Feverfew is one of the most commonly used herbs to control migraines naturally. Feverfew is native to the Balkan mountains of Eastern Europe. When grown, the plant resembles a short bush with daisy-like flowers (white petals surrounding a yellow center.)
People have been using feverfew as a natural treatment for fever, headaches, pain, digestive disorders, menstrual problems, and difficulty during childbirth for a very long time. Most recently feverfew has become a common treatment for migraines and rheumatoid arthritis. Feverfew is believed to work as a pain reliever and preventative agent for migraine because the herb may cause a reduction in the release of serotonin and prostaglandins, leading to a reduction in the inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain.
Parthenolide and tanetin are the active ingredients in feverfew. Feverfew also contains a large portion of melatonin. Parthenolide is thought to control smooth muscle spasms – which can reduce blood vessel constriction in the brain.
Most medicinal preparations use primarily the leaves, although it is not uncommon to see blends using flowers and stems as well. Like many medications for migraine, it can take up to six weeks to see an effect. Feverfew does work as a migraine abortive and taking a dose during an attack could possibly be effective.
Feverfew supplements come in capsules, tablets, and liquid extracts. You can also choose to consume the fresh leaves of the plant. It is also not uncommon to misoprostol bolivia see feverfew combine with other supplements such as riboflavin (vitamin B2) and magnesium for increased efficacy. The suggested dosage is 100 mg per day for adults. Some people may choose to take between 100-300mg up to four times daily.
Be sure to read the label of whichever supplement you are considering buying as type does matter. Look for products which are standardized to 0.2 to 0.35 percent of parthenolide to ensure that you are getting therapeutic amounts of the active ingredient. If your supplement is carbon dioxide extracted – a method of extraction which does not submit the herb to high temperatures – look for dosages of 6.25mg, three times daily.
Side effects can include mouth irritation, digestive problems, stomach pain, vomiting, rebound headaches, and in some cases – skin irritation. Feverfew is not recommended for anyone who is allergic to the daisy family (chamomile, ragweed, or yarrow.) Feverfew is not safe for women pregnant (as it can contract the uterus leading to miscarriage or premature delivery) or nursing, children under two and anyone who takes blood thinning medication due to the fact that feverfew acts as a natural blood thinner. Lastly, if you have been taking feverfew for more than one week as wish to discontinue use, be sure to taper down gradually as feverfew has been known to cause headaches, fatigue, anxiety, and joint pain in withdrawal.
