Herbal Remedies - Feverfew

Feverfew has been used by healers for centuries.  Its leaves have been used to treat many conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, headaches and menstrual problems.

Feverfew plants are easily recognisable with flowers which are bright yellow or sometimes white.  The plants emit a powerful scent that the ancients believed could purify the air.

As its name suggests feverfew was originally used as a cure for fever.  Tan acetum parthenium, to give feverfew its technical name, fell out of favour but made a come back in the seventies.  Medical science was investigating relief for migraine sufferers and feverfew came into its own.

It had been considered that the parthenolide content of feverfew was its only health attribute.  Later studies have shown that it contains other substances, useful in the treatment of such afflictions as rheumatoid arthritis.

Medical science is unaware of the cause of migraines, although some experts are of the opinion that migraine headaches, may start by the contraction and then sudden dilation of blood vessels.  They believe this induces the brain to produce neurochemicals that cause the headache.

It is not known how feverfew helps with migraine but it is best used as a preventative.  It is believed that the parthenolides act similar to aspirin to stop platelets from grouping.  There is not much feverfew can do once a migraine has started, so as always, prevention is better than cure.

Feverfew is useful in relieving menstrual cramps.  Problems occurring during the menstrual cycle are said to happen when the uterine lining overproduces prostaglandin, resulting in pain and inflammation.  Studies concerning the use of feverfew for menstruation problems are by no means extensive, but there is no harm in a try out to see if it works for you.