Feverfew
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L.) has a long history of use in traditional and folk medicine. This plant was used, above all, to treat migraines, for intermittent fevers, but also for conditions such as toothache, rheumatism.
Usage
Migraine
This plant is known for treating chronic headaches. Numerous studies confirmed that this may help treat migraines.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Some laboratory tests show that feverfew might help treat rheumatoid arthritis. This hasn’t proven yet.
How to add feverfew to your diet?
Make a Tea
Tea can taste very bitter and may irritate mouth.
Supplement
Comes in the form of a liquid extract, capsule, and powder.
Today's application of this plant began in the late seventies when the British press reported that a group of people suffering from migraines managed to significantly reduce the number of attacks by using the leaves of this plant.
It’s usage originate in ancient times.
The plant was used in the treatment of female ailments.
This plant was used, above all, for intermittent fevers, but also for conditions such as toothache, rheumatism.
About
Tanacetum parthenium is an aromatic annual plant with leaves similar to chrysanthemums. It's a tree moderately branched, with many leaves, up to 5 mm in diameter. It is quadrangular in shape, longitudinally furrowed, and slightly hairy. The leaves are yellow-green, broad, oval-shaped, and pinnately divided into 3-5 lobes.
The flowers are like chamomile or white radish-ligulate, arranged around the rim, and tubular flowers yellow and are located in the center. The plant originates from the Balkans, but it is widespread today.
Feverfew got its common name because of its traditional use to treat fever by effectively reducing the temperature.
Composition
Feverfew contains sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoid glycosides, pinenes, and other compounds. Parthenolide has been thought to be the main pharmaco-active component in feverfew and is widely used as an active marker for standardization.
The content of parthenolides in the dried leaf can be up to 1% while the rest of sesquiterpene lactones are present in much smaller amounts. stem formation. The content of parthenolide gradually increases until the plant is in full bloom. Drying at room temperature and lyophilization do not have a negative effect on the content of parthenolide.
Science
Feverfew extract has been shown to inhibit platelet aggregation, as well as in vitro secretion induced by various agents. These effects are thought to have a share in antimigraine action because they are similar in effects to the drugs used in the prevention of migraine - triptans. Therefore, T. parthenium is used in the prevention of migraines, but not acute attack therapy.
The efficacy of the extract (6.25 mg) in the prevention of migraine is examined in randomized, double-blind, controlled, and multicenter studies. Patients received the test extract for 16 weeks. The main goal was to compare the average number of migraine attacks during 28 days in the second and third months of the study with an average with number of attacks during the trial period. The incidence of migraine has been shown to be decreased on average from 4.76 to 2.86 seizures per month in the group receiving the extract and 3.46 in the placebo group. In this way, efficiency has been proven in migraine prevention.
Safety
Side effects can include nausea, digestive problems, and bloating; if the fresh leaves are chewed, sores and irritation of the mouth may occur. People who are sensitive to ragweed and related plants may experience allergic reactions to feverfew.
As of now, there's no official recommended dose for feverfew. One study found that taking 100–300 mg of a feverfew supplement containing between 1–4 times daily may treat migraine headaches. It may also increase the risk of bleeding, especially if combined with blood-thinning medications. Pregnant and nursing women, as well as young children, should not take feverfew.
Fun Facts
The genus name, Tanacetum, is derived from the Greek word athanaton which means immortal: this is because the flowers last for so long and because it was once used in the preservation of dead bodies.
Sources
Jannesar, M., Majd, A., Shoushtari, M. S., & Oraei, M. (2014). Effect of total flavonoid extract of Tanacetum parthenium L.(feverfew) pollen grains on immune system responses in Balb/C mice. Int J Biosci, 5(12), 72-78.
Pareek, A., Suthar, M., Rathore, G. S., & Bansal, V. (2011). Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L.): A systematic review. Pharmacognosy reviews, 5(9), 103.
Recipes
