Feverfew's use in traditional and folk medicine dates back to ancient times, and it has been most commonly used to treat fever, from which it gets its name. Once called medieval aspirin, it now is used in many countries to treat a variety of health conditions. However, scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of feverfew for any health condition is lacking. As with starting any herbal supplement, first talk to your doctor before using feverfew.
Identification and Dosing
Feverfew grows wild in Europe and the Americas and is also known by other names such as featherfew, bachelor's button and wild chamomile. Feverfew consists of a variety of chemical substances, such as parthenolide, which are thought to be responsible for its beneficial health effects, notes Drugs.com. The dried leaves are most commonly used medicinally and available as capsules, tablets and liquid extracts. Daily doses of 50 to 150 mg of dried leaves have been reported.
Uses
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM, feverfew has long been used to treat conditions such as fever, head and tooth pain, insect bites, and menstrual problems. It is also used for managing migraine headache and rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, allergic conditions, lightheadedness and stomach problems, states NCCAM. Furthermore, the scent of the feverfew flower has made feverfew useful as an air purifier and an insect repellent.
Effectiveness
There is still inconclusive evidence to support the effectiveness of feverfew for managing migraine headache, reports NCCAM. Although feverfew has also not been shown to be effective for managing symptoms of severe rheumatoid arthritis, it is thought that it may play a beneficial role in less severe forms of arthritis. Research is currently under way to determine standardized doses of feverfew that will facilitate future research directed at establishing its clinical efficacy, notes NCCAM.
Considerations
Most side effects from feverfew are mild and include inflammation of the lips and tongue, loss of taste, and stomach problems such as nausea or bloating. Abrupt discontinuation of feverfew after long-term use can cause problems such as insomnia, head or joint pain, anxiety, and muscle stiffness. Also, you should not use feverfew if you are pregnant, as it may cause contractions in the uterus.
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