Feverfew

Table of Contents

1. Description
2. Origin
3. Uses
4. Culture
5. Sources
6. Thanks to...

Tanacetum parthenium
Family: Compositae

Common names: feverfew, febrifuge

Description

Feverfew is a herbaceous perennial with yellow-green, pinnately lobed leaves and numerous daisy like flower heads. Grows up to 60 cm.

| Top of Page |

Origin

Southeastern Europe: Feverfew has been used for hundreds of years as a medicinal plant and is used today to relieve migraine headaches. Contains sesquiterpene lactones (parthenolide), sesquiterpenes (camphor), and a volatile oil (alpha-pinene). Parthenolide is the active chemical and is found in glands on the leaves.

| Top of Page |

Uses of Feverfew and Claims

• Culinary: none
• Medicinal: claimed to have analgesic properties, reduce fever, anti-rheumatic, promote menstrual flow. Research has shown that Feverfew can reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches.
• Industrial: none

| Top of Page |

Culture

• Propagation: Feverfew can be propagated from seed, cuttings, and divisions. Germination takes 10 to 14 days. Light will improve germination. Seed can be started in the greenhouse in February or March and transplanted into the field in June.
• Cultivation: Space plants 30-38 cm apart in rows 60 cm apart. It will grow in full sun in loam soil enriched with manure. Remove old flower heads to prevent self-seeding.
• Soil Type: The soil should be well drained have a pH of 5 to 7.5.
• Harvest: Whole plants are harvested when flowering is at its peak. Leaves are harvested as required and used fresh or dried.

| Top of Page |

Sources

• Bremness, L. 1994. Herbs. Dorling Kindersley Ltd. London. 304 pp.
• Chevallier, A. 1996. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Reader's Digest Association. Westmount, Que. 336 pp.
• Sturdivant, L, T. Blakely 1999. Medicinal Herbs in the Garden, Field & Marketplace. San Juan Naturals. Friday Harbour, WA. 323 pp.
• Keville, K. Herbs an Illustrated Encyclopedia. Friedman/Fairfax publishers. New York. 1994. 184 pp.

Thanks to

This demonstration garden was a result of the efforts of Dr. Alan McKeown, Vegetable Scientist, University of Guelph and was made possible with grants from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the Tobacco Diversification Program.

| Top of Page |