feverfew Health Article

Generic name(s):

feverfew

Brand name(s):

What is the most important information I should know about feverfew?

Do not take feverfew without first talking to your doctor if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; if you are taking a medicine to prevent blood clots; or if you are taking other medications, herbs, antioxidants, or health supplements (these may also affect blood clotting). Feverfew may affect the time it takes for your blood to clot.

Feverfew has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of feverfew may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

What is feverfew?

The use of feverfew in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

Feverfew is also known as Tanacetum parthenium, featherfew, bachelor's button, flirtwort, altamisa, featherfoil, febrifuge plant, midsummer daisy, nosebleed, Santa Maria, wild chamomile, and wild quinine.

Feverfew has been used to prevent migraine headaches. Feverfew has also been used in the prevention and treatment of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, painful menstrual periods, inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis, toothache, and insect bites.

Feverfew has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of feverfew may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Feverfew may also have uses other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking feverfew?

Do not take feverfew if you have a known allergy or hypersensitivity to chamomile, ragweed, yarrow, or other plants in the Asteraceae family. Also, do not take feverfew if you develop a rash after touching the feverfew plant. You may be more likely to have a serious allergic reaction to feverfew. Do not take feverfew without first talking to your doctor if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; if you are taking a medicine to prevent blood clots; or if you are taking other medications, herbs, antioxidants, or health supplements (these may also affect blood clotting). Feverfew may affect the time it takes for your blood to clot.

Before taking feverfew, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have any other medical conditions, allergies (especially to plants), or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Feverfew may not be recommended in some situations.

Do not take feverfew without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Feverfew has been reported to have the potential to harm an unborn baby. Do not take feverfew without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. It is not known whether feverfew will harm a nursing infant. There is no information available regarding the use of feverfew by children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child's doctor.