Feverfew is a plant that originates from southeastern Europe. Feverfew got its name from the Latin word febrifugia, meaning fever reducer. It has been used in Europe for centuries as a folk medicine to treat migraine headache, irregular or painful periods, fever, allergies, stomach ache, asthma, arthritis and difficult labor. Always check with your health care practitioner before trying an herbal medicine.
Feverfew Herbal Supplements
Herbal feverfew supplements use mostly the dried leaves of the plant, although the flowers and the stems are sometimes used as well. Most feverfew supplements contain and are standardized with parthenolide, which is the active compound that exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and smooth-muscle-relaxing properties, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center or UMM. Alcohol extraction, carbon-dioxide extraction or freeze-dry are common methods used to prepare the feverfew extract.
Effect on Migraine
Reviews by both UMM and the National Institutes of Health or NIH rate feverfew as possibly effective in reducing the incidences of attacks in migraine sufferers. Some studies reviewed used combinations of feverfew with other natural supplements such as magnesium, vitamin B2 and white willow, a plant from which aspirin is derived. While not all studies showed positive results in migraine reduction, Dr. Robert Bonakdar, the Director of Pain Management in Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine at UCSD, pointed out the preparation method may be the key in selecting the effective feverfew supplement: The freeze-dry and carbon-dioxide-extracted preparations tend to be more effective than the alcohol-extracted preparations.
Doses
UMM recommends a dose of 100 to 300 mg feverfew taken up to four times daily for migraine. But the NIH noted that some studies have used lower doses in the range of 50 to 100 mg a day. Choose a product that is standardized to contain 0.2 to 0.4 percent parthenolide. If you are using carbon-dioxide-extracted preparations, UMM recommends 6.25 mg extract three times a day. Some people chew the fresh leaves instead of taking the supplement pills. However, the NIH warns that this may cause canker sores or mouth ulcers. Check with your health care providers for the appropriate doses for you and take feverfew under medical supervision.
Side Effects
Side effects of feverfew are usually minor and may include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and flatulence. If you are allergic to the asteraceae/Compositae plants such as chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies and ragweed, you may want to avoid feverfew because you are likely to be allergic to it as well. Feverfew has anti-platelet effects. Taking feverfew with blood-thinners like warfarin, anti-platelet drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen or blood-thinning herbs such as danshen, Ginkgo, clove, ginger, garlic, angelica and Panax ginseng may increase the risk of bleeding. Feverfew also interferes with the liver's ability to metabolize drugs. Because most medications are modified or metabolized by the liver, check with your doctor before using feverfew if you are on medications because it may amplify the effects and increase the side effects of the medications.
