Feverfew (altamisa, bachelor button, camomille grande, chrysanthemum parthenium, featherfew, featherfoil, flirtwort midsummer daisy, midsummer daisy, Santa Maria, tanacetum parthenium)
Classes: Neurology & Psychiatry, Herbals
Suggested dosing of altamisa, bachelor button (feverfew)
Migraine, Prophylaxis
Extract
- 50-100 mg PO daily
Fresh leaf
- 2.5 leaves PO daily
Freeze dried leaf
- 50-150 mg PO qD-BID
Suggested uses of altamisa, bachelor button (feverfew)
Prevention, control of migraine prophylaxis
Allergies, arthritis, fevers, headaches, menstrual irregularities, migraine prophylaxis, psoriasis, tinnitus, vertigo, cancer
Efficacy
Demonstrated effective to decr severity/frequency of migraine
Not established for rheum. arthritis, other inflammatory conditions (higher doses may be necessary)
altamisa, bachelor button (feverfew) adverse (side) effects
Frequency not defined
Abdominal pain
Allergic reaction
Diarrhea
Flatulence
Indigestion
Mouth ulcers
Nausea/vomiting
Anxiety (chronic use)
Headache (chronic use)
Insomnia (chronic use)
Muscle/joint stiffness (chronic use)
Warnings
Contraindications
Lactation, pregnancy, ragweed allergies
Hypersensitivity to Asteraceae/Compositae plants
Hypersensitivity to chrysanthemums, daisies, marigolds
Cautions
Quality of products vary widely; depends on content of parthenolide
Min. parthenolide content should be 0.2
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy category: unsafe
Lactation: unsafe
Pregnancy categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA: Information not available.
Pharmacology of altamisa, bachelor button (feverfew)
Metabolism: N/A
Excretion: N/A
Mechanism of action
Sesquiterpene lactones, incl. parthenolide: inhib. release of arachidonic acid
Inhib. platelet and leukocytes secretion of serotonin, histamine
