Feverfew: Headache & Pain Remedy

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Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium also Chrysanthemum parthenium):

 

When the wife of a Welsh doctor ended her 50-year-old history of migraine with a

course of feverfew, a detailed scientific investigation of feverfew got underway

and in clinical trials in Britain during the 1980s the herb was demonstrated to

be an effective remedy for migraine.

 

20 headache patients eat fresh feverfew leaves daily for 3 months and stop using

headache-related drugs during the lasst month. After they were given capsules of

..37 grains of freeze-dried leaf every day, they experienced less severe

headaches and fewer symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, than a placebo

group.

 

As an added benefit, their blood pressure went down.

 

Despite extensive research, the exact nature of its action is not yet

understood, but the constituent parthenolide appears to inhibit the release of

the hormone serotonin, which is thought to trigger migraine.

 

The parthenolides in feverfew do not work by the same method as salicylates.

While many herbalists feel the fresh leaves, or an extract made from them, are

preferred, results have been seen with fresh, freeze-dried, and air-dried

leaves, although boiling feverfew tea for 10 minutes instead of steeping it did

reduce its activity in one study. As a preventative it should be taken in small

quantities (3 leaves a day) regularly.

 

The herb can help arthritic and rheumatic pain, especially in combination with

other herbs.

 

The herb has been used since Roman times to induce menstruation. It is given in

difficult births to aid expulsion of the placenta. It has not been shown to

cause uterine contractions, but because of its history in promoting menstruation

pregnant women should probably not use it.

 

In South America where feverfew is naturalized, it has been effective for colic,

stomachahe, morning sickness and kidney pains. In Costa Rica, it has also been

employed as a digestive aid and emmenagogue. Mexicans have used it as a sitz

bath to regulate menstruation as well as an antispasmodic and tonic.

 

Feverfew is useful for cats as an alternative to aspirin, which is toxic to

felines. Use a glycerin-based tincture or a cooled tea with a dose of 12-20

drops of the tincture or ½ tsp of a strong tea for each 20 pounds of the

animal’s weight, twice daily. Pets can be bathed in a cooled tea as a flea

rinse.

 

http://www.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_FGH.htm

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

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