Feverfew herb grows widely across Europe and North America. The leaves of feverfew have been historically used for the therapy of fever and more recently migraine headaches. For centuries, healers relied on the feathery green leaves of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) to treat headaches, stomach upset, rheumatoid arthritis, and menstrual problems. The bright yellow and white blossoms of this flower, which grows wild throughout Europe and South America, emit a powerful aroma that was once thought to purify the air and prevent disease. Feverfew has also long been used in gardens to repel bees and various insects. And as its common name suggests, it was once popular for reducing fever. The herb was somewhat forgotten, however, until the late 1970s. That's when migraine sufferers started talking about feverfew's potential to ward off these often debilitating headaches. Buy Feverfew herb here.
What's in
Feverfew herb?
Feverfew herb contains a range of compounds known as sesquiterpene lactones. Over 85% of these are a compound called parthenolide.
The active ingredient in feverfew, parthenolide, specifically binds to and
inhibits a protein which plays a role in the body's inflammatory process. Fever
is part of the body's inflammatory response, and inflammation contributes to a
range of ailments--including migraines. Parthenolide
helps prevent excessive clumping of platelets and inhibits the release of certain
inflammatory chemicals. Feverfew's active
ingredient parthenolide specifically binds to and inhibits the protein IKK-beta, which
plays a role in the body's inflammatory process. Fever is part of the body's inflammatory
response, and inflammation contributes to a range of ailments--including migraines.
The routine dosage of feverfew is 100 to 300 mg
up to four times a day, 0.2 to 0.4% parthenolide.
Results of studies with feverfew in the therapy
or prevention of migraine headaches have not been consistent.
Enzymatic Therapy - Feverfew, 30
Capsules
Feverfew
herb is stabilized and standardized to guarantee 600 mcg of Parthenolide per capsule
(verified by HPLC). Parthenolide is feverfew's most beneficial compound.
Feverfew is made from feverfew flowers and leaves harvested when the plant is
richest in Parthenolide content. Just one capsule daily provides the maximum
value feverfew has to offer.
Feverfew herb Migraine Remedy
German researchers report that
feverfew extract has potential for migraine headache help. The researchers
conducted a study with 170 migraine patients. At the beginning of the trial,
migraine frequency was approximately five attacks over a 4-week period. The
subjects were then randomly assigned to treatment with feverfew or placebo three
times a day for up to 16 weeks. In the feverfew treatment group, migraine
frequency declined by two attacks per month. In the placebo patients, the
corresponding decrease was only one per month. Analysis of responder rates
revealed that feverfew was 3 times more effective than placebo.
Feverfew herb summary
Feverfew is helpful to some migraine sufferers although a review of published
studies does not support the view that feverfew is consistently effective.
The dosage is about 100 to 150 mg of the freeze-dried powdered herb, containing
at least 0.4% parthenolide, taken twice a day. Benefits may be noticed within a
month or two. Exercise, B vitamins, and magnesium supplements may also help.
Some migraine sufferers also notice benefits from a low gluten diet.
Feverfew herb studies
Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2004;(1):CD002286. Department of Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical
School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, 25 Victoria Park Road, Exeter,
Devon, UK, EX2 4NT.
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L.) extract is a herbal remedy
used for preventing attacks of migraine. To systematically review the evidence
from double-blind randomised controlled trials assessing the clinical efficacy
and safety of feverfew versus placebo for preventing migraine. Trials using
clinical outcome measures were included. Trials focusing exclusively on
physiological parameters were excluded. There were no restrictions regarding the
language of publication. Data on patients, interventions, methods, outcome
measures, results and adverse events were extracted systematically. Two
reviewers independently selected studies, assessed methodological quality and
extracted data. Disagreements concerning evaluation of individual trials were
resolved through discussion. MAIN RESULTS: Five trials (343 patients) met the
inclusion criteria. Results from these trials were mixed and did not
convincingly establish that feverfew is efficacious for preventing migraine.
Only mild and transient adverse events were reported in the included trials.
There is insufficient evidence from randomised,
double-blind trials to suggest an effect of feverfew over and above placebo for
preventing migraine. It appears from the data reviewed that feverfew presents no
major safety problems.
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