feverfew

Action and Spectrum

Actions and Spectrum 

Popular herbal ingredient feverfew is used to relieve headaches of all kinds, including migraines. It is thought to function by lessening inflammation and widening cerebral blood vessels. 

feverfew having anti-inflammatory and analgesic characteristics are what are most well-known about its range of effects and mode of action. The active components in feverfew are thought to prevent the body from releasing inflammatory chemicals like prostaglandins and histamines, which can cause pain and inflammation. 

Drug Interaction

Adverse Reaction

Frequency not defined  

Diarrhea 

Anxiety (chronic use) 

Insomnia (chronic use) 

Flatulence 

Headache (chronic use) 

Abdominal pain 

Muscle/joint stiffness (chronic use) 

Allergic reaction 

Nausea/vomiting 

Indigestion 

Mouth ulcers 

Black Box Warning

Contraindication / Caution

Contraindication/Caution: 

Contraindication: 

• Due to the possibility of uterine contractions and potential effects on fetal development, feverfew should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. 
• The likelihood of an allergic reaction to feverfew may be increased in those who are allergic to members of the Asteraceae/Compositae family of plants, such as ragweed or chrysanthemums. 
• People with bleeding disorders or those using blood-thinning drugs should use feverfew with caution as it may increase the risk of bleeding. 
• To prevent excessive bleeding before and after the procedure, feverfew should be stopped at least two weeks prior to the scheduled surgery. 

Pregnancy / Lactation

Pregnancy warnings:     

Pregnancy category: A 

Lactation: Excretion into human milk is known 

Pregnancy Categories:         

Category A: Studies that were well-controlled and met expectations revealed no risk to the fetus in either the first or second trimester. 

Category B: There were lack of studies on pregnant women and no evidence of risk to the foetus in animal experiments.   

Category C: there was evidence of risk of adverse effects in animal reproduction studies, and no adequate evidence in human studies must take care of potential risks in pregnant women.    

Category D: adequate data available with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite the potential risk, and used only in emergency cases for potential benefits.   

Category X: Drugs listed in this category outweigh the risks over benefits. Hence these categories of drugs need to be avoided by pregnant women.    

Category N: There is no data available for the drug under this category
 

Pharmacology

Adminstartion

Administration:  

There are various ways to consume feverfew, including tablets, capsules, teas, and extracts.  

Tablets and capsules for feverfew are commonly swallowed with water. feverfew is typically taken with food to reduce gastrointestinal side effects. 

The leaves of feverfew can be steeped in boiling water for several minutes to make tea. Depending on the desired outcome, the tea can be sipped 1 to 3 times per day. 

Patient Information Leaflet

Patient information leaflet 

Generic Name: feverfew 

Why do we use horse feverfew? 

feverfew has been used as a complementary treatment for migraines. It is thought that by relaxing blood vessels and lowering inflammation, it lowers both frequency and intensity of migraine attacks. 

Additionally, feverfew might be useful for lessening the severity of tension headaches and other forms of headaches. feverfew possesses anti-inflammatory qualities that could help to lessen arthritis-related pain and inflammation. 

By lowering swelling and muscular spasms, feverfew may help to reduce the pain and discomfort brought on by menstrual cramps