Overview

Feverfew is a plant that is native to Asia Minor and the Balkans, but is now common throughout the world. Feverfew leaves are normally dried for use in medicine. Fresh leaves and extracts are also used.

People take feverfew by mouth for the prevention and treatment of migraine headaches.

People also take feverfew by mouth for fever, irregular menstrual periods, arthritis, a skin disorder called psoriasis, allergies, asthma, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), dizziness, and nausea and vomiting.

Some people take feverfew by mouth for difficulty getting pregnant or fathering a child (infertility). It is also taken by mouth for "tired blood" (anemia), cancer, common cold, earache, liver disease, prevention of miscarriage, muscular tension, bone disorders, swollen feet, diarrhea, upset stomach, and intestinal gas.

Feverfew is also applied to the skin for itching and to prevent insect bites.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Plant

Primary Functions:

Migraine headache

Also Known As:

Altamisa, Bachelor's Buttons, Chrysanthème Matricaire

How Does It Work?

Feverfew leaves contain many different chemicals, including one called parthenolide. Parthenolide or other chemicals decrease factors in the body that might cause migraine headaches.

Uses

• Migraine headache.Some research using feverfew alone or feverfew combined with other ingredients shows that taking feverfew by mouth can reduce the frequency and duration of migraine headaches and might reduce pain, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and noise when they do occur. Feverfew may be more effective in people with more frequent migraine attacks. But there are also studies that show feverfew doesn't work for migraines. The difference in results may be due to the many different feverfew products that were tested. The Canadian government allows manufacturers of a certain feverfew formulation (containing 90% of more leaf extract) to claim that their product can be used to prevent or treat migraines.

Recommended Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

• For migraine headaches: 50-150 mg of feverfew powder taken once daily for up to 4 months. A dose of 2.08-18.75 mg of a carbon dioxide extract of feverfew (MIG-99, Schaper & Brümmer GmbH & Co) taken three times daily for 3 to 4 months.
  
  The following combination products have been used for 3 months for preventing migraines: a combination of feverfew 300 mg and white willow 300 mg, taken twice daily (Mig-RL, Naturveda-Vitro-Bio Research Institute); a combination of feverfew 100 mg, coenzyme Q10, magnesium, and vitamin B6, taken daily (Antemig, PiLeJe); a combination of feverfew (containing tanacetum parthenium 150 mg), 5-HTP, and magnesium, taken daily (Aurastop, Aesculapius Farmaceutici).
  
  Specific combination products containing feverfew and ginger (GelStat Migraine, GelStat Corporation; LipiGesic M, PuraMed BioScience, Inc.) have been used to treat migraines after a migraine starts for up to 1 month. Two 2-mL doses have been given under the tongue, 5 minutes apart. Each dose has been held under the tongue for 60 seconds before swallowing.

Feverfew Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to take feverfew everyday?

As of now, there's no official recommended dose for feverfew. However, studies find that taking 100–300 mg of a feverfew supplement containing 0.2–0.4% parthenolide between 1–4 times daily may treat migraine headaches.

What are the benefits of feverfew?

Feverfew may reduce painful inflammation due to arthritis. Feverfew may help bring on uterine contractions to reduce the length of labor. It may aid in starting menstrual periods and treating menstrual pain. Feverfew may relieve colitis and soothe insect bites.

What is feverfew used for in medicine?

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L.) (Asteraceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used for the treatment of fevers, migraine headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, stomach aches, toothaches, insect bites, infertility, and problems with menstruation and labor during childbirth.

Is feverfew an anti inflammatory?

Feverfew is believed to have painkilling and anti-inflammatory properties. It's been suggested that it reduces the release of an inflammatory substance, serotonin, from your blood cells and slows down the production of a chemical transmitter in your body called histamine.

Does feverfew cause weight gain?

Other reported side effects include nervousness, dizziness, headache, trouble sleeping, joint stiffness, tiredness, menstrual changes, rash, pounding heart, and weight gain. The safety of feverfew beyond 4 months' use has not been studied. Feverfew is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when fresh leave are chewed.

Can you take feverfew long term?

People who take feverfew for a long time and then stop taking it may have difficulty sleeping, headaches, anxiety, and stiff and painful muscles. Do not take feverfew while pregnant because it may affect uterine contractions. Handling the plant may cause skin irritation.

How long does it take feverfew to work?

Feverfew may ease nausea and vomiting due to migraines. It may take a month or longer for it to work. Feverfew may reduce painful inflammation due to arthritis. Feverfew may help bring on uterine contractions to reduce the length of labor.

Does feverfew make you sleepy?

Feverfew is generally considered safe with few reported side effects. However, studies have only looked into its short-term effects on the body. In some cases, feverfew may cause side effects like stomach aches, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, and menstrual changes.

Does feverfew affect blood pressure?

Some people find that feverfew can cause mouth ulcers and minor skin irritations. There have been no reported effects on heart rate, blood pressure or weight.

What are side effects of feverfew?

Feverfew Side Effects

• heartburn, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting
• gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation
• pounding heartbeats
• headache, dizziness, feeling nervous
• sleep problems (insomnia), tired feeling
• weight gain
• joint stiffness
• rash

Does feverfew interact with medications?

Feverfew has no known severe interactions with other drugs. Feverfew has no known serious interactions with other drugs. Feverfew has moderate interactions with at least 73 different drugs. Feverfew has mild interactions with at least 49 different drugs.

Is feverfew a blood thinner?

Blood-thinning medications: Feverfew may increase the risk of bleeding. Ask your doctor before taking feverfew if you take blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), or aspirin. Medications broken down by the liver: Feverfew can interact with many medications that are broken down by the liver.

How long does it take feverfew to work on migraines?

For migraine headaches: Take 100–300 mg, up to 4 times daily, standardized to contain 0.2–0.4% parthenolides. Feverfew may be used to prevent or to stop a migraine headache. Feverfew supplements may also be CO₂ extracted. For these, take 6.25 mg, 3 times daily, for up to 16 weeks.

Are chamomile and feverfew the same?

Both plants belong to the same Asteraceae family and feverfew is sometimes mistaken for German chamomile due to similar flowers. Feverfew leaves have been traditionally used in the treatment of migraine, with Parthenolide regarded as the primary active ingredient.

How can you tell feverfew?

Feverfew is a distinctive, aromatic perennial with leaves that are often more yellow than green. It grows on walls and waste land, sometimes creating large patches of dense flowers from June through to late September. Feverfew is usually at its best in July.

Is feverfew good for headaches?

Feverfew suggested uses include prevention and control of migraine, allergies, arthritis, fevers, headaches, menstrual irregularities, psoriasis, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), spinning sensation (vertigo), and cancer. Feverfew is demonstrated effective to decrease severity/frequency of migraines.

How do you eat feverfew?

If you don't have the stomach (taste buds) for it, you might try inserting it into a sandwich to mask the flavor. Also, don't eat too many fresh leaves, as they cause blistering of the mouth. Feverfew loses some of its potency when dried.

How big does feverfew get?

Looking like a small bush that grows to about 20 inches high, the feverfew plant is native to central and southern Europe and grows well over most of the United States. It has small, white, daisy-like flowers with bright yellow centers.

Is feverfew a diuretic?

Feverfew has diuretic and laxative actions as well as its anti-migraine and anti-rheumatism actions.

How do you use feverfew for arthritis?

Abstract. Feverfew, reputed by folklore to be effective in arthritis, has in vitro properties that could be beneficial in the control of inflammatory disease. Forty one female patients with symptomatic rheumatoid arthritis received either dried chopped feverfew (70-86 mg) or placebo capsules once daily for six weeks.

Is feverfew an Nsaid?

The flowering herb also contains essential oils (including chrysanthenyl acetate), flavonoids, monoterpenes and polyacetylene compounds. Melatonin has also been detected. Experimental studies have confirmed that feverfew has activity similar to common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin.

Clinical Studies

• ^ a b Maizels M, Blumenfeld A, Burchette R. A combination of riboflavin, magnesium, and feverfew for migraine prophylaxis: a randomized trial. Headache. (2004)
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• ^ a b c d e Shrivastava R, Pechadre JC, John GW. Tanacetum parthenium and Salix alba (Mig-RL) combination in migraine prophylaxis: a prospective, open-label study. Clin Drug Investig. (2006)
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• ^ Murch SJ, Simmons CB, Saxena PK. Melatonin in feverfew and other medicinal plants. Lancet. (1997)
• ^ A sesquiterpene coumarin ether from transformed roots of Tanacetum parthenium.
• ^ Coniferaldehyde derivatives from tissue culture of Artemisia annua and Tanacetum parthenium.
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• ^ Lösche W, et al. An extract of feverfew inhibits interactions of human platelets with collagen substrates. Thromb Res. (1987)
• ^ a b Heptinstall S, et al. Extracts of feverfew may inhibit platelet behaviour via neutralization of sulphydryl groups. J Pharm Pharmacol. (1987)
• ^ a b Groenewegen WA, Heptinstall S. A comparison of the effects of an extract of feverfew and parthenolide, a component of feverfew, on human platelet activity in-vitro. J Pharm Pharmacol. (1990)
• ^ Loesche W, et al. Effects of an extract of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) on arachidonic acid metabolism in human blood platelets. Biomed Biochim Acta. (1988)
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• ^ Killoran CE, Crawford GH, Pedvis-Leftick A. Two cases of compositae dermatitis exacerbated by moisturizer containing feverfew. Dermatitis. (2007)
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• Pattrick M, Heptinstall S, Doherty M. Feverfew in rheumatoid arthritis: a double blind, placebo controlled study. Ann Rheum Dis. (1989)