Feverfew
Scientific names: Tanacetum parthenium, Chrysanthemum parthenium, Chrysanthemum praealtum, Leucanthemum parthenium, Matricaria eximia, Matricaria parthenium, Pyrethrum parthenium
Family: Asteraceae/Compositae
Alternate names: Altamisa, Bachelor's Buttons, Chrysanthème Matricaire, Featerfoiul, Featherfew, Featherfoil, Flirtwort Midsummer Daisy, Grande Camomille, Matricaria, Partenelle, Pyrèthre Doré, Pyrèthre Mousse, Santa Maria, Tanaceti Parthenii, Tanaisie Commune
Actions: Anti-migraine, Antihistamine effect, Anticancer, Anti-inflammatory
Background
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a plant native to Asia Minor and the Balkans. Feverfew dried leaves, fresh leaves, and extracts are used in medicine.
Feverfew leaves contain many different chemicals, including one called parthenolide. Parthenolide, as well as other chemicals in feverfew, might help decrease migraine headaches.
People most commonly use feverfew for migraine headaches. People also use feverfew for itching, tension headache, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Feverfew leaves contain many different chemicals, including one called parthenolide. Parthenolide, as well as other chemicals in feverfew, might help decrease migraine headaches.
People most commonly use feverfew for migraine headaches. People also use feverfew for itching, tension headache, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Dried feverfew leaf or feverfew extract is likely safe when taken for up to 4 months. Side effects might include upset stomach, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and vomiting.
Chewing the fresh leaves of feverfew is possibly unsafe. It can cause mouth sores, swelling of the mouth, and loss of taste.
Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if feverfew is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Bleeding disorders: Feverfew might slow blood clotting. Taking feverfew could increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Until more is known, use feverfew cautiously if you have a bleeding disorder.
Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Feverfew might cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae plant family. This includes ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking feverfew.
Surgery: Feverfew might slow blood clotting. It might cause bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking feverfew at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Chewing the fresh leaves of feverfew is possibly unsafe. It can cause mouth sores, swelling of the mouth, and loss of taste.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: Feverfew is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth during pregnancy. There is concern that it might cause early contractions and miscarriage. Don't use feverfew if you are pregnant.Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if feverfew is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Bleeding disorders: Feverfew might slow blood clotting. Taking feverfew could increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Until more is known, use feverfew cautiously if you have a bleeding disorder.
Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Feverfew might cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae plant family. This includes ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking feverfew.
Surgery: Feverfew might slow blood clotting. It might cause bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking feverfew at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
- Migraine. Taking feverfew by mouth, alone or with other ingredients, can reduce the frequency and duration of migraine headaches. It might also reduce pain, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and noise.
Dosing & administration
Feverfew has most often been used by adults in doses of 50-150 mg by mouth daily for up to 4 months. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Feverfew might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Feverfew might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C8 (CYP2C8) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Feverfew might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Feverfew might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Feverfew might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Feverfew might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Feverfew might slow blood clotting. Taking feverfew along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Feverfew might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
View all products
Per tablet:
- Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew) ext. 40 mg equiv. parthenolide 200 μg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 200 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 15.19 mg equiv. pyridoxine 12.5 mg
- Calcium folinate (Activated folate) 347.2 μg equiv. folinic acid 250 μg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 200 μg
- Magnesium citrate 928.22 mg equiv. magnesium 150 mg
- Ubidecarenone (Coenzyme Q10) 75 mg
Practitioner product
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
- Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew) ext. 33 mg
- Hemidesmus indicus ext. 100 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 1.75 mL
- Bupleurum falcatum ext. 1.4 mL
Practitioner product
Per 3.5 g (Chocolate):
- Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew) ext. 25 mg
- Camellia sinensis ext. 125 mg
- Ocimum tenuiflorum ext. 105 mg
- Curcumin (Turmeric) 10 mg
- Dimethyl sulfone (MSM) 60 mg
- Lavandula angustifolia ext. 100 mg
- Theobroma cacao ext. 520 mg
- Acetyl levocarnitine hydrochloride (Acetyl-L-carnitine) 117.94 mg
- L-leucine 100 mg
- Magnesium citrate 705.74 mg equiv. magnesium 80 mg
- Inositol 100 mg
- Cholecalciferol 12.5 μg equiv. vitamin D3 500 IU
- Thiamine nitrate (Vitamin B1) 18.51 mg equiv. thiamine 15 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 15 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 30.39 mg equiv. pyridoxine 25 mg
- Folic acid 150 μg
- Co-methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12) 50 μg
Practitioner product
RRP: $45.60$31.92Save: 30%
Create account
vital.ly has licensed monographs from TRC Healthcare.
This monograph was last reviewed on 31/01/2024 11:00:00 and last updated on 27/03/2022 01:45:41. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
Natural Medicines disclaims any responsibility related to medical consequences of using any medical product. Effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this monograph is accurate at the time it was published. Consumers and medical professionals who consult this monograph are cautioned that any medical or product related decision is the sole responsibility of the consumer and/or the health care professional. A legal License Agreement sets limitations on downloading, storing, or printing content from this Database. No reproduction of this monograph or any content from this Database is permitted without written permission from the publisher. It is unlawful to download, store, or distribute content from this site.
Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
