Omnia SanaCommon names in 23 European languages →
The complete database record: 2 documented constituents, 1 pharmacological action, 7 traditional / indicated uses, with 17 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Aromatic perennial herb (Asteraceae), 20-60 cm tall, with much-branched, downy stems. Leaves are yellow-green, bipinnately divided and strongly scented. Small, daisy-like flower heads have white ray florets and a flat yellow disc, borne in loose clusters.[13]
Habitat & Distribution
Native to the Balkans and Caucasus region, now naturalised across Europe, North America and elsewhere; grows on disturbed ground, walls, roadsides and waste places, and is widely cultivated.[11]
Harvesting
Leaves (aerial parts) are gathered during the growing season, ideally at flowering, and dried or used fresh.[13]
Key Constituents
Parthenolide is the principal active compound, to which extracts are often standardised; it is biosynthesised and stored in the glandular trichomes of the aerial parts.
Supporting antioxidant and aromatic constituents.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Traditional use for fever and for joint pain / arthritis
Traditional use for fever and for joint pain / arthritis
Headache prevention and relief
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Migraine prophylaxis - reduces attack frequency (evidence favourable for some standardised preparations, though mixed); parthenolide is identified as the component responsible for the antimigraine effect in animal models
Traditional use for fever and for joint pain / arthritis
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Traditional Use & History
Feverfew has a long European folk tradition, its name derived from 'febrifuge' (fever-reducer), as a remedy for fevers, headaches and joint pain. Modern use and clinical research focus on migraine prevention, with parthenolide identified as the key active compound responsible for inhibiting the inflammatory pathways implicated in migraine.[11]
Preparations
Freeze-dried or standardised-parthenolide extract, the form used in most clinical trials.
Dosage
Clinical trials for migraine prevention have most often used standardised extracts providing around 0.2-0.6% parthenolide, taken daily; do not stop abruptly after prolonged use given a documented 'post-feverfew' rebound syndrome. Educational reference only, not a prescription; avoid in pregnancy and with anticoagulants.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
As a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae), it can cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to ragweed and related plants. Chewing fresh leaves commonly causes mouth ulcers and oral soreness.
Stopping feverfew abruptly after prolonged use can cause a 'post-feverfew' rebound of headache, anxiety and muscle/joint stiffness. Avoid in pregnancy (uterine-stimulant) and breastfeeding, and use caution with anticoagulant/antiplatelet medicines.
Herb-Drug Interactions
Herb-Herb Pairings
Feverfew and ginger both reduce blood clotting/platelet stickiness, so taking them together may add up and raise the risk of bruising or bleeding - use caution, especially before surgery or alongside blood-thinning drugs.
Harvest Readiness
[14]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Ernst, E. and Pittler, M.H (2000) 'The efficacy and safety of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L.): an update of a systematic review', Public Health Nutrition, 3(4A), pp. 509-514. doi:10.1017/s1368980000000598 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980000000598 - Pittler, M.H., Vogler, B.K. and Ernst, E (2000) 'Feverfew for preventing migraine', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (3), pp. CD002286. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002286 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD002286 - Pareek, A., Suthar, M., Rathore, G.S. and Bansal, V (2011) 'Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L.): A systematic review', Pharmacognosy Reviews, 5(9), pp. 103-110. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.79105 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.79105 - Lopresti, A.L., Smith, S.J. and Drummond, P.D (2020) 'Herbal treatments for migraine: A systematic review of randomised-controlled studies', Phytotherapy Research, 34(10), pp. 2493-2517. doi:10.1002/ptr.6701 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6701 - Pfaffenrath, V., Diener, H.C., Fischer, M., Friede, M. and Henneicke-von Zepelin, H.H (2002) 'The efficacy and safety of Tanacetum parthenium (feverfew) in migraine prophylaxis - a double-blind, multicentre, randomized placebo-controlled dose-response study', Cephalalgia, 22(7), pp. 523-532. doi:10.1046/j.1468-2982.2002.00396.x Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-2982.2002.00396.x - Shrivastava, R., Pechadre, J.C. and John, G.W (2006) 'Tanacetum parthenium and Salix alba (Mig-RL) combination in migraine prophylaxis: a prospective, open-label study', Clinical Drug Investigation, 26(5), pp. 287-296. doi:10.2165/00044011-200626050-00006 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.2165/00044011-200626050-00006 - Sur, R., Martin, K., Liebel, F., Lyte, P. and others (2009) 'Anti-inflammatory activity of parthenolide-depleted Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)', Inflammopharmacology, 17(1), pp. 42-49. doi:10.1007/s10787-008-8040-9 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-008-8040-9 - Darbahani, M., Rahaie, M., Ebrahimi, A. and Khosrowshahli, M (2022) 'The effects of several abiotic elicitors on the expression of genes of key enzymes involved in the parthenolide biosynthetic pathway and its content in feverfew plant (Tanacetum parthenium L.)', Natural Product Research, 36(23), pp. 6132-6136. doi:10.1080/14786419.2022.2055555 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2022.2055555 - Jin, P., Madieh, S. and Augsburger, L.L (2008) 'Selected physical and chemical properties of Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) extracts important for formulated product quality and performance', AAPS PharmSciTech, 9(1), pp. 22-30. doi:10.1208/s12249-007-9017-5 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-007-9017-5 - Studzinska-Sroka, E., Znajdek-Awizen, P. and Gawron-Gzella, A (2013) 'Studies on the antimigraine action of Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch. Bip.)', Wiadomosci Lekarskie, 66(2 Pt 2), pp. 195-199. Meta-analysis / review
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Studies%20on%20the%20antimigraine%20action%20of%20Feverfew%20%28Tanacetum%20parthenium%20%28L.%29%20Sch.%20Bip.%29 - Wider, B., Pittler, M.H. and Ernst, E (2015) 'Feverfew for preventing migraine', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002286.pub3 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD002286.pub3 - Tassorelli, C. and Greco, R. and Morazzoni, P. and Riva, A. and Sandrini, G. and Nappi, G (2005) 'Parthenolide is the component of Tanacetum parthenium that inhibits nitroglycerin-induced Fos activation: studies in an animal model of migraine', Cephalalgia, 25(8), pp. 612--621. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2005.00915.x Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2982.2005.00915.x - Majdi, M. and Liu, Q. and Karimzadeh, G. and Malboobi, M.A. and Beekwilder, J. and Cankar, K. and de Vos, R. and Todorovic, S. and Simonovic, A. and Bouwmeester, H (2011) 'Biosynthesis and localization of parthenolide in glandular trichomes of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L. Schulz Bip.)', Phytochemistry, pp. 1739--1750. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.04.021 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.04.021 - Plants For A Future 'Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tanacetum+parthenium Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tanacetum+parthenium - Groenewegen, W.A. and Heptinstall, S (1990) 'A comparison of the effects of an extract of feverfew and parthenolide, a component of feverfew, on human platelet activity in-vitro', Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 42(8), pp. 553-557. doi:10.1111/j.2042-7158.1990.tb07057.x Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-7158.1990.tb07057.x - Ang-Lee, M.K., Moss, J. and Yuan, C.S (2001) 'Herbal medicines and perioperative care', JAMA, 286(2), pp. 208-216. doi:10.1001/jama.286.2.208 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.286.2.208 - Jiang, X., Williams, K.M., Liauw, W.S., Ammit, A.J., Roufogalis, B.D., Duke, C.C., Day, R.O. and McLachlan, A.J (2005) 'Effect of ginkgo and ginger on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin in healthy subjects', British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 59(4), pp. 425-432. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2005.02322.x Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2005.02322.x
Selected studies & references
All 18 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.