As the name suggests, herbal feverfew has been used
medicinally for centuries. Just what are the medicinal uses of feverfew? There
are a number of traditional benefits of feverfew that have been used for
hundreds of years plus new scientific research has given rise to the promise of
yet another feverfew benefit. Read on to learn about feverfew remedies and
their benefits.
About Herbal Feverfew
The herbal feverfew
plant is a small herbaceous perennial that grows to about 28 inches
(70 cm.) in height. It is notable for its prolific small daisy-like blooms.
Native to Eurasia, from the Balkan Peninsula into Anatolia and the Caucus, the
herb has now spread throughout the world where, due to its ease of self-sowing,
it has become somewhat of an invasive weed in many regions.
Medicinal Feverfew Uses
The earliest use of feverfew medicinally is not known, however, the Greek herbalist/physician Diosorides wrote of using it as an anti-inflammatory.
In folk medicine, feverfew remedies made from the leaves and
flower heads were prescribed to treat fever, arthritis, toothache, and insect
bites. While the benefits of using feverfew have been passed down generation to
generation, there is no clinical or scientific data to support their efficacy.
In fact, scientific studies have shown that feverfew is not effective for
treating rheumatoid arthritis, although it has been used in folk medicine for
arthritis.
New scientific data does, however, support feverfew’s
benefit in treating migraine headaches, at least for some. Placebo controlled
studies have concluded that dried feverfew capsules are effective in preventing
migraines or lessening their severity if taken prior to the onset of the
migraine.
Still further research suggests that feverfew may aid in
fighting cancer by preventing the spread or recurrence of breast, prostate, lung,
or bladder cancer as well as leukemia and myeloma. Feverfew contains a compound
called parthenolide that blocks the protein NF-kB, which regulates cell growth.
Basically, NF-kB regulates gene activity; in other words, it promotes the
production of proteins that block cell death.
Usually, that’s a good thing, but when NF-kB becomes
overactive, cancer cells become resistant to chemotherapy drugs. Scientists
investigated and discovered that when breast cancer cells were treated with
parthenolid, they were more susceptible to drugs used to fight cancer. The
survival rate increases only when BOTH chemotherapy drugs and parthenolide are
used in combination.
So, feverfew might have bigger benefits than just treating
migraines. It may just be that modest feverfew is a major part of the key to
winning the battle against cancer in the future.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is for educational and gardening purposes only. Before using or ingesting ANY herb or plant for medicinal purposes or otherwise, please consult a physician, medical herbalist, or other suitable professional for advice.
As the name suggests, herbal feverfew has been used
medicinally for centuries. Just what are the medicinal uses of feverfew? There
are a number of traditional benefits of feverfew that have been used for
hundreds of years plus new scientific research has given rise to the promise of
yet another feverfew benefit. Read on to learn about feverfew remedies and
their benefits.
About Herbal Feverfew
The herbal feverfew
plant is a small herbaceous perennial that grows to about 28 inches
(70 cm.) in height. It is notable for its prolific small daisy-like blooms.
Native to Eurasia, from the Balkan Peninsula into Anatolia and the Caucus, the
herb has now spread throughout the world where, due to its ease of self-sowing,
it has become somewhat of an invasive weed in many regions.
Medicinal Feverfew Uses
The earliest use of feverfew medicinally is not known, however, the Greek herbalist/physician Diosorides wrote of using it as an anti-inflammatory.
In folk medicine, feverfew remedies made from the leaves and
flower heads were prescribed to treat fever, arthritis, toothache, and insect
bites. While the benefits of using feverfew have been passed down generation to
generation, there is no clinical or scientific data to support their efficacy.
In fact, scientific studies have shown that feverfew is not effective for
treating rheumatoid arthritis, although it has been used in folk medicine for
arthritis.
New scientific data does, however, support feverfew’s
benefit in treating migraine headaches, at least for some. Placebo controlled
studies have concluded that dried feverfew capsules are effective in preventing
migraines or lessening their severity if taken prior to the onset of the
migraine.
Still further research suggests that feverfew may aid in
fighting cancer by preventing the spread or recurrence of breast, prostate, lung,
or bladder cancer as well as leukemia and myeloma. Feverfew contains a compound
called parthenolide that blocks the protein NF-kB, which regulates cell growth.
Basically, NF-kB regulates gene activity; in other words, it promotes the
production of proteins that block cell death.
Usually, that’s a good thing, but when NF-kB becomes
overactive, cancer cells become resistant to chemotherapy drugs. Scientists
investigated and discovered that when breast cancer cells were treated with
parthenolid, they were more susceptible to drugs used to fight cancer. The
survival rate increases only when BOTH chemotherapy drugs and parthenolide are
used in combination.
So, feverfew might have bigger benefits than just treating
migraines. It may just be that modest feverfew is a major part of the key to
winning the battle against cancer in the future.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is for educational and gardening purposes only. Before using or ingesting ANY herb or plant for medicinal purposes or otherwise, please consult a physician, medical herbalist, or other suitable professional for advice.