Hello there – I’m delighted to share this post exploring the medicinal properties of feverfew and the many traditional and contemporary uses of feverfew in herbal medicine.
We’ll look at the medicinal benefits of feverfew, including how it has been used to support the nervous system, ease recurring headaches and migraines, calm inflammatory processes, and gently assist the body in restoring balance.
We’ll also touch on what part of feverfew is used for medicine and what feverfew does for the body.
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I’m Rosa Wilde, herbalist and foraging teacher at The School of Wild Medicine.
I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about feverfew in the comments below.
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Medicinal properties of feverfew: Historical uses of feverfew
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a strongly aromatic, bitter herb in the daisy family (Asteraceae) with a long and well-documented history in Western herbal medicine.
The plant was widely cultivated in European monastic gardens, where it was prepared by monks and distributed to surrounding communities.
The name “feverfew” derives from the Latin febrifugia, meaning “fever reducer. This reflects one of the earliest recorded uses of feverfew as a febrifuge, a substance that helps reduce fever.
Feverfew was taken fresh, dried, or infused to support people through febrile illnesses such as colds and infectious diseases.
Eclectic physicians of the 19th century (a group of American medical practitioners who combined herbal medicine with emerging medical science) used feverfew as a gastrointestinal tonic.
A tonic is a remedy taken regularly to strengthen or restore normal function. In this context, feverfew was used to improve appetite, stimulate digestive secretions, and support kidney elimination.
1. Uses of feverfew for migraine prevention
Today, one of the most common uses of feverfew is migraine prevention.
Feverfew is approved by the European Medicines Agency as a preventative treatment for migraine headaches, based on clinical evidence demonstrating reduced frequency and severity of attacks.
One of the primary medicinal properties of feverfew relevant to migraines is its effect on inflammatory pathways.
Feverfew contains parthenolide, a sesquiterpene lactone that inhibits the release of inflammatory compounds from white blood cells and platelets. Platelets are blood components involved in clotting and inflammation, and their activation is implicated in migraine pathophysiology.
Feverfew also acts as a vasodilator, meaning it helps widen blood vessels.
Migraine pain is often associated with constriction and dysfunction of the microcirculation – the smallest blood vessels supplying nerves and tissues. By improving blood flow and reducing vascular tension, feverfew supports more stable neurological signalling.
Importantly, feverfew must be taken daily as a preventative. It is said not to relieve an active migraine once symptoms have begun. Consistent use for several weeks is often required before noticeable improvement occurs.
2. Uses of feverfew for inflammatory conditions and arthritis
Another important category within the uses of feverfew is inflammatory joint disease, particularly rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which immune cells release inflammatory mediators that damage joint tissues.
Research shows that feverfew inhibits the release of inflammatory particles more effectively than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin.
This is significant because NSAIDs primarily block inflammation after it has begun, whereas feverfew interferes earlier in the inflammatory cascade.
The medicinal properties of feverfew in this context include inhibition of prostaglandins (inflammatory signalling molecules), reduction of platelet aggregation, and modulation of immune cell activity. Together, these actions can reduce pain, swelling, and tissue damage.
3. Uses of feverfew for fever and immune support
Feverfew has long been used as an antipyretic – an agent that helps regulate fever.
Rather than suppressing fever entirely, feverfew supports the body’s natural fever response by encouraging perspiration and heat movement through the skin.
This sweating response assists thermoregulation, which is the body’s ability to maintain a stable core temperature. Fever plays a role in immune defence by creating an environment less favourable to pathogens. The medicinal properties of feverfew support this process while reducing discomfort.
Traditionally, feverfew has been combined with herbs such as elderflower and peppermint. Elderflower enhances sweating, while peppermint provides cooling and digestive support, making the combination effective during acute febrile illnesses.
4. Uses of feverfew for menstrual pain and regulation
Among the lesser-discussed uses of feverfew is support for painful menstruation, known clinically as dysmenorrhea.
Feverfew’s anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic actions may help reduce uterine cramping by limiting prostaglandin release, which is responsible for uterine contractions and pain.
Historically, feverfew was also used for menstrual irregularities, though it is often recommended not to be taken during pregnancy due to its uterine-stimulating effects. Its action on smooth muscle explains both its usefulness for menstrual pain and its contraindications.
5. Benefits of feverfew for digestive support
Feverfew has a strong bitter taste. Bitter herbs stimulate digestive secretions, including saliva, stomach acid, bile, and pancreatic enzymes. These secretions improve the breakdown and absorption of nutrients.
The medicinal properties of feverfew include aromatic volatile oils that reduce digestive stagnation, helping relieve nausea, indigestion, and flatulence. Historically, feverfew was also used to expel intestinal parasites, reflecting its stimulating effect on the digestive tract.
6. Feverfew uses for nervous system support
Although not classified as a sedative, feverfew has indirect nervous system benefits due to its effects on circulation and inflammation. Migraines, vertigo, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) often involve neurological irritation combined with vascular dysfunction.
Feverfew’s vasodilating action improves oxygen and nutrient delivery to nervous tissues. When combined with nervine herbs – plants that nourish and calm the nervous system – such as oat straw, lemon balm, or skullcap, feverfew supports long-term neurological resilience rather than short-term symptom suppression.
7. Topical and external uses of feverfew
Topically, feverfew has been applied for insect bites due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Antimicrobial substances inhibit the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms, reducing the risk of infection at the site of a bite.
However, fresh feverfew can irritate the skin in sensitive individuals, so topical use should involve properly prepared extracts rather than raw plant material.
FAQs
What part of feverfew is used for medicine?
The aerial parts of the plant – meaning the leaves, flowers, and upper stems – are used therapeutically. These parts contain the highest concentration of parthenolide and volatile oils.
Leaves are often preferred due to their potency, though flowers are also used in standardised extracts. The roots of feverfew are not used medicinally.
Aerial parts can be eaten fresh, with a bitter taste that some may prefer to mask with honey. Feverfew can also be dried and turned into tinctures and herbal tea.
What does feverfew do for the body?
Feverfew modulates immune signalling, improves microcirculation, supports digestive efficiency, and assists the body’s fever response.
It reduces excessive inflammatory signalling without completely suppressing immune function, which is why it has traditionally been used in both acute and chronic conditions.
Read the above “uses of feverfew” categories for more info on how feverfew impacts the body.
What are the medicinal benefits of feverfew?
The medicinal benefits of feverfew arise from its combined anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, bitter, and immune-modulating actions. Unlike single-target pharmaceuticals, feverfew influences multiple physiological systems simultaneously.
Its benefits are most pronounced when used preventatively and consistently, particularly for migraines and inflammatory conditions. Feverfew does not act as a painkiller in the conventional sense but instead reduces the underlying processes that lead to pain.
Safety considerations and contraindications
Feverfew is generally not recommended to be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding due to its potential uterine-stimulating effects and aspirin-like activity.
Because feverfew acts similarly to NSAIDs, it should not be taken concurrently with aspirin or ibuprofen unless supervised by a practitioner. Some sensitive individuals experience mouth ulcers or mild skin irritation, particularly when chewing fresh leaves.
Sudden discontinuation after long-term use may lead to “feverfew rebound syndrome,” characterised by the return of migraines, nausea, anxiety, and insomnia. Gradual tapering is advised.
References
Feverfew: benefits, dosage & side-effects by Holland & Barrett
Feverfew by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre
Feverfew by Herbal Reality
Feverfew monograph by AARM
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Thank you for reading this post!
I hope this exploration of the medicinal properties of feverfew and the many traditional and modern uses of feverfew has been informative and useful to you.
If you have experience with feverfew or questions about how it may be used, feel free to share them in the comments below. I am always glad to offer guidance where I can.
Take care, everyone! ❤️
Excellent information…Thanks
Thank you for commenting, have a lovely day 🙂