Mark Stengler, N.D.
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 Efficacy of feverfew as a prophylactic treatment of migraine. British Medical Journal 1985; 291:569-573.
• "... A 1998 study looked at 59 people who suffered migraine headaches." Murphy JJ, Heptinstall S, Mitchell IRA, Randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial of feverfew in migraine prevention. The Lancet July 23,1988; 189-192.
FIBER
• "... Table 4 . . ." Marlett J, Cheung T. Database and quick methods of assessing typical dietary fiber intakes using data for 228 commonly consumed foods. J Am Diet Assoc 1997; 97:1139-1147.
• "... |
Henry Pasternak, D.V.M., C.V.A.
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 I have used a feverfew product with a content of 600 mg per capsule to successfully treat a number of inflammatory and painful conditions in dogs and cats. When I get a headache, I ingest two capsules, and within fifteen minutes, my headache is gone. Due to its tonic effects on vascular smooth muscles, I have also used feverfew in cerebral vascular accidents (CVA) with success.
Flax Seeds
I have been using flax seeds and flax seed oil for a dozen years with remarkable results. Dogs accept flax oil readily, while cats seem to prefer crushed flax seeds or powder. |
Sheldon Saul Hendler
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 Most of the studies have come out of England, where it has been demonstrated that the equivalent of two leaves of the feverfew plant in powder form, which comes to about 100 mg, when administered daily, has a significant effect in the prevention of recurrence of migraine headaches. The active ingredients are sesquiterpene lactones, principally parthenolide, and it appears that about 0.1 mg or 100 meg of the active constituents are required for the preventive effect. The amount of the active principle varies in different feverfew plants, making herbal preparations frequently unreliable. |
Jack Challem
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 Dosages of feverfew products vary among brands, but one of the most reliable brands (available at health food stores) is MygraFew, made by Nature's Way.
In 2001 researchers at Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut) determined that parthenolide had potentially far-reaching antiinflammatory properties. They identified the molecular basis of the herb, showing that it disrupts the function of "IkappaB kinase beta," an inflammation-triggering compound.
Elder
Elder leaves and elderberries (Sambucus nigra and other species) have a long history of medicinal use. |
Natural Prescriptions: Dr. Giller's Natural Treatments & Vitamin Therapies For Over 100 Common AilmentsRobert M. Giller, M.D.
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| A double-blind study of patients who reported they had been helped by feverfew was performed at the London Migraine Clinic. A test group was given a placebo to determine if their symptoms worsened. They did, increasing in both the frequency and severity of the attack.
Feverfew has some of the same antiinflammatory effects as aspirin, without aspirin's side effects. It must be taken for several weeks before the effects are felt.
One aspirin taken every other day has also been found to reduce the risk of migraine, presumably by preventing the platelets in the blood from clumping together. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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 Follow-up studies to the clinical results have shown that feverfew works in the treatment and prevention of migraine headaches by inhibiting the release of blood vessel dilating substances from platelets, inhibiting the production of inflammatory substances, and reestablishing proper blood vessel
TABLE 7 Biofeedback/Relaxation Compared to Propranolol: Average Percent Improvement per Patient
BIOFEEDBACK/RELAXATION PROPRANOLOL PLACEBO UNTREATED
56.4% 55.2% 14.3% 3.2% tone.'5 The effectiveness of feverfew is dependent upon adequate levels of partheno-lide, the active principle. |
Dr. Gary Null
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 Studies in England suggest that the herbal remedy feverfew can reduce the frequency of migraines. feverfew has sedative qualities and can be taken as a tea. One cup per day is usually effective. In addition, relaxation techniques, such as meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and yoga can help to reduce stress. Regular moderate exercise, such as swimming or walking, also lowers tension and creates a psychological sense of well-being."
Dr. |
| Brett makes the following recommendations: "When feverfew is taken with magnesium, in doses of 250 to 500 mg daily, and Ginkgo biloba, most people notice a significant reduction in the number of migraines, even to the point of disappearance. This includes people who suffered daily. Many people come to me who have had no success with more conventional treatments. After starting them on feverfew and magnesium, they get a significant reduction in the number of headaches and the severity of pain. Even when they have headaches, they tend to be less frequent and less painful. |
| Results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial demonstrated that 17 migraine patients who ate fresh feverfew leaves daily prevented the worsening of attacks.
E. S. Johnson et al., "Efficacy of feverfew as Prophylactic Treatment of Migraine," British Medical Journal 291, no. 6495 (August 31, 1985): 569-73.
Noting that most migraine drugs have side effects that limit their use, some researchers propose ginger as an alternative since it is known in Ayurvedic and Tibb systems of medicine to be helpful in treating neurological disorders.
T. Mustafa and K. C. |
Barrie R Cassileth, Ph.D.
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 Press acupoints between eyebrows or in hollows at base of skull on both sides of spine, massage, progressive relaxation, biofeedback, feverfew capsules can prevent migraines, heartburn Ginger tea. high blood pressure Garlic, foods rich in calcium and magnesium, mind-body techniques. impotence Relaxation techniques (ginkgo and ginseng are unproven). indigestion Peppermint or chamomile tea. menopause problems Black cohosh extracts, vitamin E. menstrual cramps Warm baths, feverfew, extract of the herb black cohosh, raspberry leaf tea, yoga positions. |
| Feverfew Products that contain at least 2 percent parthenolide, feverfew's active ingredient, may well prevent and relieve migraine headaches and menstrual cramps.
Garlic Garlic is among the best studied of all medicinal herbs in history. Volumes of information document its effectiveness as a preventive and treatment for many problems. Whether fresh, dried, or commercially prepared, garlic's antibiotic action destroys fungal, viral, and bacterial infections. |
Leo Galland
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 Hylands, Efficacy of feverfew as prophylactic treatment of migraine, British Medical Journal, Vol. 291 (1985), pp. 569-73. feverfew (formerly Chrysanthemum parthe-nium, now classified as Tanacetum parthenium), 25 mg twice a day, produced migraine relief without side effects. The mechanism of action differed from that of NSAIDs. The study was done at the London Migraine Clinic.
Natural Products for Acute Pain
1. Bromelain, a mixture of enzymes from pineapple stem.
G. Tassman, J. Zafran, and G. |
Andrew Pengelly
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 The (-) form occurs in feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium (Asteraceae), and in some lavender varieties. It is regarded as an undesirable constituent in lavender oil. Much of the camphor used in commerce is prepared synthetically from other monoterpenes. Camphor is a CNS stimulant, primarily used as a topical agent for its antipruritic, rubifacient and mucolytic properties. It is toxic in high doses. |
Michael Janson, M.D.
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 Recent studies have documented the value of feverfew in the control of migraine headaches. As little as 25 mg twice per day has reduced both the intensity and the frequency of migraine headaches. It probably produces some of its effects as a result of alterations in serotonin production. Excess serotonin production by blood platelets can trigger constriction of the arteries. Migraines are possibly related to this constriction and subsequent relaxation of these blood vessels, but the mechanisms are not yet clear.
Feverfew capsules are available in a variety of sizes. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 In another double blind study at the University of Nottingham, seventy-two patients were randomly given either a placebo or feverfew daily. After four months patients had their supplements switched and tests were continued for another four months. Those treated with feverfew had a 24 percent reduction in the number of migraine episodes, and those who continued to have headaches noticed a significant decrease in the severity and duration of attacks. Results of these studies were published in the British medical journal Lancet. |
Dr. Julian Whitaker
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| For example, let's say you are shopping for the herb feverfew, which is used for the prevention of migraine headaches. You go into a store and find, say, six different brands of feverfew. Some may be tablets, some may be capsules, and the potency of each may vary, but all of the products appear to be pretty much the same. How do you know which brand to choose? You may decide, all things appearing equal, to purchase the least expensive. Or you may be of the "you get what you pay for" school of thought and select the most expensive brand. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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| Two patients in the placebo group, who had been in complete remission during self-treatment with feverfew leaves, developed recurrence of incapacitating migraine and had to withdraw from the study. The resumption of self-treatment led to renewed remission of symptoms in both patients. The second double-blind study, performed at the University of Nottingham, demonstrated that feverfew was effective in reducing the number and severity of migraine attacks. |
Gary Null
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| They focus on the natural antiinflammatory properties that are very common in herbs such as green tea, turmeric, rosemary, feverfew, and others. They conclude that because nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are associated with a reduced risk for several cancers, then natural plant antiinflammatories should be investigated as possible anticancer agents. |
| They included ginkgo, black cohosh, echinacea, kava-kava, saw palmetto, turmeric, angelica, wild yam, cat's claw, passionflower, muira puama, feverfew, blueberry, chasteberry, licorice, nettle, goldenseal, pygeum, ginger, valerian, and hops. Turmeric showed the most potent anti-Epstein-Barr virus activity, which was ten times more than passionflower, next in the order of activity. Several of the herbal remedies tested inhibited the Epstein-Barr virus by more than 90 percent. The group also reported for the first time the activities of sixteen new medicinal plants as potential anticancer herbs. |
| Calcium-magnesium at 1,500 mg can also do that. feverfew is very good for stopping migraine headaches because it affects blood vessel dilation. Magnesium is one of the single most important things to take for any kind of local pain, muscle pain, or headache pain. Dong quai, together with ginger and mint, is often effective. You can make a tincture with all of these combined. You can even juice some ginger and drink it straight, or diluted by celery juice. White willow bark is useful in alleviating headache pain. |
Bill Gottlieb
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 And check the botanical name on the label (Tanacetum parthe-nium) to be sure the product is authentic feverfew.
Or, he says, you can take one caplet twice a day of Migra-Lieve, a product that supplies magnesium, riboflavin, and feverfew, all of which have been shown to relieve migraines. It will take 1 to 3 months of regular use before relief occurs. If you plan to take it for more than 4 months, do so only with the approval and supervision of a physician experienced in the therapeutic use of herbs, says Dr. Mauskop. |
Michael Janson, M.D.
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| It is this anti-inflammatory property that may help treat arthritis. feverfew also lowers histamine release.
Recent studies have documented the value of feverfew in the control of migraine headaches. As little as 25 mg twice per day has reduced both the intensity and the frequency of migraine headaches. It probably produces some of its effects as a result of alterations in serotonin production. Excess serotonin production by blood platelets can trigger constriction of the arteries. |
volker schulz and Rudolf Hansel
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 Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over trial for a feverfew preparation.
Phytomedicine 3: 225-230. Deal CL (1991) Treatment of arthritis with topical capsaicin - a double-blind trial. Clinical
Therapeutics 13: 383-395. Del Beccaro MA (1994) Malaleuca oil poisoning. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 32: 461-4. Donald J, Brown ND (2003) Standardized Butterbur Extract for Migraine Treatment: A Clinical
Overview. HerbalGram 58:18-19. Drake HF, Harries AJ, Gamester RE, Justin D (1990) Randomized double-blind study of topical capsaicin for treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. |
Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 However, the lowly feverfew is not revealing its healing secrets, and the freeze-dried herb in capsules, or a tincture of the fresh leaves, is still the best way to take the plant. feverfew has also been used successfully to treat arthritis.
Treating Chronic Pain
As scientists research pain, they're finding that a wide variety of techniques which induce relaxation and increase body awareness can be used very effectively to beat the demon of chronic pain. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 2Michael T. Murray, ND
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| Two patients in the placebo group who had been in complete remission during self-treatment with feverfew leaves developed a recurrence of incapacitating migraine and had to withdraw from the study. The resumption of self-treatment led to renewed remission of symptoms in both patients. The second double-blind study, performed at the University of Nottingham, demonstrated that feverfew was effective in reducing the number and severity of migraine attacks. |
| Follow-up studies to the clinical results have shown that feverfew works in the treatment and prevention of migraine headaches by inhibiting the release of blood vessel-dilating substances from platelets, inhibiting the production of inflammatory substances, and re-establishing proper blood vessel tone.64 The effectiveness of feverfew is dependent upon adequate levels of parthenolide, the active principle.65
Zingiber officinalis
The common ginger root has been shown to exert significant effects against inflammation and platelet aggregation. |
Michael Castleman
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 In 1640, British botanist John Parkinson called feverfew "very effectual for paines in the head," and a century later, another English herbalist, John Hill, wrote that "in the worst headache, this herb exceeds whatever else is known." But their recommendations were largely forgotten.
Then about ten years ago, a happy accident occurred. The wife of a doctor with the British National Coal Board had migraines. A coal miner confided that he'd been cursed with the horrible headaches until he began chewing two feverfew leaves a day. |
Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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| The herb feverfew is another safe, natural and effective remedy for both tension and migraine headaches. If you tend to get migraines, it's best to take feverfew daily as a preventive until you've found the underlying cause. You can use it in capsule or tincture form, but since it tastes absolutely terrible you might want to stick with the capsules! Follow the instructions on the container.
Coffee. If you feel a headache coming on, a cup or two of coffee can constrict your blood vessels enough to prevent it. On the other hand, too much coffee can cause a headache, as can coffee withdrawal. |
Michael Castleman
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| Now several studies have shown it to be effective. feverfew also calms the digestive tract and may help reduce blood pressure.
How-to: For migraine control, chew two fresh (or frozen) leaves a day or take a pill or capsule containing 85 milligrams of leaf material. Most people prefer pills or capsules to leaves, since feverfew is quite bitter.
For an infusion, use Vi to 1 teaspoon per cup of boiling water. Steep five to ten minutes. Reheat if desired. Drink up to two cups a day.
In a tincture, take up to one teaspoon a day.
When using commercial preparations, follow package directions. |
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