What is feverfew?

Feverfew is native to parts of Western Asia. It is part of the Asteraceae family. The name Feverfew originates from the latin word febrifugia which translates as “fever reducer”.

What are the potential therapeutic benefits of feverfew?

Traditional use includes for the treatment of fevers and high levels of inflammation. Other uses include for headaches and arthritis. It is also applied to gums for toothache pain and as an antiseptic. Historically, it was known as the “Aspirin of the 18th century” [i].

Migraine

One of the main constituents of feverfew is Parthenolide, which is said to be of therapeutic benefit for uses such as decreasing migraine occurrence [ii] [iii] [iv].

In particular, one double-blind placebo controlled pilot study of sublingual feverfew and ginger found that after 2h of treatment for an active migraine attack, 63% of patients receiving feverfew and ginger found pain relief compared with 39% in the placebo group. The study enrolled a total of 60 patients. 32% of patients were pain free at 2h after receiving the feverfew and ginger combination [v].

Test tube studies found feverfew to reduce prostaglandin action, prostaglandins are molecules that promote inflammation, this action therefore reduces inflammation associated with migraine [vi].

Other benefits

Pain relief

The anti-inflammatory actions of feverfew contributes to its pain relieving qualities. Feverfew is seen to be effective in joint pain, neuropathic pain (caused by damage or injury to the nerves that transfer information between the brain and spinal cord ) and acute pain cause by acute inflammation [vii] [viii].

Neurological effects

Feverfew is also said to have positive effects on conditions such as anxiety and depression. A study looking into the use of a combined treatment of coenzyme Q10, feverfew and magnesium for migraine found anxiety and depressive symptoms decreased between baseline readings and the third month of supplementation. Such improvements were measured via a quality of life questionnaire. It was said the combination was well tolerated [ix].

Safety

Precautions

Use in pregnancy and lactation is not advised

People who are sensitive to ragweed and related plants may have allergic reactions when using feverfew

Topical applications could cause skin irritation.

Feverfew might slow blood clotting. Taking feverfew could increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding or blood clotting disorders.

Potential side effects

Rare and mild side effects include nausea, digestive upset and bloating.

Interactions

Medications to slow blood clotting; including anticoagulant and anti-platelet drugs may have interactions with feverfew as it could have additive effects. Thus, increasing the risk of bruising and bleeding.

Feverfew also interacts with many drugs via certain metabolic pathways in the liver, please consult with your prescribing doctor proper to using feverfew alongside prescription mediation.