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Note - the monographs are provided for informational purposes only, and are not to be used for self-medication.

Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew)

Botanic Name

Tanacetum parthenium (Chrysanthenum parthenium)

Common Name

Feverfew, Pyrethrum parthenium, Featherfew, Featherfoil, Flirtwort, Bachelors buttons 1

Family

Asteracea

Parts Used

Herb

Habitat

Dry soils, waste places, road sides. Introduced from Europe, feverfew is now a common garden plant. It can be cultivated in all regions of Australia and New Zealand. 2

Constituents

Sesquiterpene lactones (including parthenolide, canin, artecanin, epoxyartemorin) 3

Sesquiterpenes (including camphor, beta-farnesene, and germacrene) 3

Monoterpenes 3

Spiroketal enol ether polyines 3

Actions

Migraine prophylactic 3

Anti-inflammatory 3, 4, 5

Vaso-dilatory 4, 5

Relaxant 4, 5

Digestive bitter 4, 5

Uterine stimulant 4, 5

Applications

Migraines of the vasoconstrictive type 5, 4

Prophylaxis of migraines 3

Arthritis in the active inflammatory stage 5, 4, 3

Vertigo, tinnitus and other head disorders relieved by heat 5, 4

Sluggish mentrual flow and congestive dysmenorrhoea 5, 4

After labour to hasten cleansing and toning of the womb 5

Dosage

Medium dose herb

Tablet 50 – 200 mg daily 3

Combinations

  

C/I Cautions

Pregnancy 3, 4, 6

Occasional side effects such as mouth ulceration or gastric disturbances have been observed in 6 – 15% of users usually in the first week of use. 6

There are no known adverse affects in long-term consumption. 6

BHP S/I

Round or threadworm infestations in children7

References

  1. Grieve, M., A Modern Herbal, Tiger, Great Britain, 1994.
  2. Reader’s Digest, Magic and Medicine of Plants. Surry Hills: Reader’s Digest, 1994.
  3. Bradley, P.R.(Ed.), British Herbal Compendium Volume I, British Herbal Medicine Association, 1992.
  4. Hoffmann, D., The New Holistic Herbal, Element, Dorset, 1990.
  5. Mills, S., The Complete Guide to Modern Herbalism, Thorsons, Great Britain, 1994.
  6. McGuffin, M., Hobbs, C., Upton, R., Goldberg, A., American Herbal Products Association - Botanical Safety Handbook, CRC Press, 1997.
  7. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983. British Herbal Medical Association. 1989.

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Revised: May 20, 2002 .