Tanacetum parthenium
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Tanacetum parthenium, known as feverfew,<ref>Template:PLANTS</ref> is a flowering plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae. It may be grown as an ornament, and may be identified by its synonyms, Chrysanthemum parthenium and Pyrethrum parthenium. It is used in traditional medicine.
DescriptionEdit
The plant is a herbaceous perennial that grows into a small bush,<ref name="NCCIH">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> up to Template:Convert high, with pungently-scented leaves. The leaves are light yellowish green, variously pinnatifid. The conspicuous daisy-like flowers are up to Template:Convert across, borne in lax corymbs. The outer, ray florets have white 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.<ref>Parnell, J. and Curtis. 2012. Webb's An Irish Flora. Cork University Press. Template:ISBN</ref><ref>Clapham, A.R, Tutin, T.G. and Warburg, E.F. 1968. Excursion Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press. Template:ISBN</ref> The plant produces achene fruit, and grows in stony slopes and river beds.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Location and cultivationEdit
Feverfew is native to Eurasia, specifically the Balkan Peninsula, Anatolia, and the Caucasus, but cultivation has spread it around the world and the rest of Europe, North America, and Chile.<ref name=NCCIH/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
A perennial herb, it should be planted in full sun, Template:Convert apart, and cut back to the ground in the autumn. It grows up to Template:Convert tall. It is hardy to USDA zone 5 (Template:Convert). Outside of its native range, it may become an invasive weed.<ref name="Hadjikyriakou-Hadjisterkotis-2002">Template:Cite journal</ref>
UsesEdit
Phytochemicals and traditional medicineEdit
Feverfew is a naturally occurring source of parthenolide, which has numerous verified and potential pharmacological uses and is approved as a migraine prophylactic.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> It is also being investigated for use as a treatment for cocaine dependency<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and anti-cancer agent.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Other phytochemicals found in Feverfew include camphor, luteolin, and apigenin.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite journal</ref> Camphor has aromatic properties and has a number of industrial<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and medicinal applications, including use as a topical anti-itch ointment.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Luteolin and apigenin are flavonoids.<ref name=":2" />
Feverfew has seen significant use historically and in traditional medicine, and is sometimes referred to as "Medieval Aspirin". It has numerous analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> There is mixed evidence on the efficacy of Feverfew for the prevention of migraines.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Feverfew is registered as a traditional herbal medicine in the Nordic countries under the brand name Glitinum. Only powdered feverfew is approved in the European Union herbal monograph.<ref name="EMA-EUHM">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Dietary supplementEdit
The parthenolide content of commercially available feverfew supplements varies substantially (by more than 40-fold) despite labeling claims of "standardization".<ref name="cjp">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Adverse effectsEdit
Long-term use of feverfew followed by abrupt discontinuation may induce a withdrawal syndrome featuring rebound headaches and muscle and joint pains.<ref name="drugs">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Feverfew may cause allergic reactions in those allergic to the daisy family, including contact dermatitis or swelling and numbness of the mouth.<ref name="drugs" /> Other side effects have included gastrointestinal upset such as mild nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatulence, which are, fortunately mild and transient.<ref name="drugs" /> When the herb is chewed or taken orally it may cause mouth ulcers.<ref name=drugs/> Feverfew should not be taken by pregnant women.<ref name=drugs/> 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.<ref name=drugs/>
History and etymologyEdit
The word feverfew derives from the Latin word {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, meaning 'fever reducer',<ref name="umn">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> although it no longer is considered useful for that purpose.
Although its earliest medicinal use is unknown, it was documented in the 1st century CE as an anti-inflammatory by the Greek herbalist physician Dioscorides.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
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- Feverfew information from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- Feverfew in A Modern Herbal
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