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Scientific Names:Tanacetum parthenium
Common Names: Altamisa, chamomile grande, featherfew, featherfoil, febrifuge plant, midsummer daisy, mutterkraut, nosebleed, wild chamomile, wild quinine
Feverfew is a perennial found worldwide. The leaves of the plant are used in preparation of the herbal supplement. The sesquiterpene lactone parthenolide has been suggested as its main active component.
Scientific Names | | Scientific Evidence | Adverse Effects | References
Reported Uses:
- Treatment of menstrual irregularities.
- Cessation of threatened spontaneous abortion.4
- Anti-arthritic.
- Anti-pyretic.
- Abortive and prophylactic treatment for migraine headache.
- In addition, feverfew has been used traditionally for psoriasis, toothache, insect bites, rheumatism, asthma, and stomach-ache.1
Scientific Names | Reported Uses | | Adverse Effects | References
Scientific Evidence:
- Extracts and pure parthenolide inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins and parthenolide markedly interferes with both contractile and relaxant mechanisms of blood vessels.3
- Feverfew may decrease the release of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in joints that are arthritic and inflamed.4
- A systematic review of six randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trials of feverfew mono-preparations for the prevention of migraine headache published in 2000 offers that feverfew is likely to be effective in migraine prophylaxis, but underlines the fact that publication bias may be favoring the efficacy of feverfew.1
- A recent double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled dose-response study of a novel feverfew extract (MIG-99) failed to reveal a significant migraine prophylaxis in general, but did show effectiveness with at least a 6.25mg tid dose in a small subgroup of patients with at least four migraine attacks per month.3
Scientific Names | Reported Uses | Scientific Evidence | | References
Adverse Effects, Contraindications, Drug Interactions:
- Feverfew is for the most part well tolerated. Adverse effects are rare, and when they do occur, usually are mild and reversible.
- Mouth ulceration and gastrointestinal symptoms are the most frequent of the adverse effects, and usually only experienced by long-term users.3
- A 'post feverfew syndrome' has been described in long-term users who abruptly discontinue use of feverfew.3 It includes a rebound of migraine symptoms, anxiety, insomnia, myalgias, and arthralgias.
- No known herb/drug interaction for feverfew.
Scientific Names | Reported Uses | Scientific Evidence | Adverse Effects |
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References:
1. Ernst E, Pittler MH. The efficacy and safety of feverfew: an update of a systematic review. Public Health Nutrition. 2000;3(4a):509-514.
2. Johnson, ES, Kadam NP, Hylands DM, Hylands PJ. Efficacy of feverfew as prophylactic treatment of migraine. BMJ. 1985;291:569-73.
3. Pfaffenrath V, Diener HC, Fischer M, et al. The efficacy and safety of tanacetum parthenium in migraine prophylaxis - a doub;t blind, multicentre, randomized placebo-controlled dose-response study. Cephalagia. 2002;22:523-532.
4. Skidmore-Roth L. Mosby's handbook of herbs and natural supplements. St. Louis: Elsevier Science Imprints. 2001.
2. Johnson, ES, Kadam NP, Hylands DM, Hylands PJ. Efficacy of feverfew as prophylactic treatment of migraine. BMJ. 1985;291:569-73.
3. Pfaffenrath V, Diener HC, Fischer M, et al. The efficacy and safety of tanacetum parthenium in migraine prophylaxis - a doub;t blind, multicentre, randomized placebo-controlled dose-response study. Cephalagia. 2002;22:523-532.
4. Skidmore-Roth L. Mosby's handbook of herbs and natural supplements. St. Louis: Elsevier Science Imprints. 2001.