What is feverfew?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

November 11, 2002

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Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz-Bip.) is native to southeastern Europe and the Caucasian mountains. As a medicinal, it was introduced in northern Europe, the Americas, and Australia where it has escaped cultivation and naturalized. Feverfew has previously been classified in the genera, Chrysanthemum and Pyrethrum; but in the old herbals, it was called Matricaria.

Feverfew Tanacetum Parthenium Poppy Seedheads
Hemant Jariwala
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Feverfew contains a number of toxins, terpenes, and is one of several sources of the insecticide, pyrethrum. Pyrethrum or pyrethron comes from the Greek, pyre, meaning fire. Medieval medicine classified a plant's use by 'temperature' and 'moisture'. In 1597, John Gerard said of this plant, "Feverfew doth manifestly heat, it is hot in the third degree, and drie in the second; it clenseth, purgeth, or scoureth, openeth and fully performeth all that bitter things can do." (The Herbal, 1633 ed.)

Gerard reiterated the ancient use of feverfew, "Dioscorides [first century]...teacheth, that it is profitably applied to Saint Anthonies fire, to all hot inflammations, and hot swellings, if it be laid unto, both leaves and floures....that the pouder of Feverfew drunke with Oxymell, or syrup of Vineger, or wine...draweth away flegme and melancholy...it is good for them that are giddie in the head....for such as be melancholike, sad, pensive, and without speech."

Feverfew was mainly considered a feminine remedy and called Matricaria for its action upon the matrix or womb. In the 'polite' language of the Sixteenth Century, Gerard wrote of its use as an abortifacient, "It is a great remedie against the diseases of the matrix (unwed motherhood); it procureth womens sicknes with speed; it bringeth forth the afterbirth and the dead childe, whether it bee drunke in a decoction, or boiled in a bath...." Women were taking an insecticide internally and this use was alluded to in another common name, flirtwort.

Henriette's Herbal plant photos has a great photograph of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch.-Bip). To view the photograph, click on the link:

http://www.henriettesherbal.com/pictures/p13/pages/tanacetum-parthenium-3.htm

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