Feverfew Uses, Benefits & Dosage

Like feverfew, butterbur is another herb that has a long and well-researched history of success as a natural migraine and headache remedy. There are also several other health ailments they’ve both been known to treat successfully. It’s actually not uncommon to find a supplement that combines the two herbs for headache relief. Research shows that consuming feverfew helps reduces the frequency and get rid of migraine headaches and headache symptoms, including pain, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and noise. Feverfew may change how prescription and nonprescription medications work.

Sprinkle a few seeds into the pot and tap the bottom of the pot on the counter to settle the seeds into the soil. Spray water to keep the seeds moist as poured water may dislodge the seeds. When placed in a sunny window or under a grow light, you should see signs of the feverfew seeds germinating in about two weeks. When the plants are about 3 inches (7.5 cm.) tall, plant them, pot and all, into a sunny garden spot and water regularly until the roots take hold.

Feverfew is a short perennial that blooms between July and October, and gives off a strong and bitter odor. Its yellow-green leaves are alternate , and turn downward with short hairs. The small, daisy-like yellow flowers are arranged in a dense flat-topped cluster. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Avoid using feverfew together with other herbal/health supplements that can also affect blood-clotting. This includes angelica , capsicum, clove, danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, horse chestnut, panax ginseng, poplar, red clover, turmeric, and willow.

travel healthiest cuisines supplements come in the form of capsules, tablets or liquid extracts. The feverfew contained in each supplement is either fresh, freeze-dried or dried. Supplements used in clinical studies contain a standardized dose of parthenolide. They should be standardized to contain at least 0.2 percent parthenolide.

This information does not endorse this product as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this product. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this product. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You should talk with your health care provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this product. Feverfew is primarily known for use in prophylactic treatment of migraine headaches and associated nausea and vomiting; however, evidence to support this use is inconclusive.

Feverfew action does not appear to be limited to a single mechanism. Plant extracts affect a wide variety of physiologic pathways. Some of these mechanisms have been discussed previously, including inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, decrease of vascular smooth muscle spasm, and blockage of platelet granule secretion.

Ancient Greek physicians used it to reduce inflammation and treat menstrual cramps. Although it was once used to treat fevers, as its name suggests, it was not very effective. It is now used to prevent migraine headaches, and several scientific studies suggest that it works well for that purpose. People most commonly take feverfew by mouth for migraine headaches. People also take feverfew by mouth for itching, tension headache, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Other drugs may interact with feverfew, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this product guide. Chewing fresh leaves can cause mouth sores, swelling of your lips or tongue, and loss of taste. It is not known whether feverfew passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby.

It also can help to remove nausea that is associated with migraines. Based on current research, feverfew appears to be only slightly effective against migraines. In a review of 6 studies in a total of 561 people, 4 studies found that feverfew helped reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines, while 2 studies found no effect.

It is also possible to have allergic reactions to nine amino acids. This is more likely if you have an allergy to plants in the daisy family, such as ragweed. People have used feverfew over the years as folk medicine for many ailments. No studies of chronic toxicity have been performed on the plant. Parthenolides in feverfew are thought to provide the biggest anti-inflammatory benefits. Feverfew should never be given to children under 2 years old.

It is not recommended for breast-feeding mothers or for use in children younger than 2 years of age. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.

Feverfew is a potent anti-inflammatory that’s particularly effective at calming redness. This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by our trained editorial staff. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to medically peer-reviewed studies. If you are scheduled for surgery, tell your doctor if you are taking feverfew. Pregnant and nursing women, as well as children under 2, should not take feverfew. Native to southeastern Europe, feverfew is now widespread throughout Europe, North America, and Australia.

Therefore, if the child weighs 50 pounds, the appropriate dose for this child would be a third of the adult dosage. Some laboratory tests show that how apples affect weight can reduce inflammation, so researchers thought it might help treat rheumatoid arthritis . However, a human study found that feverfew did not work any better than placebo in improving RA symptoms. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products.

Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use. Take charge of your health—talk with your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. My love of plants healed me from a debilitating illness, so I know the power of garden therapy firsthand.

If you take any of the following medications, you should not use feverfew without first talking to your health care provider. 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. No serious side effects have been reported from feverfew use. Side effects can include nausea, digestive problems, and bloating; if the fresh leaves are chewed, sores and irritation of the mouth may occur.