Feverfew

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium ) has been used for centuries in folk medicine as a remedy for headaches, arthritis, and fevers.
Feverfew has also been traditionally used to treat menstrual irregularities, labour difficulties, skin conditions, stomach aches, and asthma.
The migraine-relieving activity of feverfew is believed to be due to parthenolide, which helps relieve smooth muscle spasms. In particular, it helps prevent the constriction of blood vessels in the brain (one of the leading causes of migraine headaches). Feverfew also inhibits inflammation.
Feverfew gained popularity in the 1980s as an alternative to drugs for migraine headaches. A survey of 270 sufferers revealed that more than 70% of individuals felt substantially better after chewing an average of two to three fresh feverfew leaves daily. Several controlled human trials have been conducted using feverfew for migraine prevention and treatment. These studies suggest that feverfew capsules may reduce the incidence of attacks in long-term migraine sufferers.
A clinical study used a combination of feverfew with white willow. White willow contains components similar to aspirin. The product was given twice daily for 12 weeks. The frequency, intensity and duration of migraine attacks were significantly decreased in the patients taking the combination.
Another study found that a carbon dioxide extract of feverfew decreased the frequency of migraine attacks from 4.76 per month to 1.9 per month. A 3-month study in 49 subjects found that a combination of feverfew with magnesium and vitamin B2 provided a 50% decrease in attacks.
Feverfew supplements with clinical studies contain a standardised dose of parthenolide (the active compound in feverfew). Feverfew supplements should be standardised to contain at least 0.2% parthenolide.
Feverfew should not be used in children under 2 years of age.
In older children, adjust the recommended adult dose to account for the child's weight. Most herbal dosages for adults are calculated on the basis of an average of 150 lb (70 kg) adult. Therefore, if the child weighs 50 lb (20 - 25 kg), the appropriate dose of feverfew for this child would be 1/3 of the adult dosage.
Herbs can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or drugs. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a health care provider qualified in the field of herbalism.
Side effects can include abdominal pain, indigestion, flatulence, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and nervousness. Mouth ulcers, loss of taste, and swelling of the lips, tongue, and mouth may occur in some people who chew raw feverfew leaves. People with allergies to chamomile, ragweed, or yarrow will likely be allergic to feverfew and, therefore, should not take it.
Feverfew may increase the tendency to bleed, especially in individuals with bleeding disorders or taking blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin or warfarin. Do not use feverfew if you have bleeding disorders or are taking blood-thinning medications unless you are under the supervision of a doctor.
Pregnant and nursing women as well as children under 2 years of age should not take feverfew.
Do not abruptly stop taking feverfew if you have used it for more than 1 week. A withdrawal syndrome characterized by rebound headache, anxiety, fatigue, muscle stiffness, and joint pain may occur.