Feverfew is an herb used to treat various conditions, including inflammation, fever, psoriasis, rheumatism, and asthma. Feverfew has also been used for the symptoms of migraine headaches, including dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. The varied extraction methods of feverfew potentially produce different physiological and pharmacological actions and thus vary in clinical efficacy. Therefore, it is recommended to seek professional health care advice before using this herb to alleviate the symptoms of migraine headaches.
Migraine Headaches
Migraine is a debilitating condition characterized by moderate-to-severe headaches. The characteristic migraine headache affects only one-half of the head, is pulsating in nature, and lasts from hours to days, with symptoms including sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting. Interestingly, almost one-third of migraine sufferers encounter abnormal visual, olfactory, or other sensory experiences that indicate the onset of an attack. Conventional treatment often consists of analgesics for the headache, an anti-emetic for the nausea, and aversion of conditions known to initiate the attacks. Research suggests that feverfew may be helpful for preventing migraine headaches; however, results have been varied primarily due to the lack of standardizations in the preparation of feverfew medications, indicating that future well-designed clinical studies are necessary.
The Efficacy of Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium, commonly known as feverfew, is a traditional medicinal herb indigenous to Europe and Asia primarily used to reduce fever, and treat headaches, inflammation and digestive problems. Although its mechanism of action remains elusive, the blocking of serotonin receptors in the brain have been suggested. Researchers have hypothesized that by inhibiting the release of serotonin, believed to aid the onset of migraines, feverfew is able to limit the inflammation of blood vessels in the cranium. However, evidence that it prevents migraine is incomplete, and results widely fluctuate among diversely prepared feverfew supplements.
Research on Treatment of Migraine Headaches with Feverfew
The June 2004 issue of the "Journal of American Academy of Nurse Practitioners" published an article, which analyzed recent studies on migraine treatments utilizing feverfew and outlined its actions and side effects. They found that recent clinical data support the use of feverfew; however, they cautioned, that studies are limited due to the test subjects' perceived relief. The authors recommended further studies with thorough methodologies and larger sample sizes to sustain the apparently harmless and effectual use of these treatments.
The November 2005 issue of "Cephalalgia" contained an article addressing the efficacy and tolerability of an extract of feverfew prescribed for migraine prevention. The researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of patients enduring periodic migraine attacks and treated them to determine the average number of migraine attacks per month during the treatment compared with an established frequency before treatment. They monitored adverse events and vital signs during physical examinations and found that the frequency of migraines decreased by an average of two attacks per month. The study concluded that adverse events were minimal and the treatment is effective and shows an encouraging benefit to risk ratio.
Increased Action of Feverfew in Combination with Other Herbs
In the May 2006 issue of "Clinical Drug Investigation," researchers hypothesized that extracts of herbal combinations with feverfew may provide better anti-migraine activity compared with feverfew alone. They conducted a study on patients diagnosed with migraine and treated the subjects for several months with feverfew alone and with white willow to determine the effects of therapy on the frequency, intensity and duration of attacks They found that the frequency was reduced by more than half after 6 weeks in 90 percent of the patients, using the combination of ingredients and the intensity of the attacks was reduced by more than a third. Additionally, the duration decreased by two-thirds in all test subjects. They concluded that the patients' general health, physical performance, memory and anxiety improved by the end of the study.
References
- "Journal of American Academy of Nurse Practioners"; Evidenced-based use of botanicals, minerals, and vitamins in the prophylactic treatment of migraines; J Rios et al.; June 2004.
- "Cephalalgia"; Efficacy and safety of 6.25 mg t.i.d. feverfew CO2-extract (MIG-99) in migraine prevention--a randomized, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled study; H Diener et al.; November 2005.
- "Clinical Drug Investigations"; Tanacetum parthenium and Salix alba (Mig-RL) combination in migraine prophylaxis: a prospective, open-label study; R Shrivasta et al.; May 2006.
