Feverfew is a member of the sunflower family. The short bushy plant has a bitter odor. Its flowers look like clusters of yellow daisies. Feverfew originated in the Balkan Mountains in Eastern Europe but now grows throughout Europe as well as in North and South America. Other names for feverfew include bachelor’s buttons and featherfew.
Why Feverfew is used
Folk medicine includes many references to feverfew as a treatment for headaches, arthritis pain, and fevers. It has also been used to relieve stomach aches, toothaches, and insect bites and to ease problems with menstruation and with labor during childbirth.
In the 1980s, feverfew gained popularity in Great Britain as a treatment for migraine headaches. In one study, over 70 percent of migraine sufferers claimed feverfew reduced their headaches if they ate two to three fresh leaves from the plant every day. Other studies concluded that patients taking feverfew got migraines less often. But not all studies agree with these results.
Feverfew has also been used as a treatment for arthritis pain. Laboratory studies show feverfew has anti-inflammatory properties that suggest it should be helpful with arthritis pain. But actual trials with human patients have not shown that feverfew is any better than a placebo at reducing arthritis pain.
How Feverfew is used
The entire feverfew plant is safe for use as a supplement. Most feverfew products contain dried leaves, although some also contain flowers and stems. Supplements include capsules, tablets, and liquids. Some people also chose to eat the fresh leaves.
The standard dose of feverfew is 100 to 300 mg up to four times each day for migraine headaches for an adult weighing approximately 150 pounds.
Cautions for Feverfew
There are no recognized serious side effects reported by patients taking feverfew. Cautions for feverfew include:
• Anticoagulants – People who are taking drugs to prevent their blood from clotting should not take feverfew.
• Pregnant women – Using feverfew while pregnant can cause the uterus to contract which can increase the chances of miscarriage or delivering prematurely.
• Children – Feverfew is not recommended for children age 2 or younger. Women who are nursing should not take feverfew.
• Allergies – People who are allergic to chamomile, ragweed, or yarrow should avoid feverfew to prevent a possible reaction.
• Oral symptoms – Feverfew can cause canker sores on the mouth, swelling of the lips and tongue, and loss of the sense of taste.
• Digestive symptoms – Abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, gas, and vomiting are possible side effects.
If you have been taking feverfew for more than one week, do not stop taking the supplement without gradually lowering the dose first. Withdrawal symptoms may include rebound headaches, anxiety, fatigue, stiffness, and joint pain.
Be sure to tell your health care professionals about all the supplements you chose to take to make sure there are no unexpected interactions between supplements and other medications.
Sources:
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
University of Maryland Medical Center
American Academy of Family Physicians