Feverfew is a common-or-garden herb which has grown unwanted in many people's gardens; but has been commercially cultivated in the British Isles and Europe during the past fifteen years.

It is a member of the Compositae or Daisy family; and is sometimes known as Chrysanthemum Parthenium or more correctly Tanacetum Parthenium.
It is a perennial plant, growing to a height of between 14 and 45 cms, with light-green feather-like leaves which are aromatic but bitter to taste. Its pretty daisy-like flowers are yellow at the centre with white outer petals.
The colour of its leaves is most important, as a different genus, Matricaria, with leaves more yellowish in colour, is sometimes mistakenly sold as Feverfew. It is important to remember that only the wild variety of Feverfew namely Tanacetum Parthenium has been subjected to pharmacological and chemical investigation; and now proved to be beneficial in the prevention of migraine and other recurrent headaches.

Why take Feverfew?

Many people who have suffered from migraine claim to have benefitted from taking Feverfew. Some have found that they don't need to take it continually - a course of up to three months duration will leave them migraine-free for long periods of time before they have to take more Feverfew.

The comments of migraine sufferers who have found relief with Feverfew were borne out in a Clinical Trial held at the City of London Migraine Clinic - 70% of the patients who took Feverfew during this research said that the herb either prevented or lessened the severity of their headaches as well as other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.
A full scientific trial carried out by doctors at Nottingham University Hospital on 60 migraine sufferers proved its efficacy. Those people taking feverfew had 25% fewer migraine attacks and suffered less nausea and vomiting during attacks. They noticed that they felt better when taking the herb, which was effective for classical as well as for other types of migraine.

How does Feverfew work?

The Feverfew plant has been used for centuries to relieve migraine, but scientific studies have only recently shown how it works. Migraine pain is caused by the constriction and swelling of blood vessels in the head that are partly triggered off by the body chemical called Serotonin reducing the flow of blood to the brain. Feverfew has a natural chemical called Parthenolide that inhibits the release of Serotonin from small cells called Platelets, thereby allowing a more regular blood flow.

Is Feverfew safe to take?

Feverfew is generally regarded as a safe non-addictive herb with acknowledged medicinal properties. It has been taken on a daily basis by many thousands of people in this country, Europe and North America for a number of years. A relatively few people find that Feverfew can cause slight mouth ulcers or itchiness of the skin. These symptoms tend to disappear within 24 hours of discontinuing the taking of the herb.
Dr. Stewart Johnson (formerly of the City of London Migraine Clinic) who proposed research into using Feverfew for the treatment of migraine, has completed investigation into the safety of taking Feverfew. These tests, which were looking at whether Feverfew causes changes in the chromosomes - the structure in our cells which carry our genes - proved negative, giving further evidence that Feverfew is a safe substance even when taken over a long period of time.
However as with all medicines, pregnant and lactating women are advised not to take Feverfew without first consulting their doctor.

Feverfew Tablets

By far the most convenient method of taking Feverfew is in tablet form. Good quality tablets have proven as effective as home grown fresh or dried Feverfew. However recent pharmacological trials have shows a wide discrepancy in the level of active ingredient found in different brands. It is therefore important, that you:

* · Buy a product that states clearly on the label - Tanacetium Parthenium, and declares at least 0.2% parthenolide for every 125mg of Feverfew leaf powder
* · use Feverfew tablets every day for a period of 90 days to fully assess the benefits.

Most people find that taking Tanacet Feverfew 125 tablets form have a number of advantages:

* · It tablet is an easy and convenient way of taking Feverfew on a daily basis
* · It achieves the effective daily dose, determined by the Canadian Health Authorities to be 0.2% Parthenolide for each 125mg of Feverfew Leaf Powder
* · Tanacet Feverfew 125 tablets contain feverfew that has been carefully produced by professional herb growers and manufactured to strict quality control standards in order to standardise its potency.
* · Tanacet Feverfew 125 tablets are suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans and are produced without cruelty to animals.
* · Tanacet Feverfew 125 are also suitable for Coeliacs and are Kosher approved.