Feverfew

Feverfew

Latin Name: Tanacetum parthenium
Family: Asteraceae

Part used: Leaf, flower and root.
Energetics: Bitter & pungent, cool.
Iris: Lymphatic.
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider.

Safe alongside Herb

Cyproheptadine

Avoid alongside Herb
  • Citalopram
  • Clomipramine
  • Desvenlafaxine
  • Fluoxetine
  • Imipramine
  • Paroxetine
  • Venlafaxine hydrochloride
  • Warfarin

CONTRA-INDICATIONS

  • Sore mouth
  • Pleurisy
  • Uterine inflammation
  • Pregnancy

ACTIONS

  • Vaso-dilator
  • Analgesic
  • Nervine
  • Antihistamine
  • Emmenagogue
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Utero-tonic
  • Diaphoretic
  • Febrifuge
  • Carminative
  • Anti-fungal
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Anti-viral
  • Anti-platelet
  • Anti-protozoal
  • Anti-neoplastic
  • Anthelmintic
  • Antidepressant.

Main Constituents

  • Tannins
  • Bitter resin
  • Essential oil
  • Inulin
  • Camphor
  • Sesquiterpene lactones
  • Flavonoids
  • Polyacetylene
  • Pyrethrin.

Main Uses

Migraines. Antispasmodic. Pain-reliever.
Digestive System: Stimulating to the GI tract. Flatulence. Colorectal carcinoma. Pancreatic carcinoma. Worms.
Skin: Stimulates the skin. Psoriasis.
Nervous system: Anti-migraine, Neuralgic
Musculo-Skeletal System: Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis. Ankylosing spondylitis.
Endocrine: Amenorrhoea, Dysmenorrhoea
Immune System: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Respiratory System: Promotes expectoration in a mucousy cough.
Reproductive System: Stimulates the uterus. Infertility, Improves labour contractions, Breast carcinoma.
Ears: Tinnitus, Vertigo
Urinary System: Stimulates the kidneys

Infections:
Bacteria: E. coli, H. pylori, Mycobacterium, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus haemolytica.
Fungi: Candida, Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
Protozoa: Leishmania.
Viruses: Hepatitis C.

More About Feverfew

Traditional uses of this herb have included fevers, headaches, stomach aches, toothaches and insect bites.
Feverfew’s analgesic effect comes from the biochemical called parthenolides, which combat the widening of blood vessels that occurs in migraines. It may even be more effective than other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories.
Feverfew can help in case of rheumatoid arthritis as it hinders the production of prostaglandins, the hormone-like substances that cause pain, inflammation and histamine release.
Feverfew can be seen as a ‘woman’s friend’ as it is able to treat any uterine issues, such as infertility, painful, cramping periods and PMS and problems with labour during childbirth.
It is febrifuge and clears heat, whilst restoring the entire system via the spleen and digestive activity. It is this effect that can improve migraines.

Recipes:


Feverfew Compress for Bruises

Supplies:

  • 4 tsp dried feverfew
  • 8 oz boiling water
  • 1 Cloth

Directions:

  • Add dried feverfew to a cup.
  • Pour boiling water over the herbs, then cover with a saucer to retain the essential oils.
  • Steep for 25 minutes, then strain herbs and allow the tea to cool.
  • Soak your cloth in cooled tea. Then apply to the bruised area to facilitate healing. Refresh as needed.

References


Skin UV protection/Oxidative stress

Parthenolide-depleted Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) protects skin from UV irradiation and external aggression.
Through the ability to scavenge free radicals, preserve endogenous antioxidant levels, reduce DNA damage and induce DNA repair enzymes, which can help repair damaged DNA, parthenolide-depleted extract of Feverfew may protect skin from the numerous external aggressions encountered daily by the skin and reduce the damage to oxidatively challenged skin.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18071724/

Anti-parasitic

Trypanosoma cruzi: antiprotozoal activity of parthenolide obtained from Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz Bip. (Asteraceae, Compositae) against epimastigote and amastigote forms
This study reports the activity of crude extracts, fractions and parthenolide (pure compound) obtained from Tanacetum parthenium against two forms of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Activity against epimastigote forms was observed for crude extracts, fractions and parthenolide, and a progressive increase in the antitrypanosomal effect was observed in the course of the purification process.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17950283/

Migraine prevention 

Efficacy and safety of 6.25 mg t.i.d. feverfew CO2-extract (MIG-99) in migraine prevention--a randomized, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled study.
The migraine frequency decreased from 4.76 by 1.9 attacks per month in the MIG-99 group and by 1.3 attacks in the placebo group (P = 0.0456).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16232154/

Chronic migraines/Migraine prevention

A double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study of sublingual feverfew and ginger (LipiGesic™ M) in the treatment of migraine.
Sublingual feverfew/ginger appears safe and effective as a first-line abortive treatment for a population of migraineurs who frequently experience mild headache prior to the onset of moderate to severe headache.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21631494/

Chronic migraines in women

The combined effect of acupuncture and Tanacetum parthenium on quality of life in women with headache: randomised study.
The present work shows an improvement of the quality of life and better analgesic effect of acupuncture combined with TAN treatment on migraine pain in women when compared with acupuncture or TAN alone.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22961605/

Feverfew -A systemic review

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L.): A systematic review.
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. The plant contains a large number of natural products, but the active principles probably include one or more of the sesquiterpene lactones known to be present, including parthenolide. Other potentially active constituents include flavonoid glycosides and pinenes. It has multiple pharmacologic properties, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic, antispasmodic, an emmenagogue, and as an enema for worms. In this review, we have explored the various dimensions of the feverfew plant and compiled its vast pharmacologic applications to comprehend and synthesize the subject of its potential image of multipurpose medicinal agent.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210009/

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