aroma somehow speaking to the women who chose it. When I reflect on what seemed to be a common denominator of experience, I feel it “took a load off.” The mind, the body, layers of expectation. I noticed their shoulders slide down into a more relaxed position.

[I must add here a note about empirical data and anecdotal evidence. During those Reiki sessions with Blue Tansy (or any essential oil, for that matter), it’s only after the fact that I revisit my textbooks to confirm what was experienced and reported by the client. I shouldn’t be, but I’m always amazed. What’s important, though, is listening. While science pins down, dissects, and proves the wide range of what these plants and their essential oils can can do, women continue to support each other through the ages through listening, observing, remembering, perhaps with, of course, the appropriate plant learned from another woman. This is the foundation of the anecdotal, perhaps the softer side of science. And this, to me, IS feminism.]

As I’ve written in posts past, one essential oil can host numerous benefits across several systems in the body and for the mind. Such is the case for both Blue Tansy and German Chamomile, but for our purposes here, the focus is again on that word hypertonic, that state of high tension, which, if prolonged, may lead to myriad forms of dis-ease in the body and mind.

Blue Tansy (Tanacetum annuum)

Blue Tansy, not to be confused with its close relative Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), shares so many therapeutic actions with German Chamomile (Holmes, 2016):

• Regulating in dysregulated conditions

• Systemic nervous system relaxant

• Gastrointestinal relaxant

• Cerebral sedative

One action that sets Blue Tansy apart from German Chamomile, however, is its strong antihistamine action (German Chamomile also supports this action, but Blue Tansy more so). According to The Cleveland Clinic, “Histamine is a signaling chemical your immune system releases to send messages between different cells. Histamine has several functions, but it’s mainly known for its role in causing allergic and anaphylactic symptoms…Histamine regulates countless bodily functions and plays a key role in your body’s inflammatory response.” (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24854-histamine)

While there are several oils noted for their “antihistamine” action in the body, Blue Tansy being one of them, the overwhelming majority of essential oils help to regulate the nervous system. I’m curious as to why, as Peter Holmes notes in his “specific symptomatology”, some symptoms “worsen with stress”. For example, he lists the following in the specific symptomatology for Blue Tansy (not a complete list): emotional frustration; anger; irritability; sudden fits of rage; oversensitivity; anxiety; insomnia; allergies and sensitivities; shooting nerve pains… “all symptoms worse with stress”. (2016)

I notice when I place a spotlight on my symptoms rather than their stressor. The symptom is “easier” to manage. Why? Because that’s where the work is? That’s where the pain hides? That’s where something’s gotta give, transmute, or release.

Discussing the role of histamines and inflammation, neither of which are inherently bad, is far beyond my education and scope of practice, but I do notice the connection between when I am more focused on that which I feel adamant about keeping at arm’s length, anything material or existential, and how the very thought influences my body into feelings of dis-ease and the occasional “symptom worse with stress”.

What if these symptoms are stories and feelings that just need to be heard? What if we are really itching for change? What if the symptom is the body’s way of saying enough!

*Please note, I’m exploring and asking questions here. I realize we all may have allergic and other responses in the body that are not necessarily tied to our emotional world, etc.

German Chamomile (Matricaria recrutita)

Originally called kamai melon, translated from its Greek to “ground apple” because of its apple-like aroma, German Chamomile is the Middle C on the aromatic scale by which other blue oils are compared for their range, efficacy, and perhaps deeply gentle nature. Simply put, German Chamomile is an easy, generally safe and effective go-to for many stress-related complaints. Again, we are reminded of the “symptoms worse with stress” and German Chamomile’s specific symptomatology list is practically a carbon copy of Blue Tansy’s. German Chamomile is especially noted for its management of relaxing and cooling of the body and mind. Aromatherapist Valerie Ann Worwood notes in Aromatherapy for the Soul, its potential to “encourage communication, relaxation, understanding, organization, empathy, patience, and to calm and soothe”. (1999)

Photo by Robin M. on Unsplash

I spent a day with a wise female herbalist at her country herbal school, weeding, talking, and drinking lots of tea with honey. She shared bits and pieces of her lore and wisdom as the ancient cottonwoods waved their hands above us and a black and white farm cat named Skittles played, visited, and found sunny spots to rest. “Chamomile needs friends to grow,” she said. I think of this every time I work with this herb and fragrance. Her words help me remember I have friends of all kind and nature when I am low, need help, or a honest perspective. When I am with German Chamomile, I notice. I breathe. I soften and I hold the hand of the Divine. It’s from this place where my world comes into focus, my challenges find their rational solutions, my body flows like water, and I am reminded all is well.

All shall be well,

And she persists

and all shall be well,

And she persists

and all manner of thing shall be well…for there is a force of Love moving through the universe that holds us fast and will never let us go. Julian of Norwich (in italics)

Every time a woman shares a flower, a plant, a cup of tea, her wisdom, her presence, her gentle calm, her art, her story, her practice, her laughter, her friendship, this is feminism. This, too, is science.

Peace,

Erin

Aromatic Divina

While Blue Tansy may be hard to find as a botanical, the essential oil is easily found through accessible and reputable essential oil companies. German chamomile can be found at many plant and flower markets, and of course, there is always chamomile tea! If it’s available to you, work with either botanical safely (ensuring you don’t have allergies to either), and if you like, reflect on Julian of Norwich’s words, “all is well…” or a lovely conversation you had with another person that helped you feel at ease. How does this feel in the body?

Of importance

This post is for creative purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, mitigate disease, substitute mental healthcare or legal advice. See your physician or other provider/professional for questions and concerns. These statements have not been submitted to or evaluated by the FDA. Always follow essential oil safety best practices and check each oil’s potential contraindications before use. It is never necessary to purchase the essential oils or fresh botanical plants for the exercise noted within the essay.

Sources

Holmes, P. (2016). Aromatica: A clinical guide to essential oil therapeutics (Vol. 1). Singing Dragon.

professional, C. C. medical. (2025, March 19). Histamine. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24854-histamine

Publishers, H. (n.d.). The American Heritage Dictionary Entry: Hypertonic. American Heritage Dictionary Entry: Hypertonic. https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=Hypertonic&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

Worwood, V. A. (1999). Aromatherapy for the soul. New World Library.