Feverfew
(Tanacetum parthenium)
Energetics: Cooling.
Taste: Bitter. Pungent.
Tissue States: Stagnation (dampness).
Systems Affected: Nervous system. Circulatory. Reproductive.
Parts Used: Leaf & Flower
Key Components: Sesquiterpene lactones (85% parthenolide, artecanin, artemorin, balchanin, canin, costunolide, 10-epicanin, epoxyartemorin, 1-beta-hydroxyarbusculin, 3-beta-hydroxycostunolide, 8-alpha-hydroxyestagiatin, 8-beta hydroxyreynosinn, 3-beta-hydroxyparthenolide, manolialide, reynosin, santamarine, epoxysantamarine, secotanaparthenolide A, secotanaparthenolide B, tanaparthin-alpha-peroxide, and 3,4-beta-epoxy-8-deoxycumambrin B). Flavonoids (6-hydroxykaempferol 3,6-dimethyl ether, 6-hydroxykaempferol 3,6,4′-trimethyl ether (tanetin), quercetagetin 3,6-dimethyl ether, quercetagetin 3,6,3′-trimethyl ether (accompanied by isomeric 3,6,4′-trimethyl ether), quercetin, apigenin (also apigenin 7-glucuronide), luteolin (also luteolin 7-glucuronide), chrysoeriol, santin, jaceidin, and centaureidin). Volatile Oils (camphor (56.9%), camphene (12.7%), p-cymene (5.2%), and bornyl acetate (4.6%), tricylene, α-thujene, α-pinene, β-pinene, α-phellandrene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene, chrysantheone, pinocarvone, borneol, terpinen-4-ol, ρ-cymen-8-ol, α-terpineol, myrtenal, carvacrol, eugenol, trans-myrtenol acetate, isobornyl 2-methyl butanoate, and caryophyllene oxide).
Preparations & dosage: Fresh: 1-3 leaves per day. (You can also freeze it). Infusion: Tincture: Powder: Encapsulated.
Actions:
Foundational: Stimulant. Relaxant. Bitter
Primary: Vasodilator.
Secondary: Anti-inflammatory.
Uses:
I have personally had friends and clients use feverfew for the prevention and the treatment of migraines. Truly amazing. Just chewing on a leaf daily can help to prevent many kinds of migraines. Likewise, chewing a leaf as soon as you feel a migraine coming on can also stop it in its tracks.
Can help relieve pain from arthritis.
Said to be useful in tinnitus and dizziness. I'm wondering if this could be helpful in Ménière's disease, vertigo and/or motion sickness.
Painful and slugging menstrual cycle.
Shown to have anticancer activity.
Some indications for the use of feverfew are: Stagnant blood with a tendency for varicose veins. Headache & migraine caused by congestion of blood going to the head before cycle starts. Temple is hot to the touch and often involves throbbing, pounding and “fullness” in the forehead. Aching in the face, earache, tinnitus & dizziness.
Good alone or in formulas for painful periods & sluggish menstrual flows as well as PMS headaches. Menopause related hot flashes.
Tonsillitis. Diphtheria with a diphtheritic membrane on the upper pharynx causing difficulty breathing.
Identifying:
Growing: Can be found on roadsides, wastelands and on the bordering edges of wooded areas from Eastern Canada to Maryland and westward to Missouri.
Harvesting: Leaves are best harvested just before flowering but can be harvested throughout the growing season.
Contraindications: In some with sensitive mouths, the fresh leaf can potentially cause mouth ulcers. Not for use in pregnancy. People who take feverfew for a long time and then stop taking it may have difficulty sleeping, headaches, anxiety, and stiff and painful muscles.
Sources:
The Complete Herbs Sourcebook: David Hoffman. Pg 256
The Earthwise Herbal: Volume 1: Matthew Wood. Pg 187-189;
Studies:
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/feverfew
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210009/
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, nor is it intended to replace medical advice. For educational purposes only.
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/feverfew
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210009/
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, nor is it intended to replace medical advice. For educational purposes only.
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