Feverfew and Migraines

Overview of the herb Feverfew

Feverfew is a common herb grown wild and sometimes cultivated throughout Europe, the USA. and Canada. It has been used for the relief of many common complaints for centuries due to its apparent success. It has been tested and reports in medical journals have suggested that, amongst other things, it is suitable, in many cases, for the prevention of migraine attacks. It also is recommended by some sources for headache relief.

Feverfew grew in the garden of our previous house. At the time I had no idea of what it was. To me it was just one of those wild flowers that grew easily in one patch of the garden. You know how it is with wild flowers, some we consider weeds, some are accepted. These daisies were considered as OK and left to grow.

It was during building work to the rear of our house that I asked Bill, an old friend and experienced builder, if he knew what this plant was. He told me that the daisy was known as feverfew and was a herb used to treat fevers and other complaints.

I went to my book of herbs and discovered it was recommended for headache relief, inflammation, help with arthritis, menstrual pains, to stimulate appetite, improve digestion, lower blood pressure; it was also claimed to relive dizziness, tinnitus and some dermatitis. Obviously a wonder herb.

Since this point as my interest in headache remedies has grown I have come to understand feverfew as a useful tool in the relief of headaches and especially migraine.

Whilst all the studies have not been entirely conclusive the general opinion about the herb appears to show some positive benefits in helping some people reduce or prevent the onset of migraine attacks.

Today, health care providers primarily use feverfew to treat and prevent certain headaches, arthritis, and other painful disorders.

A University of Maryland Medical Centre web site states the following:-

“Feverfew gained popularity in Great Britain in the 1980s as an alternative to conventional medications for migraine headaches. A survey of 270 migraine sufferers in Great Britain revealed that more than 70% of individuals felt substantially better after ingesting an average of two to three fresh feverfew leaves daily. Several controlled human trials have been conducted using feverfew for migraine prevention and treatment. Overall, these studies suggest that feverfew taken daily as dried leaf capsules may reduce the incidence of attacks in patients who experience long-term migraine headaches. ..........

Some studies in humans have not been positive. The choice of which feverfew supplement to take plays a major role in whether feverfew will help in migraine headaches. Ask your health care provider. “

The Active ingredient is Parthenolide

The active ingredient in feverfew appears to be parthenolide, this compound helps relieve muscle spasms. It also reduces the constriction of blood vessels in the brain, which research suggests as one of the leading causes of migraine.

The Migraine Trust

The Migraine Trust in Britain publishes a leaflet which has a set of instructions for using feverfew to help prevent migraine attacks. They also mention some of the draw backs to using the herb.

Briefly they suggest eating one large or three small leaves shorter than 4 cm per day. The leaves can be fresh or dried for future use. There is, however no guarantee of the strength of the active ingredients.

Feverfew capsules can be bought at pharmacies or herbalists. The dosage of preparations can differ widely, a daily dose of 250 milligrams is generally recommended.

The scientific research conducted so far has been done using the freeze dried capsules.

It is also possible to buy prepared tablets and tinctures which are used for skin problems

If you were to grow your own feverfew it can then be used fresh, eaten in salads or drunk as an infusion or tea. As I mentioned it used to grow in my old garden without any help from me. So you should have no problems doing so.

As mentioned earlier feverfew seems to work best as a migraine preventative not to alleviate attacks when they have started. It is recommended taking it everyday for several weeks in order to find out if it works for you. Then if successful continuing to do so each day. If you do wish to stop taking it reduce your dosage gradually as rapid withdrawal can cause strong side effects.

Feverfew and side effects?

The Migraine Trust leaflet has the following warning

“Feverfew should not be taken during pregnancy as it can cause contractions.

As feverfew is similar to aspirin and other NSAIDs such as ibruprofen, it is probably best not to take both at the same time. As with aspirin feverfew should not be taken if you are breast feeding.

Some people find that feverfew can cause mouth ulcers and minor skin irritations. There have been no reported effects on heart rate, blood pressure or weight.

If you decide to stop taking feverfew it is best to decrease the amount you take gradually to phase it out slowly. Some people who have suddenly stopped taking it after several years have experienced a return of their previous level of migraines along with other symptoms such as nausea, anxiety and insomnia. This is known as “feverfew rebound syndrome”.

As with any herbal remedy, it is advisable to consult your own doctor or herbalist before starting treatment “

Sources

The Migraine Trust

55-56 Russell Square

London WC1B 4HP

Helpline: 020 7436 1336

www.migrainetrust.org

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/feverfew-000243.htm

Please note information on this web site is provided for your information. Please consult your physician before making any changes to your treatment. Seek medical advice for anything that you do not understand. Remember much of this information is not provided by medical practitioners and should be treated as such. No liability can be accepted by the publishers for the use of information on this site.