FEVERFEW TANACETUM PARTHENIUM

FEVERFEW (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch. Bip.) ++

Synonyms :
- Chrysanthemum parthenium (L.) Bernh., C. praealtum Vent., Leucanthemum parthenium (L.) Gren. & Godr., Matricaria exima hort. ex Voss, M. parthenium L.

Activities (Feverfew) :
- Abortifacient (f; CRC); Allergenic (1; FAD); Analgesic (1; APA; PNC; TRA; WAM); Antiaggregant (1; CAN; PHR; TRA); Antiallergenic (1; WAM); Antialzheimeran (1; COX; FNF); Antiarthritic (1; COX; FNF); Antibacterial (1; TRA); Anticancer (1; COX; FNF); Antihistaminic (1; CAN; PHR); Antiinflammatory (1; AKT; CAN; COX; WAM); Antileukotriene (f; CAN); Antiprostaglandin (1; CAN; PHR; PH2); Antipyretic (f; PNC); Antirheumatic (f; PNC); Antisecretory (f; LAF); Antiseptic (1; CRC; FAD; HH3; PHR); Antiserotonin (1; APA; PED); Antispasmodic (1; APA; TRA; WAM); Antitumor (1; TRA); Aperient (f; CRC); Aperitif (f; JFM); Bitter (1; GMH; PED); Cardioactive (f; CRC); Carminative (f; CRC; GMH; JFM); COX-2 Inhibitor (1; COX; FNF); Cytotoxic (1; HH3); Deodorant (1; APA); Depurative (f; CRC); Dermatitigenic (1; FAD); Digestive (f; CRC; JFM; PH2); Emmenagogue (f; APA; CRC; GMH; JFM); Insectifuge (1; APA; GMH); Insecticide (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Laxative (f; CRC); Parasiticide (f; PH2); Resolvent (f; CRC); Sedative (f; FAD; JFM); SSRI (1; JAD; PHR); Stimulant (f; PHR; PH2); Stomachic (f; CRC; PNC); Tonic (f; CRC; JFM; PHR; PH2); Tranquilizer (f; PHR; PH2); Uterotonic (1; AKT); Vermifuge (f; CRC; PNC).

Indications (Feverfew) :
- Addiction, opium (f; APA; JFM); Allergy (1; PHR; PH2; WAM); Alzheimers (1; COX; FNF); Amenorrhea (f; GMH); Anemia (f; CRC); Anorexia (f; JFM); Arthrosis (1; AKT; CAN; COX; FAD; FNF; PH2); Asthma (1; COX; PED); Bacteria (1; HH3; TRA); Biliousness (f; CRC; JFM); Bite (f; GMH); Bruise (f; CRC); Cancer (1; COX; CRC; FNF; TRA); Candida (1; HH3); Childbirth (f; JFM); Cluster Headache (1; HAD); Cold (f; CRC; FAD); Colic (f; CRC; GMH; TRA); Constipation (f; CRC); Cough (f; GMH); Cramp (1; APA; FAD; PH2; TRA; WAM); Depression (f; GMH); Dermatosis (f; PED); Diarrhea (f; CRC; JFM); Dizziness (f; AKT); Dysmenorrhea (f; FAD; PHR; PNC); Dyspepsia (f; CRC; GMH; PHR; PH2); Dyspnea (f; GMH); Earache (f; CRC; GMH; JFM); Escherichia (f; HH3); Fever (f; APA; CRC; PNC); Fungus (1; HH3); Gas (f; CRC; GMH; JFM); Gastrosis (f; TRA); Headache (1; APA; SKY; WAM); Heart (f; JFM); Hysteria (f; CRC; GMH; JFM);
Infection (1; HH3); Inflammation (1; AKT; CAN; COX; FNF; PHR; PH2; WAM); Insomnia (f; FAD; JFM); Lochia (f; PH2); Menstruation (f; CRC); Migraine (3; APA; FAD; PH2; TRA; WAM); Morphinism (f; APA); Mycosis (1; HH3); Nausea (f; APA); Nervousness (f; FAD; JFM; PHR; PH2); Neurosis (f; APA); Pain (1; APA; GMH; PNC; TRA; WAM); Parasite (f; PHR; PH2); Parturition (f; CRC); Puerperium (f; PHR); Rheumatism (f; CAN; DEM; PHR; PH2; PNC); Salmonella (1; HH3; TRA); Spasm (f; CRC); Staphylococcus (1; HH3; TRA); Stomachache (1; CAN); Swelling (f; CRC; DEM); Toothache (f; CAN); Tinnitus (f; CAN); Tumor (1; TRA); Vertigo (f; AKT; CAN); Vomiting (1; AKT); Worm (f; CRC; FAD; PNC); Wound (f; PHR; PH2); Yeast (1; HH3).

Dosages (Feverfew) :
- 600 µg parthenolide 1 - 3 ×/day (AKT); 250 µg parthenolide (APA); 2 - 3 leaves chewed daily with or without food (APA; CAN); 50 mg freeze-dried leaf daily with or without food (CAN); 0.25 - 0.5 tsp fresh leaf (PED); 0.2 - 0.4 g dry leaf (PED); 0.3 g dry leaf:2 ml alcohol/1 ml water (PED); 4 - 8 ml liquid leaf extract (APA; PNC); 50 - 200 mg dried shoots daily (CAN); 2 (380 mg) capsules 3 ×/day (NH). DANGEROUS ERROR ->250 mg parthenolide/day [should have said 250 µg] (SKY).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Feverfew) :
- Class 2b (AHP). Oral feverfew may cause mouth ulcers in ca. 10% of patients. Should not be taken by pregnant women because the leaves have emmenagogue activity (LRNP, June 1990). No serious side effects have been noticed in those taking feverfew over years as a preventive. Side effects: ulcerations of the mouth, sore tongue, inflammation of the oral mucosa and tongue, swelling of the lips, unpleasant taste, loss of taste, urinary problems, headache, diarrhea, dry mouth, dusgeusia, gas, glossosis, hypersensitivity, nausea, stomatosis, and vomiting (most were apparent only in the first week) reported by those using feverfew. Cases of allergic contact dermatosis in humans have also been reported (AEH). Cases of contact dermatosis are rare. Mild tranquilizing and sedative effects have been reported. hewing the leaves for extended periods may lead to abdominal pains and dyspepsia. Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) are aromatic compounds widely distributed in certain plant families, with highest concentrations generally found in leaves and flowers. Sheep and cattle poisonings due to SLcontaining species have been reported. SLs are allergenic and may cause dermatosis (CAN). Because it is reputed to be abortifacient and to affect the menstrual cycle, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. Self-medication with feverfew should not be undertaken without first consulting a doctor (CAN). Should not be used by children under the age of two years (SKY). Do not use with calcium channel blockers, ticlopadine, or coumadin (OBrien, 1998).

Extracts (Feverfew) :
- Inhibit leukotriene, prostaglandin, and thromboxane production; inhibit phospholipase A2 (facilitating the release of arachidonic acid from the phospholipid cellular membrane; clinical relevance questionable) (CAN). Extracts inhibit interaction of platelets with collagen substrates. Inhibits granule secretion in blood platelets and neutrophils (associated with etiology of migraine and rheumatoid arthrosis, respectively). SLs with an alpha-methylene butyrolactone unit may explain antisecretory activity (CAN). Extracts produce a dose-dependent inhibition of anti-IgE-induced histamine release from mast cells (differently than cromoglycate and quercetin) (CAN). Contains several COX-2 inhibitors, but one of best sources of parthenolide (COX).