Feverfew
Herbal Remedies and Medicinal Cures for Diseases, Ailments & Illnesses that afflict Humans and Animals
Aloe Vera •
Astragalus •
Bankoro •
Bilberry •
Bitter Gourd (Ampalaya) •
Bitter Orange •
Black Cohosh •
Cat's Claw •
Chamomile •
Chasteberry •
Coconut •
Cranberry •
Dandelion •
Echinacea •
Ephedra •
European Elder Tree •
Evening Primrose •
Fenugreek •
Feverfew •
Flaxseed •
Garlic •
Ginger •
Ginkgo •
Ginseng (Asian) •
Golden Seal •
Grape Seed •
Green Tea •
Hawthorn •
Hoodia •
Horse Chestnut •
Kava •
Lavender •
Licorice •
Malunggay Moringa Oleifera •
Milk Thistle •
Mistletoe •
Passion Flower •
Peppermint Oil •
Red Clover •
Ringworm Bush (Akapulko) – Cassia alata •
Saw Palmetto •
St. John's Wort •
Tawa Tawa •
Turmeric •
Valerian •
Yohimbe •
accept the bitter to get better
 Feverfew leaves and flowers | |||
| |||
| |||
Feverfew
The herb Feverfew as an alternative herbal remedy for fevers, headaches, stomach aches, toothaches and insect bites. - Originally a plant native to the Balkan mountains of Eastern Europe, feverfew now grows throughout Europe, North America, and South America.
Common Names--feverfew, bachelor's buttons, featherfew
Latin Names--Tanacetum parthenium, Chrysanthemum parthenium Picture of Feverfew
- Feverfew (Tanecetum parthenium) is a well-known herb and one of the most widely respected in the prophylactic (preventative) treatment of migraine and chronic headache. There are many clinical studies to support its effectiveness insignificantly reducing or completely eliminating the occurrence and the severity of chronic headache and migraine. Scientific research has demonstrated that Feverfew contains a range of compounds called sesquiterpene lactones, the principle ingredient being parthenolide. Parthenolide has been scientifically shown to prevent excessive clumping of blood platelets and to reduce the release of certain pain inducing chemicals and inflammatory compounds. It has also been shown to make smooth muscle in the walls of cerebral blood vessels less reactive to vaso-constrictors - thereby relaxing constricted blood vessels and increasing blood flow to the brain.
What Feverfew Is Used For
- Feverfew has been used for centuries as an herbal remedy for fevers, headaches, stomach aches, toothaches, insect bites, infertility, and problems with menstruation and labor during childbirth.
- Recently, feverfew has been used for migraine headaches and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Feverfew has also been used for psoriasis, allergies, asthma, tinnitus (ringing or roaring sounds in the ears), dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
Herbal Remedy Products with Feverfew as part of the ingredients
|
|
How Feverfew Is Used
- The dried leaves--and sometimes flowers and stems--of feverfew are used to make supplements, including capsules, tablets, and liquid extracts. *The leaves are sometimes eaten fresh.
What the Science Says about Feverfew
- Some research suggests that feverfew may be helpful in preventing migraine headaches; however, results have been mixed and more evidence is needed from well-designed studies.
- One study found that feverfew did not reduce rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in women whose symptoms did not respond to conventional medicines. It has been suggested that feverfew could help those with milder symptoms.
- There is not enough evidence available to assess whether feverfew is beneficial for other uses.
- NCCAM-funded researchers are studying ways to standardize feverfew; that is, to prepare it in a consistent manner. Standardized preparations could be used in future studies of feverfew for migraines.
Side Effects and Cautions of Feverfew
- No serious side effects have been reported for feverfew. Side effects can include canker sores, swelling and irritation of the lips and tongue, and loss of taste.
- Less common side effects can include nausea, digestive problems, and bloating.
- People who take feverfew for a long time and then stop taking it may have headaches, nervousness, difficulty sleeping, stiff muscles, and joint pain.
- Women who are pregnant should not use feverfew because it may cause the uterus to contract, increasing the risk of miscarriage or premature delivery.
- People can have allergic reactions to feverfew. Those who are allergic to other members of the daisy family (which includes ragweed and chrysanthemums) are more likely to be allergic to feverfew.
- Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
News About Feverfew
Feverfew genes yield anticancer compounds
- By Hj (Harro) Bouwmeester
The tobacco-like plant Nicotiana benthamiana can be used to produce potential anti-cancer drugs. Researchers of Wageningen UR (University & Research centre) discovered which genes in the herb feverfew are responsible for the production of bioactive ingredients that are used in various types of medication. They expressed these genes in N. benthamiana and successfully produced the medicinal substance.
- Water-soluble, bioactive compounds
"Apart from the bioactive compound parthenolide, which we were aiming to produce, we found that N. benthamiana also produces slightly modified compounds. These are more water-soluble and can therefore be absorbed better by patients. That is very promising for application in medicine", says Qing Liu, who is going to defend the findings of his PhD research on Monday, 2 December 2013.
Advantages of genetic modification of tobacco
Taking the genes out of feverfew and expressing them in a tobacco plant has various advantages. "Feverfew is not easy to cultivate. To ensure a continuous production of medicinal compounds with a stable quality, it is important to work with plants that can be kept in a controlled environment", explains Ric de Vos of Wageningen UR Plant Research International. Professor Harro Bouwmeester of Wageningen University adds: "The concentrations of parthenolide in Feverfew are pretty low. N. benthamiana, which grows fast, has the potential to produce much larger amounts of it. Plus it makes better water-soluble variants of parthenolide."
- Higher concentrations
PhD candidate Liu: "To increase the parthenolide production we will probably have to use a few more genes. Parthenolide is produced in four steps. The first step produces something that is used by the second step, and so on. We probably need to do something before step one to increase the output of the pathway." Bouwmeester: "Producing high concentrations of parthenolide would be fatal to the plant. That is why it converts it into the better water-soluble variants. At first that seemed to be a problem as we lost parthenolide. Now it turns out that the water-soluble variants also have advantages."
- Competition to be the first to find the genes
Liu's main objective during his PhD research, part of the EU-project TERPMED, was to find the genes in feverfew that are involved in producing the medicinal parthenolide. "The first gene we already had in hand when I started my research but an article about the second gene by a competing group was published while I was studying which parts of the feverfew contain the highest concentrations of parthenolide", he says. "Studying the physiology of the plant was necessary to know where to look for the genes", he explains.
Publication of the first two genes helped to identify the other genes involved, but it also meant there was competition with other researchers around the world. Liu: "I found the third gene, but on the day I wanted to submit my article, a Canadian group published the same finding." Liu's discovery of the fourth gene is so recent, that it hasn't been published yet. Nervously: "We have submitted a paper to a high-impact scientific journal and are hoping it will be accepted. I hope we beat the competing group this time."
Natural health: Migraine treatments and oil pulling
- By Megan Sheppard
My wife suffers migraines, particularly when she is under stress or coming down with an illness. She finds that it helps to lie in a darkened room with no sounds, smells, or any other sensations. Is there anything that she can take to stop these, as they really take it out of her?
It is good that you both have a reasonable idea of what actually triggers the migraines for your wife, as this can be difficult to ascertain. Common triggers include bright light, allergies and intolerances, strong odours, stress, cigarette smoke, loud noise, sleep disturbance, skipping meals, contraceptive pill, Monosodium glutamate (MSG) or nitrites in food, alcohol, caffeine, or even the hormonal changes associated with menstruation.
The most common trigger is perfume or other strong fragrances, causing migraines in almost a third of all sufferers.
There are also a number of well-known dietary triggers — particularly chocolate, nuts, bananas, citrus, dairy, onions, and fermented foods. Of course, they can also appear without any particular reason — but if you are able to take preventative measures then it should help to reduce the incidence and severity of the attacks.
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is the most popular herb for migraine prevention. Your wife will need to take 100mg daily for this remedy to work.
This dosage has been shown in studies to provide the necessary 0.7% of the active constituent, parthenolide. It can take a month before this begins to work, but it is worth sticking with if this is going to be a remedy that your wife responds well to.
To treat an existing migraine, both skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) are handy herbs to have on hand.
For a skullcap infusion, you will need one heaped teaspoon of dried herb to one cup of near-boiling water; a rosemary infusion requires a level teaspoon of the dried herb to each cup of water.
The other natural remedy which has been shown to work well in clinical studies is the addition of essential fatty acids to the diet.
Taking an essential fatty acid supplement on a daily basis can reduce the frequency of migraines by half in almost two-thirds of migraine sufferers, along with a significant reduction in the pain and severity of the attack.
Can you please elaborate on the process of oil-pulling? Specifically, what type of oil to use, how much, and how often.
Oil pulling is a traditional Ayurvedic technique used to help with oral hygiene and detoxification. Ideally, it is a daily routine done first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach — even before you have had as much as a glass of water or any other beverage As far as the type of oil goes, you can use olive oil or raw sesame oil, but I personally prefer to use coconut oil. If you do purchase coconut oil, it is best to choose the virgin, unrefined, unbleached, organic variety.
Use around a tablespoon of oil, swishing it gently around your entire mouth, taking care not to swish too vigorously or swallow any of the oil. Ensure that the oil is pulled between your teeth, under your tongue, and inside your cheeks, swishing for 10-15 minutes before spitting it out.
The oil becomes thin and foamy as it is combined with your saliva, and takes on a whitish colour. It is best to spit the oil into the garden, or down the toilet, since repeated oil being washed down the kitchen or bathroom sink can clog the pipes. Follow your oil pulling with gentle brushing, using a natural toothpaste.
While it may seem strange, many people have reported numerous benefits from following this daily practice, including weight loss, whiter teeth, migraine prevention, healthy gums, reduced asthma attacks and other allergic responses, clearer skin, hormonal regulation, clear sinuses, improved energy, and better sleep.
Of course, these reports are purely anecdotal — so it is worth making your own mind up as to whether or not it is a worthwhile method of detoxification and healing for the body.
Feverfew plants, flowers and leaves
FeverFew flowers
Fever Few flowers
.jpg)
.jpg)