Feverfew

Family Name: Asteraceae/Compositae (Aster Family)

Latin Name: Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch. Bip.

(Also Known As): Chrysanthemum parthenium (L.) Bernh.

Matricaria parthenium - L.

Common Names: Feverfew, featherfew, bachelor’s buttons, flirtwort

Related Species: T. bipinnatum spp. huronense, T. douglasii, Chrysanthemum bipinnatum, T. vulgare, Leucanthemum vulgare (1:280-281; 3:109)

Body System Affiliations:

1. Nervous system

2. Musculo-skeletal system

Botanical Description:

Habit: Herb – Perennial

Size: 2 feet (4:120), .6 m (6), 60 cm (7:20; 7:224)

Arrangement: Alternate

Leaves: 4 1/2 inches long, 2 inches broad, serrate margins, deeply lobed, bipinnatifid, light green to golden green, divided into 3 segments, on upright stems, not as feathery as chamomile (4:120; 5)

Flowers: Small, daisy-like with white ray flowers (which are female) and yellow disk flowers (which are perfect) (12:552-553), radial symmetry, bloom midsummer to early fall (roughly July to August) (4:120; 6; 7:224); florets arranged on a nearly flat receptacle, not conical like chamomile (5).

Fruit: Achene - 5 ribbed (12:553)

Underground Parts: Fibrous root

Personal Observation and Description: As elegant as the daisy, this plant is easy to grow and propagate.

Ecology:

Habitat: Zones 5 to 7 (4:120), prefers temperate climate (7:31)

Range: Introduced to US east and west coasts (2) loves waste places and rocky slopes (6)

Native Where: Europe to Asia (6)

Western (European-American) Uses/Relationships:

Food: Feverfew-and-butter sandwich: butter two pieces of bread, add two fresh feverfew leaves, cucumber and tomato slices (7:224).

Materials/Technology: Insecticide: Steep a cup of dried flowers for an hour in hot soapy water then strain and allow to cool slightly before use, spray on foliage (6).

Medicine:

Part Used: Leaves

Medicinal Actions: anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, aperient, bitter, carminative, emmenagogue, sedative, stimulant, stomachic, vasodilator and vermifuge (6); purgative (10); anodyne, analgesic; may reduce severity & frequency of migraines; may relieve some arthritis pain; has calming effect (4:120)

Indications: Persistent headaches/migraines; rheumatism; arthritis

Body System Associations: Nervous & musculo-skeletal systems

Applications: Tincture (3:109; 4:84); Infusion or eat 3-4 leaves a day (4:120); cider vinegar tincture, syrup, balm (7:224)

Preparation: Place a cup of dried herb in a jar with a tight fitting plastic lid (4:84); add 2 1/2 cups of alcohol (4:84) (95 proof or better is ideal according to Michael Moore); make sure plant material is covered by liquid; keep in cool dark place like the refrigerator and shake daily for a few weeks; strain liquid, label, and keep in a dark place (4:84). Should be good for about a year (4:84).

Pharmacy: 10-15 drops under tongue; wait several hours if another dose is needed (4:84); as a preventative measure take 2 drops daily for several up to 5 months (8:130); apply tincture to relieve pain and swelling of insect and vermin bites (5).

Other: Bitter flavor/aroma (4:120); to make an insect repellant, mix 2 tsp with 1/2 pint of cold water and sponge the body (5). Helps to prevent migraines by controlling inflammation that constricts blood vessels (9). The flowers act as a purgative (10).

Cautions: Do not use if pregnant (9); if sores or mouth irritation occur then try increasing vitamin C intake or don’t eat the fresh plant. If you are allergic to other daisies (like ragweed and chrysanthemum) then you may have an allergic reaction to using feverfew (11).

Propagation:

Technique: Seed

Timing: After a week of cold stratification, sow 8 weeks before final frost (around April) in moist medium at 75-80 degrees F (4:35; 7:69, 224); takes about two weeks to sprout; transplant to garden of rich loam 2 weeks after final frost at least 12 in (30 cm) apart, has moderate water requirements (4:35, 120; 7:21, 224)

Technique: Root division

Timing: Divide roots with stems in early fall (4:120)

Technique: Cuttings

Timing: Take cutting of young shoot that starts from the base with heel of old plant attached any time from October to May, shorten foliage to 3 inches, water well, shade plant while it is rooting (5).

Notes: This plant propagates itself if it has any space around it so root division seems to work well. Plant likes full sun (tolerates partial shade) once established but hates a soggy soil. Too much nitrogen results in fewer flowers. In garden, space plants about 12 inches apart and look out for aphids (a little soapy water should take care of them) (4:120). Grows well aside lemon balm, hyssop, licorice and monarda; may deter insects (7:35). Beware of snails, slugs and black flies (5).

Harvest:

Plant Part: Leaves

Season of Harvest: Spring

Method of Harvest: Snip each leaf prior to flowering in the morning after dew dries (4:120)

Ecological Considerations of Harvest: Leave the leaves near plant top so it will still flower

Cautions: None found

Plant Part: Flowers

Season of Harvest: Midsummer to early fall

Method of Harvest: Cut flowers in dry weather for flower arrangements (4:120)

Ecological Considerations of Harvest: Flowers of this plant repel bees so snipping all of its flowers is ideal if bee pollinated plants are nearby. Otherwise, transplant to an area where you may want to repel bees (like a sunny porch area or a garden entrance)

Other Notes of Interest: British have prepared feverfew-and-butter sandwiches for their daily dose of feverfew leaves (7:148). Feverfew has been so popular in use of migraine prevention and has been studied enough to be available commercially in capsules, tablets and liquid extracts.

Cautions: Do not use if pregnant (9); if sores or mouth irritation occur then try increasing vitamin C intake or don’t eat the fresh plant. If you are allergic to other daisies (like ragweed and chrysanthemum) then you may have an allergic reaction to using feverfew (11)

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References Cited:

1. Mackinnon, Andy, and Jim Pojar. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Vancouver, British Columbia: Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing, 1994.

2. USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Plant Database. Online at http://plants.usda.gov. Accessed: July, 2010.

3. Moore, Michael. Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West. Sante Fe, New Mexico: Red Crane Books, 1995.

4. Smith, Miranda. Your Backyard Herb Garden: A Gardener’s Guide to Growing Over 50 Herbs Plus How to Use Them in Cooking, Crafts, Companion Planting, and More. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, Inc., 1997.

5. Grieve, M. A Modern Herbal. Online at http://www.botanical.com. Accessed: July, 2010.

6. Fern, Ken. Plants for a Future: Edible, Medicinal and Useful Plants for a Healthier World. Online at http://www.pfaf.org. Accessed: July, 2010.

7. Hartung, Tammi. Growing 101 Herbs That Heal: Gardening Techniques, Recipes, and Remedies. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2000.

8. Hobbs, Christopher. Handbook for Herbal Healing: A Concise Guide to Herbal Products. Loveland, CO: Interweave Press, Inc., 1990.

9. Author unknown. Herbwisdom.com. Online at http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-feverfew.html. Accessed: July, 2010.

10. Author unknown. Holistic online. Online at http://www.holistic-online.com. Accessed: July, 2010.

11. National Institutes of Health and National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Online at http://nccam.nih.gov. Accessed: July, 2010.

12. Hitchcock, C. Leo and Arthur Cronquist. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press, 1973.