Feverfew Shampoo

One traditional use for feverfew is as a shampoo. Its historical uses also include reducing toothache pain and getting the itch out of insect bites. You'll still find this ingredient, which has anti-inflammatory properties if you get the right type, in formulations today. You should consult a dermatologist before adding a feverfew-containing shampoo to your regimen, however, especially if you are attempting to treat a skin condition.

Significance

Feverfew can protect your scalp from damaging environmental factors like the sun's ultraviolet rays and atmospheric pollutants, says K. Martin, lead author for a study published in the "Archives of Dermatological Research." This may be especially helpful as you age and your antioxidant defenses weaken. Feverfew has naturally occurring antioxidants that may replenish depleted skin antioxidant stores. This, in turn, both reduces DNA damage and induces DNA-repair enzymes, possibly forestalling damage to your skin, Martin says.

Types

Not all feverfew will benefit your scalp. If feverfew is an ingredient in your shampoo, you need to contact the manufacturer to confirm the type in their formulation is parthenolide-free, advises Paula Begoun, author of "The Original Beauty Bible." That's because parthenolide is a skin irritant that can trigger allergic reactions. When this constituent is extracted from feverfew, the concerns about skin irritation also are removed. If company representatives don't know whether their products are parthenolide-free--or won't tell you---you should not use the product, especially if you are allergic to any plants, Begoun advises. You are most likely to suffer an allergic reaction to feverfew if you are sensitive to other members of the daisy family, such as ragweed and chrysanthemums, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Benefits

Parthenolide-free feverfew helps to reduce inflammation if you have a condition like scalp psoriasis. Psoriasis is an immune system disease that affects your skin, most commonly causing raised, red lesions that are covered by silvery-white scales, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. While parthenolide-containing feverfew could worsen this condition because it causes skin sensitization, parthenolide-free feverfew can be effective for relieving inflammation without inducing immune sensitization, says R. Sur, lead author for a study published in the journal, "Inflammopharmacology."

Function

Feverfew may work by inhibiting the histamine and hormones that are known as prostaglandins, says David C. Stuart, author of "Dangerous Garden." These are released during your body's inflammatory process. Interestingly, the parthenolide that causes problems on your skin may be beneficial when present in feverfew that is taken orally, Begoun notes. Parthenolide-containing feverfew taken internally may help alleviate migraines and also have anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce arthritis pain.

Considerations

If you are trying to spot feverfew on your shampoo's ingredient list, you'll need to check for several names that it goes by. Its scientific name is Tanacetum parthenium. It's also synonymous with Leucanthemum parthenium, Chrysanthemum parthenium and Pyrethrum parthenium, according to Drugs.com. Other common names for feverfew include altamisa, featherfew, bachelor's button, featherfoil, Santa Maria, febrifuge plant, midsummer daisy, wild quinine and wild chamomile. Along the roadside, this member of the daisy family is sometimes confused with chamomile because it looks similar.