Feverfew (tanacetum parthenium)
Synopsis of feverfew
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a flowering plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae, native to southeastern Europe but now widespread throughout North America and other temperate regions. It has a strong, bitter aroma and features small, white, daisy-like flowers. The leaves are the most commonly used part of the plant for medicinal purposes, typically consumed fresh, dried, or in capsule, tablet, or tea form.
Feverfew is best known in modern herbal medicine for its role in migraine prevention. Its active constituents include parthenolide, a sesquiterpene lactone thought to help reduce inflammation by inhibiting the release of serotonin and prostaglandins, which are involved in migraine development. Feverfew also exhibits anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, and vasodilatory effects, making it potentially useful for supporting circulatory and joint health.
Clinical trials have supported its use in reducing the frequency and severity of migraines, though results are mixed and more effective in prevention than acute treatment. It has also been explored for arthritis relief, menstrual discomfort, and skin conditions like dermatitis. While generally well tolerated, feverfew may cause mouth ulcers or digestive upset in some individuals, especially when consumed fresh. It should not be taken during pregnancy due to its potential uterine-stimulating effects.
Historical Use
Feverfew has a long-standing presence in European folk medicine, dating back to Ancient Greece. The physician Dioscorides mentioned it in the 1st century CE for treating inflammatory conditions and fevers, hence its name—“feverfew” deriving from the Latin febrifugia, meaning “fever reducer.” In medieval times, it was a common remedy for headaches, toothaches, digestive complaints, and menstrual irregularities, often prepared as a tea or poultice.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, herbalists like Nicholas Culpeper praised feverfew for its “strength against all cold diseases of the head,” using it for melancholy, vertigo, and migraines. It was also planted in gardens as a protective herb believed to ward off illness and purify the air.
Despite a dip in popularity with the rise of pharmaceutical medicine, feverfew experienced a revival in the 1970s and 1980s when its effectiveness in managing migraines gained renewed scientific and public interest. Today, it remains one of the more well-researched Western herbs, valued for its ability to bridge traditional herbalism with evidence-based clinical applications.
Feverfew is used for these health conditions
Fever (Traditional)
Headache (cluster) (Traditional)
Headache (general) (Scientific)
Headache (tension) (Scientific)
Migraine (Scientific)
