Feverfew (Effective Remedy for Migraine)

[Guest guest]

Feverfew (Effective Remedy for Migraine) JoAnn Guest Dec 15, 2004 15:02 PST

(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

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

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AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The all-new My – What will yours do?

 

 

[Guest guest]

----- Original message ------->

JoAnn Guest <angelprincessjo

,

<DietaryTipsForHBP >

Received: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 15:05:54 -0800 (PST)

Feverfew (Effective Remedy for

Migraine)

 

<< Feverfew (Effective Remedy for Migraine) JoAnn Guest Dec 15, 2004

15:02 PST

<< (Tanacetum parthenium also Chrysanthemum parthenium):

 

Do you happen to know whether one should take a break from Feverfew every so

often? For some reason I remember reading that -- but also reading that stopping

suddenly could cause rebound meadaches.

 

I'm taking Nature's Way MygraFew, which I believe is helping.

 

Thanks!

 

Judy Madnick

Albany, NY

 

" Don’t do unto others what you don’t want done unto you. "

[Guest guest]

, Judy Madnick

<email@j...> wrote:

>

> ----- Original message ---

---->

> JoAnn Guest <angelprincessjo>

> ,

<DietaryTipsForHBP >

> Received: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 15:05:54 -0800 (PST)

> Feverfew (Effective

Remedy for Migraine)

>

> << Feverfew (Effective Remedy for Migraine) JoAnn

Guest Dec 15, 2004 15:02 PST

> << (Tanacetum parthenium also Chrysanthemum parthenium):

>

> Do you happen to know whether one should take a break from

Feverfew every so often? For some reason I remember reading that --

but also reading that stopping suddenly could cause rebound

meadaches.

 

Hi Judy! Here is a quote from Dr. Weil's site....

www.drweil.com

 

" Take a standardized extract of the herb feverfew (Tanacetun

parthenium) as a preventive. You'll find it at any health food

store. Taking one or two tablets (or capsules) a day can reduce the

frequency of migraines --

 

and it's safe to take feverfew indefinitely " .

 

As for the issue of rebound headaches on discontinuing the herb,

that sounds rather ludicrous to me. However, as our bodies are constantly

changing, they may reoccur. In my opinion, a good diet goes a long way towards

alleviating headaches. But then there are other things that contribute as well,

such as the overall state of health, whether or not we are able to maintain an

alkaline/acid balance, and the list goes on... Coffee enemas, an epsom salts

bath or a similar detox provides a measure of relief for some, if the root cause

is toxic buildup. There are so many ways that toxins enter the body, and many of

them especially xenoestrogens are not so easily removed but keep circulating

around. If I have very many recurring headaches I usually resort to optimal

doses of milk thistle (liver detox)until I find relief.

JoAnn

>

> I'm taking Nature's Way MygraFew, which I believe is helping.

>

> Thanks!

>

> Judy Madnick

> Albany, NY

>

> " Don't do unto others what you don't want done unto you. "