Feverfew Helps Ease Headache Pain
Debilitating headaches or migraines can disrupt your life and keep you from doing the things you enjoy. Often they are accompanied by symptoms like nausea and depression.
Feverfew, an herb native to southwest Europe, has been used for centuries in traditional and folk medicine as a remedy for headaches. More recently, the herb gained popularity in Great Britain in the 1980s as an alternative to conventional medications for migraine headaches. Medical research about the herb was reported in the British medical journal, The Lancet. A survey of 270 migraine sufferers in Great Britain revealed that more than 70 percent of individuals reported a reduction in the frequency and severity of migraine attacks after ingesting an average of two to three fresh feverfew leaves daily. Some even reported a complete cessation of their migraines.
Later studies conducted on the herb have also found beneficial results. In a study of 76 migraine sufferers, those who took feverfew capsules (70 to 114 milligrams) daily for four months experienced a 24 percent reduction in migraine attacks along with a substantial drop in symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, compared to the participants in the study who received a placebo.
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Although the exact cause of migraines is not known, experts believe that they may be triggered by the contraction and the sudden dilation of blood vessels in the head. This action appears to release neurochemicals in the brain that cause pain and inflammation. Exactly how feverfew helps migraines remains unclear; however, it is speculated that a chemical in the herb, called parthenolide, inhibits the production of certain inflammatory compounds and prevents blood platelets from clumping together.
When taken preventively, feverfew seems to reduce the number of migraine episodes, lessen the intensity of migraines that did occur along with the associated symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.
Most migraine sufferers take feverfew in capsule or tablet form as teas can be bitter and chewing the fresh leaves can irritate the mouth. Find a supplement that contains Tanacetum parthenium, which includes the critical ingredient parthenolide. As with most herbal remedies and nutritional supplements, don't expect immediate results; you'll need to take feverfew regularly for several weeks before feeling its full protective effects. Also, avoid abruptly ending a daily feverfew regimen, as headaches may resume. Finally, do not take feverfew if you are pregnant (it can stimulate uterine contractions), breast-feeding or taking any anticoagulant drugs (including aspirin) as it can inhibit blood clotting.
