(Tanacetum parthenium)
Source: Naturalised in Europe and North
and South America.
Description: Various forms of feverfew grow to heights of between
9 inches and 2 feet.
The deeply cut leaves are brightly coloured and have a
sharp, unpleasantly bitter taste.
The flowers, which are produced from summer
until mid-Autumn, are thick and daisy like with yellow centers.
Parts used: Leaves
Properties and Use: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic,
anthelmintic, cooling, digestive stimulant. emmenagogue, peripheral vasodilator
relaxant.
Contains parthenolides and similar compounds which are believed to account
for its action in easing the symptoms of both migraine and chronic arthritis.
It is used for
minor fevers,
the relief of migraine, to help prevent blood clots, as an anti-inflammatory
for relief of arthritis, and
as a digestive aid.
As an antispasmodic it can be helpful for period pain.
Like comfrey, feverfew has hit the media headlines in recent years - this
time as a major "cure" and prophylactic for migraine and arthritis.
One
of the most popular over-the-counter herbs for treating migraines - although
the bitter substances they contain do have a tendency to cause mouth ulcers
in a significant number of users.
Clinical
trials have well demonstrated its efficacy as a migraine remedy and many
sufferers happily eat a couple of leaves a day as a prophylactic.
The herb does, however, have anti-platelet activity, reducing the blood's
ability to clot, so should not be take by those on blood-thinning drugs.
The name feverfew does not allude to some ancient major use as a febrifuge but is a corruption of featherfew - a description of its fine petals.
Forms available: Fresh or dried leaves, capsules, tablets, tinctures. Parthenolide and other related constituents may be responsible for the herb's action; some products are standardised to 2.6 per cent parthenolides.
Preparation and Dose: Tablets and tinctures
are the safest form of this herb when used medicinally.
Caution: :Not to be taken by those prescribed warfarin,
heparin and similar drugs. May interact with anticoagulant drugs.
Migraine sufferers should stop taking regular
doses of feverfew if side effects (skin rashes or mouth ulceration) occur
Do not take
this herb during pregnancy.
Some people who chewed the fresh leaves reported
experiencing mouth ulcers, tongue inflammation, lip swelling and occasional
loss of taste.
Controlled doses of this herb are safest. Consult an herbalist if you are
not sure about the dose.
Other Uses:Grow feverfew in the rose garden to attract aphids away from the rose bushes. Leaves and flowers act as a good moth deterrent. It also makes a nice cut flower.
Cultivation
Feverfew will thrive in the poorest soils. They can even make find a home in pavement cracks and and walls. Full sun is a must, as the plant is susceptible to mildew in the shade. It can be grown from seed or by root division. Cuttings can be rooted in early summer.
Harvesting
Cut leaves and flowers as required. The flowers may be dried face down on a flat surface and used in potpourri.
