Herbal Thursday: Feverfew
Feverfew: Discover Nature’s remedy for headaches, inflammation, and inner calm.
Meet feverfew — an ancient healing herb that packs a powerful punch. This powerful healing herb has deep roots in ancient folk medicine. Used for centuries by Greek physicians and European folk healers, this bright little plant helps to calm migraines, ease joint pain, balance menstrual cycles, and soothe upset stomachs. With natural compounds like parthenolide and flavonoids working in harmony, feverfew offers anti-inflammatory, purifying, and protective benefits. As more people return to traditional remedies, feverfew stands out as a trusted ally for vibrant, everyday wellness.
🔥Fever Who?
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a flowering plant in the daisy family. Native to southeastern Europe, it has spread throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. Have you ever heard of Bachelor’s Buttons? Same plant! One name — nosebleed — clearly reflects this anti-clotting nature of feverfew. While its small white flowers resemble chamomile, its strength lies in a powerful compound called parthenolide. (1)
This compound helps cool the fire of inflammation, especially in the brain and blood vessels. For centuries, healers have used feverfew to address migraines, arthritis, and hormonal headaches.
The yellow-green leaves of this herb give off a strong and bitter odor but boast healing powers. Feverfew can be found in capsule form, yet you can also consume raw or dried leaves directly from the plant. This herb is not only effective at preventing migraine headaches, it can also stop them quickly once they start.
Why Feverfew Works
Feverfew doesn’t just cover up pain. It interrupts it at the source. (2)
Blocks Inflammation Pathways: Feverfew stops NF-κB, a key switch that triggers swelling and pain in your body.
Reduces Headache Triggers: It calms overactive blood vessels and keeps serotonin in check, helping prevent migraines before they start.
Stabilizes Brain Chemistry: Feverfew boosts IL-10, a natural anti-inflammatory messenger in the brain, while lowering stress signals like IL-1β.
Here are 4 conditions helped by Feverfew:
You can probably guess just by knowing about the anti-inflammatory properties of feverfew that it’s going to help with conditions that create pain and inflammation in the body.
Migraine Relief:
Most notably — and most studied — this potent herb alleviates the symptoms of migraine headaches, as well as the related nausea and fatigue. Not only that, for those who suffer from migraine headaches and cluster headaches, using feverfew as a preventative (prophylactically) reduces flareups and the severity of the headache. (3, 4)Joint Pain:
The herb contains a strong antioxidant profile. Antioxidants naturally reduce oxidative stress on the body. Inflammation in the joints leads to poor mobility, which only exacerbates the problem. Fortunately, the main compound parthenolide and flavonoids in feverfew prevent the body from making pro-inflammatory compounds. (5)Promising Cancer Treatment:
Still in the need of additional research, this herb offers anti-cancer benefits, as well. Two important characteristics of any effective remedy for cancer must include the ability to prevent further tumor growth and to induce apoptosis — programmed cell death. Feverfew has been shown to achieve both of these results. (6, 7)Menstrual Symptom Relief:
Feverfew has also been shown to help reduce pain from menstrual cramps. Menstrual cramps occur when the uterine lining produces too much of a certain hormone that can cause pain and inflammation - prostaglandin. Feverfew has the ability to limit the release of this hormone, which can help ease menstrual cramps. (8)
How to Use Feverfew Safely
Capsules: 50–100 mg daily, standardized to 0.2–0.4% parthenolide
Tea (fresh leaf): 1–3 fresh leaves steeped in hot water or simply chewed; it’s bitter, so you may want to combine with raw honey.
Tincture: Follow labeled dosage (usually 10–30 drops, 1–3x daily)
🔔 For Best Results: Use consistently for 4+ weeks to feel full benefits.
Safety & Precautions
Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding. As it can affect smooth muscles, use during pregnancy may lead to premature contractions. No research has been done to verify the safety profile during breastfeeding. (9)
If you are allergic to chamomile, ragweed or yarrow, you may be allergic to feverfew. Please avoid use.
If you are taking blood thinners, be sure to speak with a qualified herbalist or natural health provider, as this herb is contraindicated. (10)
Tip: Taper off slowly if stopping long-term use to avoid rebound effects, especially nausea.
Feverfew at a Glance
🧠 Supports migraine prevention
💥 Calms inflammation at its root
🌿 Gentle on the body when used correctly
🧘 Supports hormone balance and inner calm
Final Thoughts
Feverfew doesn’t suppress your symptoms. Instead, it empowers your body to return to balance. It’s a gentle warrior — a plant that helps restore clarity, ease pressure, and bring cool calm back to your body’s rhythm.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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