Woods Country Cove

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

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 .

JULY 2015 (10 of 37)

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 .

JULY 2015 (11 of 37)

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

13 comments:

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

yes it is a prett plant that I also hae grown in my garden. I did know a lot of that info hwever not all so thanks.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I learn something new everyday. It is a pretty flower. Sometimes I think the side effects of medicine are worse than your original illness. I would love to find a good cure for migraines. Enjoy your day!

Terra said...

I think feverfew is pretty and there are lots of volunteer feverfew plants in my vegetable garden. I pull some up and always leave some. Nice to see that you like this plant too.

Linda Kay said...

Thanks for the info today on this pretty little plant.

NanaNor's said...

I have known about Feverfew for years, but never saw a photo before. Thanks for sharing; I'm much more inclined to treat issues with natural remedies. Have a great day!
Hugs, Noreen

William Kendall said...

They are pretty. I see them here as well.

Linda said...

I love feverfew and have it in several places in the garden. I did a whole post about it a couple of years ago. I love to rub my fingers over the leaves and take in the scent. It's great to learn new things about plants isn't it?

Gill - That British Woman said...

I will have to look up to see how it's prepared as a migraine remedy. I have had a headache for a few days now with this weather.

Anvilcloud said...

SOmewhere in the back of my mind, I think I tried it for some reason or other once upon a time. I have no recollection of it doing any good. :)

Michelle said...

Lovely....I need to grow some.

Sherry Sikstrom said...

great info! I have missed seeing all of your lovely pictures! Glad to be back

DeniseinVA said...

Great information on this very pretty plant.

Amy at love made my home said...

Amazing what you find out when you start looking isn't it! xx