Feverfew


Featherfoil

There are about 70 species of mostly aromatic annuals, perennials, and subshrubs in this genus, which ranges throughout northern temperate regions. It includes members of the daisy family, formerly classified in Balsamita, Chrysanthemum, Matricaria, and Pyrethrum. Many are aromatic, containing pungent volatile oils and insecticidal compounds that may cause unpleasant reactions if handled, or consumed in excess. Most are invasive and need vigilant control in the garden. These members of the daisy family are rich in volatile oils, bitters, and sesquiterpene lactones, which inhibit allergic, inflammatory responses, and are insecticidal. They are extremely pungent, potent herbs and should be used with caution. Tanacetum balsamita is an attractive plant for the silver or white garden. Its leaves were once used as fragrant bookmarks, hence the obsolete common name "bibleleaf". The word "cost" in its more widely used common names "alecost" and "costmary" is from the Sanskrit kustha, an aromatic plant, while "ale" recalls its roll in brewing, and "mary" refers to the Virgin Mary, to whom the plant was dedicated. Tanecetum parthenium (feverfew) was described in old herbals as a remedy for headaches but forgotten until the 1970s when Mrs Anne Jenkins, a doctors wife in Cardiff, Wales, found that it cured her migraine and reported its effectiveness. Clinical trials in the 1980s supported evidence that it is indeed an effective and relatively safe remedy in many cases of migraine. Insecticides based on pyrethins were first made from the flowers of red pyrethrum (T. coccineum syn. Chrysanthemum coccineum, Pyrethrum roseum), and were known as Persian Insect Powder. The flowers of T. cinerariifolium were later found to be more effective. Dried flowers and powder retain their insecticidal properties almost indefinately. Pyrethrins are non-toxic to mammals. Tanacetum vulgare was important as a strewing herb in the 16th century. It contains thujone, and insecticidal substance also found in Artemisia absinthium (See, Wormwood), which is highly toxic in excess. Tansy featured in a number of Easter rituals in the British Isles, as a cleansing herb after the Lenten fast, and symbol of the bitter Passover herbs. Tansy cakes, a kind of omelet, were traditionally eaten at this time, and awarded to the victor in a handball game played in the parishes between clergy and congregation. Tanacetum is from the Greek athanasia, "immortality", possibly referring to the long-lived flowers of certain species, or to the practice of packing corpses with tansy leaves to preserve them and deter insects until burial.

Used by the ancient Greeks to treat "female problems", nausea, allergies, asthma, and a number of other ailments, feverfew is prized by today's herbalists for its ability to relieve headache pain. Some studies have shown that feverfew can effectively reduce the pain and nausea associated with migraines and is a significant migraine preventive when taken for at least four months.

Strong-smelling, short-lived perennial with yellow-green, ovate, pinnately lobed leaves, to 8cm (3in) long. Clusters of daisy-like flowers, to 2.5cm (1in) across, appear in summer.


Common Name:
Featherfoil
Other Names:
Bachelor's Buttons, Featherfew, Febrifuge Plant, Feverfew, Midsummer Daisy, Pyrethrum, Wild Chamomile
Botanical Name:
Tanacetum parthenium syn. Matricaria parthenium, Chyrsanthemum parthenium
Genus:
Tanacetum
Family:
Asteraceae
Native Location:
Europe and the Caucasus
Cultivation:
Well-drained to dry, stony soil in sun. Remove dead flower heads or Tanacetum parthenium to prevent excessive self-seeding. Tanacetum vulgare is invasive.
Propagation:
By seed sown at 10-13°C (50-55°F) in spring (species and some variants only); by division in spring or autumn; by basal cuttings in spring; by semi-ripe cuttings in summer.
Harvest:
Whole plants (T. parthenium, T. vulgare) are cut when flowers, and leaves are picked as required, and used fresh or dried in infusions, liquid extracts, powders, and tinctures. Tanacetum vulgare is distilled for oil. Leaves (T. parthenium) are sometimes eaten fresh, or dried for use in tablets to treat migraine, rheumatism, and arthritis. Flowers (T. cinerariifolium are picked as they open and are dried for powder.
Height:
45-60cm (18-24in)
Width:
30-45cm (12-18in)
Variants:
Aureum
Has bright golden foliage. Comes true from seed.
Golden Ball
Is compact, with golden-yellow, button-like flowers.
Height: 23cm (9in)
Width: 23cm (9in)
Golden Moss
Is dwarf, with moss-like, golden foliage; ideal for edging and containers.
Height: 10cm (4in)
Plenum
syn. Flore Pleno

Has double white flower; excellent for cutting. Produces a high percentage of double-flowered plants from seed.
Height: 35cm (14in)
Snowball
Has ivory, double, pompom-like flowers.
Height: 30cm (12in)
Width: 15cm (6in)
Tom Thumb White Stars
Has double white, pompon-like flowers; excellent for containers and edging.
Height: 23cm (9in)
Width: 23cm (9in)
White Bonnet
Bears double white, green-flecked flowers.
Height: 60cm (24in)
Width: 45cm (18in)
Hardiness:
Z4-9
History:
Feverfew is officially a member of the daisy family (Compositae), but it has been variously classified under the Chrysanthemums, Matricarias, and Pyrethrums—hence its many synonymous Latin names. With its clusters of small, white, daisylike flowers, feverfew most closely resembles German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla, syn. M. recutita) and like chamomile, feverfew's use can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. The Greeks gave the plant its official genus name. Tanacetum is from the Greek athanasia, for "immortality", perhaps a tribute to the hardy long life of many of the plant's species or to the herb's effectiveness as a childbirth aid. The Romans gave feverfew its common name, from the Latin febrifugia, for "to drive out fevers", and used the plant for many ailments characterized by high fever. In ancient Greece, the famed physician and herbalist Dioscorides noted feverfew's uterine-stimulating properties and recommended its use during labor. For unknown reasons, feverfew fell out of popular use by the Middle Ages, and though it is mentioned as an "ague" and headache remedy by the sixteenth- and seventeenth-century British herbalists John Gerard and Nicholas Culpeper, feverfew was, by then, a largely forgotten healing herb, relegated to the back corridors of folk herbal medicine. In the late 1970s, however, British scientists resurrected feverfew because of its potential as a pain reliever, and they began intense research into the herb's chemical properties. Today, feverfew is considered the most effective herbal remedy for migraine headaches.
Parts Used:
Whole plant, Leaves. The leaves are most commonly used for medicinal purposes, particularly for migraine relief. The flowers are used, infrequently, as a purgative (strong laxative).
Properties:
A bitter, tonic, cooling herb with a pungent odor and nauseating taste. It relieves pain, relaxes spasms, dilates blood vessels, lowers fever, improves digestion, stimulates the uterus, and has laxative effects.
Medicinal Uses:
Internally for migraine, headache, rheumatic and arthritic complaints, minor feverish illnesses, and digestive and menstrual problems. Externally for insect bites and bruising.
To treat migraine, allergies, arthritis, fever, headaches, insect bites, rheumatic disease, problems with digestion, and gynecological ailments.
Feverfew has anti-inflammatory, antiflatulence, pain-relieving, purgative, stimulant, tonic, and vasodilating properties. It is also a uterine stimulant. Traditionally, feverfew has been prescribed for alcohol and opiate withdrawal, anxiety, arthritis, colds, colic, constipation, fevers, flatulence, indigestion, and irregular or scanty menstrual periods. Today, feverfew is the herb of choice for migraine headaches and is prescribed most frequently for that indication. (In several studies, it has proven more effective in treating migraines than some conventional pharmaceutical drugs.) Feverfew's primary chemical constituent, parthenolide, acts on inflammatory substances called histamines, which scientists believe play a key role in promoting migraine headaches. Parthenolide both reduces histamine production and blocks the release of histamines into the blood where they can trigger migraines. Special note: Feverfew's migraine-relieving effects build up over long-term use. You may need to use the herb daily for up to three months before experiencing any significant relief.
Preparation:
Feverfew is available as dried herb and in capsules, pills, and tinctures. To make a migraine tea, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of fresh herb or 2 teaspoons of dried herb, and steep for 10 minutes. Strain and allow tea to cool to room temperature. Drink up to 3 cups a day. Chewing up to two fresh leaves a day will also help relieve migraines—and will give the fastest results. Many people find the fresh leaves too bitter to take, however, and you can use capsules or pills instead. Make sure they contain at least 85 mg of the plant's leaf.
Typical Dose:
A typical daily dose of feverfew to treat migraine headaches may range from 200 to 250 mg.
Caution:
No serious side effects are associated with taking feverfew, but several cautions are in order. Do not give to children. Do not take feverfew if you are pregnant, nursing, or trying to conceive. Traditionally, feverfew has been used as an emmenagogue—that is, an herb that brings on delayed menstruation. Do not take feverfew if you have a blood-clotting disorder or take an anticoagulant drug. Feverfew may interfere with the blood's natural clotting ability. Chewing fresh feverfew leaves may cause mouth sores or stomach pain. If you experience these symptoms, stop taking the herb and contact your medical practitioner.
Possible Side Effects:
Feverfew's side effects include increased risk of allergic reactions in those who are sensitive to plants in the Asteraceae/Compositae family, such as Chyrsanthemum, Daisies, Marigolds, Ragweed, and others.
Drug Interactions:
Taking feverfew with these drugs may increase the risk of bleeding and bruising:
Abciximab, (ReoPro)
Alteplase, (Activase, Cathflo Activase)
Antithrombin III, (Thrombate III)
Argatroban, (Argatroban)
Aspirin and Dipyridamole, (Aggrenox)
Bivalrudin, (Angiomax)
Clopidogrel, (Plavix)
Dalteparin, (Fragmin)
Danaparoid, (Orgaran)
Dipyridamole, (Novo-Dipiradol, Persantine)
Drotrecogin Alfa, (Xigris)
Enoxaparin, (Lovenox)
Eptifibatide, (Integrillin)
Fondaparinux, (Arixtra)
Heparin, (Hepalean, Hep-Lock)
Hydrocodone and Aspirin, (Damason-P)
Hydrocodone and Ibuprofen, (Vicoprofen)
Ibritumomab, (Zevalin)
Indobufen, (Ibustrin)
Lepirudin, (Refludan)
Nadroparin, (Fraxiparine)
Reteplase, (Retavase)
Streptokinase, (Streptase)
Tenecteplase, (TNKase)
Ticlopidine, (Alti-Ticlopidine, Ticlid)
Tinzaparin, (Innohep)
Tirofiban, (Aggrastat)
Urokinase, (Abbokinase)
Warfarin, (Coumadin, Jantoven)
Taking feverfer with these drugs may increase adverse effects:
Acemetacin, (Acemetacin Heumann, Acemetacin Sandoz)
Aspirin, (Bufferin, Ecotrin)
Celecoxib, (Celebrex)
Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate, (Trilisate)
Choline Salicylate, (Teejel)
Diclofenac, (Cataflam, Voltaren)
Diflunisal, (Apo-Diflunisal, Dolobid)
Dipyrone, (Analgina, Dinador)
Etodolac, (Lodine, Utradol)
Etoricoxib, (Arcoxia)
Fenoprofen, (Nalfon)
Flurbiprofen, (Ansaid, Ocufen)
Ibuprofen, (Advil, Motrin)
Indomethacin, (Indocin, Novo-Methacin)
Ketoprofen, (Orudis, Rhodis)
Ketorolac, (Acular, Toradol)
Magnesium Salicylate, (Doan's, Mobidin)
Meclofenamate, (Meclomen)
Mefenamic Acid, (Ponsten, Ponstel)
Meloxicam, (MOBIC, Mobicox)
Nabumetone, (Apo-Nabumetone, Relafen)
Naproxen, (Aleve, Naprosyn)
Niflumic Acid, (Niflam, Nifluril)
Nimesulide, (Areuma, Aulin)
Oxaprozin, (Apo-Oxaprozin, Daypro)
Piroxicam, (Feldene, Nu-Pirox)
Rofecoxib, (Vioxx)
Salsalate, (Amgesic, Salflex)
Sulindac, (Clinoril, Nu-Sundac)
Tenoxicam, (Dolmen, Mobiflex)
Tiaprofenic Acid, (Dom-Tiaprofenic, Surgam)
Tolmetin, (Tolectin)
Valdecoxib, (Bextra)
Taking feverfew with these drugs may decrease absorption of the drug:
Ferrous Sulfate, (Feratab, Fer-Iron)
Iron-Dextram Complex, (Dexferrum, INFeD)
Taking feverfew with these drugs may raise heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels:
Rizatriptan Benzoate, (Maxalt)
Zolmitriptan, (Zomig)
Lab Test Alterations::
May increase plasma partial thromboplastin time (PTT) and prothrombin time (PT) in those who are also taking warfarin.
Supplement Interactions::
Increased risk of bleeding when used with herbs and supplements that might affect platelet aggregation, such as Angelica, Danshen, Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo Biloba, Red Clover, Turmeric, White Willow, and others.
Warning:
Contraindicated during pregnancy.
Handling leaves may cause dermatitis;
eating leaves may cause mouth ulcers.
Bibliography:
The Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Bown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited. pp. 381-382
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. Pp.220-222
The Modern Herbal Primer by Nancy Burke Copyright©2000 Yankee Publishing, Inc. pp.58-59