Wonder Plant #010 - Ferverfew (Chrysanthemum Parthenium), powerful migraine mauler

* Remember to always consult a doctor if you plan to medicate with natural plants. 

Hey everyone! It's the tenth entry of this Wonder Plants series! I am trying to work as often as possible, populating the "herbarium" tag on Steemit. I'm still very motivated about this and I hope some of you are getting something out of it! If you want to join me in this endeavour, please do so, it would make me very happy to see this project become a collective effort. 

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Wonder Plant #010 - Ferverfew (Chrysanthemum Parthenium), powerful migraine mauler                                

                                              

Ferverfew is a perennial plant that flowers in June and July. Not to be mistaken with Feverweed (Gerardia Pedicularia), it is also called Featherfew and Febrifuge Plant. It's name is a bit misleading and could be something more like "migraine-few" as it doesn't really help with fevers. Since the 80's, several studies have suggested that people using Ferverfew would experience migraines less often and not as severe as they used to.

                           

Properties and uses: the key component of the plant that helps with migraines is the parthenolide. It's a substance that helps with the contraction and expansion of blood vessels in the brain. The only problem is that Feverfew won't help you while you are having a migraine, it'll only work if you use it as prevention. One has to take it for a while before the effects are really noticed. The people who repond the best are the people for whom all other options do not seem to work effectively. Another difficulty is getting a quality product, you willhave to talk to a pharmacist to get help with that.

• Prevent migraines
• Relieve arthritis
• Ease menstrual cramps
• Carminative: expelling gas from the stomach or intestines so as to relieve flatulence or abdominal pain or distension
• Emmenagogue: an agent that promotes the menstrual discharge
• Purgative: purging or tending to purge
• Stimulant
• Tonic
• Helps with colic, flatulence, eructations, indigestions and colds

Preparation and dosage: growing you feverfew is easy and can be used to make your own herbal medicine, but always consult your doctor before self-medicating with homemade remedies. Eating the leaves has a few drawbacks like irritation and ulcers to the lips, tongue and lining of the mouth. Stay away from Feverfew if you react badly to chamomille,  chrysanthemum and other members of the daisy family. People with clotting disorder and pregnant women should also avoid it.

• Infusion: 1 heaping tsp. of the herb with 1 cup of water. Use 1-2 cups per day.
• Tincture:10-30 drops every 2-3 hours.

                            

Useful links:

• The Migraine Trust
• University of Maryland Medical Center
• National Center For Complementary and Integrative Health
• Migraine.com
• Herbs with similar uses as Ferverfew - University of Maryland
• University of Michigan - Michigan Medicine

 Sources:

• All definitions were taken for the Merriam Webster website: https://www.merriam-webster.com
• Prevention Magazine Health Books. Complete Book of Medicinal Cures. 1994. Berkley Health Reference. 327.
• Lust, John. The Herb Book. 1974. Bantham Books. p. 195.

Pictures (in order of appearance):

• naturalremedies.org/images/ferverfew-2.jpg
• herbal-supplement-resource.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/feverfew-flowers-img-e1474016873152.jpg
• quarteracrelifestyle.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/feverfew.jpg