I Did Not Know This

 

I have been out side weeding this fine sunny cool breezes summer day  and just thought to myself  … self  ?I really don't know much about this plant even though I have  had them for years . I know , lets Google it …. so that I did from my lap top on the patio porch on this fine perfect summer day …  Well  little did I know .

               Tanacetum parthenium or as I know it as Feverfew .

 

Tanacetum parthenium or Feverfew  is a traditional medicinal herb which is commonly used to prevent migraine headaches, and is also occasionally grown for ornament. Well what ya know I have tons of it growing around in our Birch tree garden . I do love it’s little dainty  daisy flowers .

The plant grows into a small bush up to around 46 cm (18 in) high with citrus-scented leaves, and is covered by flowers reminiscent of daisies. It spreads rapidly, and they will cover a wide area after a few years. No kidding it spreads like wild fire .

It’s Uses 

Feverfew has been used as a herbal treatment to reduce fever and to treat headaches , arthritis  and digestive problems. There is some clinical data backing up these uses though more scientific research is needed in order to prove feverfew's efficacy conclusively.

The active ingredients in feverfew include parthenolide. There has been some scientific interest in parthenolide, which has been shown to induce apoptosis in some cancer cell lines in vitro and potentially to target cancer stem cells. There are no published studies of parthenolide or feverfew in humans with cancer. The parthenolide content of commercially available feverfew supplements varies substantially, by over 40-fold, despite labeling claims of "standardization". A study found that the actual parthenolide content of these supplements bore little resemblance to the content claimed on the product label.

Long-term use of feverfew followed by abrupt discontinuation may induce a withdrawal syndrome featuring rebound headaches and muscle and joint pains Feverfew can cause allergic reactions, including contact dermatitis. Other side effects have included gastrointestinal upset such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatulence. When the herb is chewed or taken orally it can cause mouth ulcers and swelling and numbness of the mouth .Feverfew should not be taken by pregnant women .It may interact with blood thinners and increase the risk of bleeding, and may also interact with a variety of medications metabolized by the liver

History

The word "feverfew" derives from the Lain  word febrifugia, meaning "fever reducer" although it is no longer considered useful for that purpose. Though its earliest medicinal use is unknown, it was documented in the first century (AD) as an anti-inflammatory by a Greek herbalist physician.

                                                                     Huh !   WOW ! who knew ?

                                                                        Country Gal