Item # 1039
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Feverfew
Botanical Name: Tanacetum parthenium
Plant Part Extracted: Leaf & Flower
Contains: Certified organic grain alcohol, distilled water & Feverfew extractives.
Description: We prepare our Feverfew extract from the leaf & flower (no stem) of Tanacetum parthenium plants which are Certified Organically Grown on our own farm without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides.
To assure optimal extraction of Feverfew's bioactive compounds, the plants are hand-harvested only while in full-flower, are carefully shade-dried to retain their full color & aroma, and are then thoroughly extracted.
Our Feverfew is never fumigated or irradiated.
Caution: Keep Out of the Reach of Children
History:
Feverfew is a native plant of southeastern Europe that is now common throughout Australia,
Europe and North America, where it sometime grows wild. The daisy-like flower is a perennial that grows about two feet tall. Ancient Greek physicians used Feverfew to treat melancholy, headaches and to lower fevers; Dioscorides is believed to have used it to treat arthritis. This herb has been
used since the first century A. D., to treat headaches, and the English continued to use it into the seventeenth century to treat depression, headache, vertigo, and to lower fever. The famous English pharmacist, Nicholas Culpepper, recommended its use in 1649 for "all pains in the head," and in 1772, the herbalist, John Hill, said it would cure the "worst headache." Feverfew faded from herbal popularity after that time, but it was planted in gardens for its small daisy-like flowers that
appeared to "purify the air" and repel insects. Recently, however, it has returned to the
herbalists' repertoire, primarily to prevent migraine headaches. The respected British journal,
Lancet, reported in 1988, that extracts of Feverfew inhibited the release of two inflammatory substances, serotonin and prostaglandin, and its use was effective against headache. Included
in Feverfew's chemical constituents are flavonoid glycosides, parthenolide, beta-carotene, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, B-vitamins and vitamin C.
Beneficial Uses:
A regimen of Feverfew has been found to be effective in preventing migraine headaches and/or reducing the nausea and vomiting associated with migraines. The parthenolide in Feverfew appears to block platelets and inhibit the production of serotonin, a brain chemical involved in the release of pain-causing chemicals. Ideally, when taken on a regular basis before the onset of pain, Feverfew may prevent or reduce the frequency of migraine headaches.
Feverfew has been used to lower fever and "cool" the body since ancient times.
As an anti-inflammatory, Feverfew reduces the body's manufacture of prostaglandin, a chemical that produces inflammation.
As such it is used to relieve the discomforts of colitis, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Feverfew is a mild laxative, and it is also used to help relieve gas and bloating.
As a tonic, Feverfew stimulates the appetite and promotes good digestion.
Feverfew has a strong and lasting odor that is considered an insect repellent and has been used to purify the air around houses.
Feverfew is a mild sedative and antispasmodic that will help relieve muscle spasms. Herbalists have used it to treat hysteria, DTs, nervousness and low spirits.
For menstrual discomfort, Feverfew is thought to be an effective pain reliever, and as an emmenagogue, it is used to promote the onset of the menstrual flow. It may also stimulate uterine contractions and, therefore, should not be used by pregnant women.
In preliminary tests, Feverfew has been shown to keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots, so it may be useful as an anticoagulant and to improve blood circulation.
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