Tarragon Leaves 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Tarragon Leaves – 100 g ($22.99), 50 g ($13.99), 25 g ($8.99)

Benefits:
Nutrients  Tarragon is low in calories and carbs and contains nutrients that may be beneficial for your health.

Just one tablespoon (1.8 grams) of dried tarragon leaves provides (2, 3):

• Calories: 5
• Carbs: 1 gram
• Manganese: 6% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Iron: 3% of the DV
• Potassium: 1% of the DV

Manganese is an essential nutrient that plays a role in brain health, growth, metabolism and the reduction of oxidative stress in your body (4, 5, 6, 7).

Iron is key to cell function and blood production. An iron deficiency may lead to anemia and result in fatigue and weakness (8, 9, 10).

Potassium is a mineral that’s crucial for proper heart, muscle and nerve function. What’s more, research has found that it can lower blood pressure (11).

Though the amounts of these nutrients in tarragon aren’t considerable, the herb may still benefit your overall health.

One tablespoon (1.8 g) of dried tarragon leaf provides a wide range of important nutrients needed to maintain good health. These include the following vitamins and minerals, measured in mg and micrograms (µg):

Nutrient	Amount
calcium	20.5 mg
iron	0.581 mg
magnesium	6.25 mg
phosphorus	5.63 mg
potassium	54.4 mg
vitamin C	0.9 mg
riboflavin (vitamin B2)	0.024 mg
niacin (vitamin B3)	0.161 mg
folate	4.93 µg
vitamin A	3.78 µg
vitamin B6	0.043 mg

Blood Sugar, Insulin Sensitivity  Insulin is a hormone that helps bring glucose to your cells so you can use it for energy. Factors like diet and inflammation can lead to insulin resistance, resulting in elevated glucose levels (12).

Tarragon has been found to help improve insulin sensitivity and the way your body uses glucose.

An extract of Russian tarragon was found to prevent insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction, and fat accumulation the muscles and livers of mice (13). Moreover, a 90-day, randomized, double-blind study looked at the effect of tarragon on insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion and glycemic control in 24 people with impaired glucose tolerance. Those who received 1,000 mg of tarragon before breakfast and dinner experienced an ample decrease in total insulin secretion, which can help keep blood sugar levels balanced throughout the day (14).

A randomized, controlled trial published in the Journal of Medicinal Food recruited 24 people with impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes). The researchers gave half of the participants 1,000 milligrams (mg) of tarragon before breakfast and dinner for 90 days and the other half a placebo. Before and after the intervention, the researchers gave all participants 75 grams (g) of dextrose and tested their glucose and insulin levels every 30 minutes for 2 hours. They also tested their A1C (average blood glucose level for the past few months) and lipid profile (balance of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood).

The results showed that people in the tarragon group had significantly reduced:

• systolic blood pressure (the force of the blood as it leaves the heart to travel around the body)
• A1C
• insulin

Conversely, their high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), also known as “good cholesterol,” significantly increased.

Sleep  Insufficient sleep has been linked to poor health outcomes and can increase your risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Changes in work schedules, high levels of stress or busy lifestyles may contribute to poor sleep quality (15, 16). Sleeping pills or hypnotics are often used as sleep aids but may lead to complications, including depression or substance abuse (17, 18).

The Artemisia group of plants, which includes tarragon, has been used as a remedy for various health conditions, including poor sleep. In one study in mice, Artemisia plants appeared to provide a sedative effect and help regulate sleep patterns (19). Due to the small size of this study, more research is needed on the use of tarragon for sleep — particularly in humans.

Appetite  Loss of appetite can occur for various reasons, such as age, depression or chemotherapy. If left untreated, it can lead to malnutrition and a decreased quality of life (20, 21). An imbalance in the hormones ghrelin and leptin may also cause a decrease in appetite. These hormones are important for energy balance.

Ghrelin is considered a hunger hormone, while leptin is referred to as a satiety hormone. When ghrelin levels rise, it induces hunger. Conversely, rising leptin levels cause a feeling of fullness (22). One study in mice examined the role of tarragon extract in stimulating appetite. Results showed a decrease in insulin and leptin secretion and an increase in body weight. These findings suggest that tarragon may help increase feelings of hunger. However, results were only found in combination with a high-fat diet. Additional research in humans is needed to confirm these effects (23).

Pain  In traditional folk medicine, tarragon has been used to treat pain for a long time (24). Studies in mice also found Artemisia plants to be beneficial in the treatment of pain and proposed that it may be used as an alternative to traditional pain management (24, 25).

Antibacterial   There is an increasing demand for food companies to use natural additives rather than synthetic chemicals to help preserve food. Plant essential oils are one popular alternative (26). Additives are added to food to help add texture, prevent separation, preserve food and inhibit bacteria that cause foodborne illness, such as E. coli.

An older study looked at the effects of tarragon essential oil on Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli — two bacteria that cause foodborne illness. For this research, Iranian white cheese was treated with 15 and 1,500 µg/mL of tarragon essential oil. Results showed that all the samples treated with tarragon essential oil had an antibacterial impact on the two bacterial strains, compared to the placebo. Researchers concluded that tarragon may be an effective preservative in food, such as cheese (27). Tarragon has been claimed to provide other health benefits that have not yet been extensively researched.

Heart Health  Tarragon is often used in the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet. The health benefits of this diet are not only related to the food but also the herbs and spices that are used (28, 29).

Pain, Inflammation  A 2015 study on mice examined the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties of tarragon. The researchers found significant benefits, and the results suggested that opioid receptors could be involved in the pain-relieving effect of the herb. However, research on mice does not mean these effects would be the same in humans. Cytokines are proteins that can play a role in inflammation. One study in mice found a significant decrease in cytokines after tarragon extract consumption for 21 days (30, 31).

Depression  A 2018 study on mice examined tarragon’s potential for increasing mental resilience. The researchers gave tarragon extract to the mice before leaving them in a cage with an aggressive individual for 10 minutes. They found that after the tarragon treatment, the mice were less susceptible to depression caused by social stress. The mice also showed reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines associated with stress. As mentioned previously, researchers cannot apply the results of an animal study to humans. They have not replicated the results in human trials.

Fungal Infection  A 2017 study showed that tarragon has a strong anti-fungal effect. It showed that fungi did not grow within a 14.7-millimeter (mm) circular area surrounding the tarragon extract. Additionally, the researchers found that the tarragon was more effective against fungi such as Candida albicans than bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. However, experts do not fully understand tarragon’s anti-fungal properties and the types of fungi it works against.

Immune  In another 2017 study on mice, researchers tested the potential immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of a tarragon extract produced using a water extraction method. After receiving tarragon extract for 21 days, the mice showed significantly decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. They also had increased macrophage activity. Macrophages are cells that are important for immunity and tissue growth.

Cancer  Additionally, a 2017 study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food examined the effect of tarragon leaf extract on the reproduction of cancer cells in the lymphatic system of mice. The mice in the control group had a higher tumor cell count than those in the tarragon group. However, researchers have not replicated these results in humans, and a single study on mice does not prove that tarragon fights cancer cells.

Skin  According to a 2020 study, herbal preparations using tarragon may help to treat skin wounds, irritations, allergic rashes, and dermatitis. Tarragon contains various essential oils, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and other natural plant chemicals.

Botanical Name: Artemisia dracunculus
English:Tarragon
Also, known as: Dragon, Tarkhun, Esdragon, Estragon, Little Dragon, Herbe Au Dragon, Tarkhun, Taros, Ngaai Hou, Luhng Ngaai, Yan Chahn Hou, Ai Hao, Long Ai, Yin Chen Hao Long Hao, Esdragon, Drakebloed, Klapperkruid, Slangekruid, Drakunkulo, Tarkhun, Rakuuna, Herbe Dragonne, Estrangon, Drakos, Drakontio, Tarankon, Tárkony, Tarkonyurom, Dragan, Esutoragon, Ishgen Sharilzh, Estragon Sharilzh, Bylica Estragon, Estragao, Estragao-Frances, Tarhon, Tarcan, Estragon, Polyn Estragonnaya, Pelin Tarkanj, Tarkanj, Terragan, Tarragona, Tarragon, Ostrohin, and Polyn Estrahon
Origin: Southeastern Europe and central Asia
Harvested: Cultivated
Parts Used: Leaves

General Information:
Artemisia dracunculus, is a perennial herb in the family of Asteraceae and the only sub-species cultivated for use of the leaves as an aromatic culinary herb. Plants in this genus are frequently called Wormwood, but this species is usually known as Tarragon. Tarragon grows to 25-40-inch-tall, with slender branched stems. The leaves are lanceolate, 1-3-inch-long and 0.2-1 cm broad, glossy green, with an entire margin Basal leaves are cleft with 1 to 3 lobes. The inflorescence is a panicle with numerous flowers. Outer florets are pistillate and fertile, central flowers are sterile, and ovaries are abortive. The flowers are produced in small capitulae 2 to 4 mm diameter, each capitulum containing up to 40 yellow or greenish-yellow florets. The seeds are achenes. Seed size is approximately 1-2 mm in length. Plant aroma can vary from none to a very pleasant and even strong Tarragon scent. Tarragon or estragon is one of the most sought-after herbs amongst gourmet chefs because of its delicate anise flavor, reminiscent of liquorice. It has a long history of medicinal uses, but the species is not often used for culinary purposes.

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How Much To Use
It is common that 10g of a fresh herb = 1g when dehydrated.
Recommended daily amount: 1 -2 tsp of tarragon leaves (2-4 g)/use, up to 3 times/day. This can be added to food or drink.