More on Feverfew?

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I found this in my notes on feverfew

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium also Chrysanthemum

parthenium): When the wife of a Welsh doctor ended her

50-year-old history of migraine with a course of

feverfew, a detailed scientific investigation of

feverfew got underway and in clinical trials in

Britain during the 1980s the herb was demonstrated to

be an effective remedy for migraine. 20 headache

patients eat fresh feverfew leaves daily for 3 months

and stop using headache-related drugs during the lasst

month. After they were given capsules of .37 grains

of freeze-dried leaf every day, they experienced less

severe headaches and fewer symptoms, including nausea

and vomiting, than a placebo group. As an added

benefit, their blood pressure went down. Despite

extensive research, the exact nature of its action is

not yet understood, but the constituent parthenolide

appears to inhibit the release of the hormone

serotonin, which is thought to trigger migraine. The

parthenolides in feverfew do not work by the same

method as salicylates. While many herbalists feel

the fresh leaves, or an extract made from them, are

preferred, results have been seen with fresh,

freeze-dried, and air-dried leaves, although boiling

feverfew tea for 10 minutes instead of steeping it did

reduce its activity in one study. As a preventative

it should be taken in small quantities (3 leaves a

day) regularly. The herb can help arthritic and

rheumatic pain, especially in combination with other

herbs.

The herb has been used since Roman times to

induce menstruation. It is given in difficult births

to aid expulsion of the placenta. It has not been

shown to cause uterine contractions, but because of

its history in promoting menstruation pregnant women

should probably not use it.

In South America where feverfew is naturalized, it has

been effective for colic, stomachahe, morning sickness

and kidney pains. In Costa Rica, it has also been

employed as a digestive aid and emmenagogue. Mexicans

have used it as a sitz bath to regulate menstruation

as well as an antispasmodic and tonic.

Feverfew is useful for cats as an alternative to

aspirin, which is toxic to felines. Use a

glycerin-based tincture or a cooled tea with a dose of

12-20 drops of the tincture or ½ tsp of a strong tea

for each 20 pounds of the animal’s weight, twice

daily. Pets can be bathed in a cooled tea as a flea

rinse.

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