Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)

Traditional use

The name Feverfew reflects its historic role as a febrifuge—a plant used to reduce fevers. It was widely used in European folk medicine for this purpose, as well as to support women’s reproductive health. Traditionally taken as a uterine tonic and emmenagogue, it helped regulate menstruation, stimulate delayed menses, and support healing after childbirth.

Feverfew was also used for melancholy or low spirits, particularly when linked to menstrual imbalances or postpartum depletion. An old remedy for migraine involved chopping 2–3 fresh leaves into butter or honey, highlighting the traditional belief in its lipid-soluble constituents—a fact now supported by modern phytochemistry.

Clinical Discussion

In modern herbal medicine, Feverfew is primarily used as a preventative remedy for migraines, rather than for acute relief. Its key active constituent, parthenolide, is thought to help modulate inflammatory pathways and inhibit serotonin release from platelets, both of which are involved in migraine pathophysiology.

Feverfew may take 4–6 weeks or more of consistent use before full benefits are felt. It’s beneficial in recurring, hormonally linked, or heat-aggravated migraines that improve with rest in a cool, dark room. Herbalist David Hoffmann notes that feverfew is most effective in individuals whose migraines respond well to cooling or heat applied to the head, further affirming its role in rebalancing vascular tone.

The fresh plant tincture is sometimes applied topically to reduce the pain and itching of insect bites, though this is a secondary use.

Caution: Feverfew may cause mouth ulcers if chewed raw and is not recommended during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue action.

Cultivation/Harvesting

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a hardy perennial often grown as a self-seeding short-lived biennial or annual. It prefers full sun, well-drained soil, and is an excellent companion plant in gardens due to its pest-repelling properties, particularly against aphids and whitefly.

• Germination: Sow seeds directly in early spring or start indoors. Light is needed for germination, so press into the soil surface without covering.

• Growth habit: It forms low-growing rosettes in its first year, followed by tall, daisy-like flower stalks in its second. Deadhead to encourage longer blooming and prevent excessive self-seeding.

• Harvesting:

  • Leaves can be picked as needed throughout spring and summer—fresh leaves are often used in tinctures and remedies.

  • Whole aerial parts (leaves, flowers, and stems) are best harvested when the plant is in full bloom, typically in midsummer. Cut on a dry morning after dew has lifted for optimal potency.

• Preservation: Dry leaves and flowers in a well-ventilated, shaded area and store in airtight jars. Parthenolide levels are thought to remain stable in properly dried material.