Tanacetum parthenium

Description

The plant is a herbaceous perennial that grows into a small bush, up to 70 cm high, with pungently-scented leaves. The plant produces achene fruit, and grows in stony slopes and river beds.

Location and cultivation

Feverfew is native to Eurasia, specifically in the Balkans, Anatolia, and the Caucasus, but cultivation has spread it around the world.

A perennial herb, it favors full sun 38 to(-) apart. It grows up to 70 cm tall. It is hardy to USDA zone 5 (−30 °C).

Outside of its native range, it may become an invasive weed.

Uses

Phytochemicals and traditional medicine

Phytochemicals found in feverfew include parthenolide, camphor, and the flavonoids, luteolin, and apigenin. Feverfew has been used in traditional medicine, particularly in Europe, where it is mentioned in an herbal monograph as a safe compound. There is no good evidence for its use in treating migraine headaches or any other clinical condition.

Dietary supplement

The parthenolide content of commercially available feverfew supplements varies substantially (by more than 40-fold) despite labeling claims of "standardization".

Adverse effects

Long-term use of feverfew followed by abrupt discontinuation may induce a withdrawal syndrome featuring rebound headaches and muscle and joint pains. Feverfew may cause allergic reactions in those allergic to the daisy family, including contact dermatitis or swelling and numbness of the mouth. Other side effects have included gastrointestinal upset such as mild nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatulence, which are, fortunately mild and transient. When the herb is chewed or taken orally it may cause mouth ulcers. Feverfew should not be taken by pregnant women. It may interact with blood thinners and increase the risk of bleeding, and also may interact with a variety of medications metabolized by the liver.

History and etymology

The word feverfew possibly derives from a feathery plant known as featherfew.

Although its earliest use is unknown, it was documented in the 1st century CE by the Greek herbalist physician Dioscorides. Much earlier, but less specifically, a text of Hippocrates in the 4th century BCE lists it as useful in treating lesions (On Ulcers 14).

References

References

1. (2013). "''Tanacetum parthenium'' (Europe assessment)".
2. {{PLANTS
3. (February 2025). "Feverfew". National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health.
4. The leaves are light yellowish green, variously [[pinnatifid]]. The conspicuous daisy-like flowers are up to {{convert. 20. mm. in. ligules]] and the inner, disc florets are yellow and tubular. It spreads rapidly by seed, and will cover a wide area after a few years.Parnell, J. and Curtis. 2012. ''Webb's An Irish Flora''. Cork University Press. {{ISBN. 978-185918-4783
5. Clapham, A.R, Tutin, T.G. and Warburg, E.F. 1968. Excursion Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN. 0-521-04656-4
6. (2010). "Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) Essential Oil". International Journal of Agriculture & Biology.
7. (2002). "The adventive plants of Cyprus with new records of invasive species". Springer Science and Business Media.
8. "Feverfew, ''Tanacetum parthenium'': Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States".
9. "Feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium Asterales: Asteraceae".
10. (May 2006). "Antioxidant constituents in feverfew (''Tanacetum parthenium'') extract and their chromatographic quantification". Food Chemistry.
11. (January 2011). "Feverfew (''Tanacetum parthenium'' L.): A systematic review". Pharmacognosy Reviews.
12. (20 October 2020). "''Tanaceti parthenii'' herba". European Medicines Agency.
13. (2015). "Feverfew for preventing migraine". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
14. (2004). "Parthenolide content of Canadian commercial feverfew preparations: Label claims are misleading in most cases". Canadian Pharmacists Journal.
15. (22 August 2024). "Feverfew". Drugs.com.
16. "Agricultural (Herbs and Spices): Feverfew Information". Government of Saskatchewan.