Tanacetum parthenium, Feverfew

Common names

Featherfew, Featherfoil, Midsummer daisy, Bachelor’s buttons, Altamisa, nosebleed, flirtwort

History

Its medieval uses include use as a tisane, sedative.
Migraine & pain reliever.
Used also with headaches, rheumatism & general aches & pains.
For adder’s bite, pain in the eyes as an eye salve, for spasms of the sinews, as a poison antidote, for worms. For inflammations, enlarged body, and falling sickness.
Against a sudden stitch.
Drink for rigor of the stomach & body. Ointment for bruises, For any kind of wounded intergument. For hysteria.

As a healing ointment, for foul breath. For worms, boils and gout

Medicinal uses

Anti-inflammatory, vasodilator, antirheumatic, febrifuge, digestive bitter, anthelmintic, uterine stimulant (please see Glossary)

Benefits

Although this herb has long been used for treating migraines, confirmed by clinical studies, the precise mechanism of the action is not yet fully understood. It helps ease tinnitus and dizziness, and allievates nausea and vomiting. 

Tanacetum parthenium has long been reputed to help relieve arthritis, particularly in the painful active inflammatory stage.

T. Parthenium has been used in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea and sluggish menstrual flow, and an infusion may be taken to cleanse the uterus after childbirth. Antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi in vitro have been documented for parthenolide; Gram-negative bacteria were not affected.

Other uses

Culpeper wrote, ‘Venus commands this herb, and has commanded it to succour her sisters and be a general strengthener of their wombs’. Gerard recommended it as ‘very good for them that are giddie in the head, or which have the turning called Vertigo, that is, a swimming and turning in the head.’ Feverfew is an effective insect repellent.

Warnings

The fresh leaves can cause mouth ulceration or gastric disturbance so it is recommended that those taking the fresh leaf for migraine prophylaxis should take it with some bread. Contact allergy is rare. The herb is contraindicated in pregnancy due to its stimulating action on the uterus.

References

Bradley, P.R. (ed.) 1992 British Herbal Compendium, Volume 1, BHMA, Bournemouth.

BHMA 1983 British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, BHMA, Bournemouth.

Culpeper, N. 1649 Complete Herbal and English Physician, 1990 reprint of the 1814 London edition of Culpeper’s Complete Herbal, Meyer, Illinois.

Grieve, M. 1931 A Modern Herbal, (ed. C.F. Leyel 1985), London.

Hoffmann, D. 1990 The New Holistic Herbal, Second Edition, Element, Shaftesbury.

Lust, J. 1990 The Herb Book, Bantam, London.

Mabey, R. (ed.) 1991 The Complete New Herbal, Penguin, London.

Mills, S.Y. 1993 The A-Z of Modern Herbalism, Diamond Books, London.

Ody, P. 1993 The Herb Society's Complete Medicinal Herbal, Dorling Kindersley, London.

Weiss, R.F. 1991 Herbal Medicine, Beaconsfield Arcanum, Beaconsfield.

Special thanks to www.purplesage.org.uk