Home Ingredients Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
Anti-Inflammatory

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)

Tanacetum parthenium
Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Feverfew is a daisy-family herb with a long history of use in European folk medicine for fevers, headaches, and arthritis. Its primary active compound, parthenolide, inhibits NF-κB, platelet aggregation, and serotonin release — mechanisms mechanistically relevant to migraine. Clinical evidence for migraine prevention is mixed, with some positive RCTs and some negative, and the preparation form significantly affects outcomes. Fresh leaf preparations appear most effective; dried freeze-dried preparations retain more parthenolide than standard dried herb.

Studied Dose 50–300 mg/day dried leaf (standardized to ≥0.2% parthenolide); MIG-99: 6.25 mg three times daily (18.75 mg/day); prevention requires continuous daily use for at least 3 months
Active Compound Parthenolide (sesquiterpene lactone, ≥0.2% standardized) — MIG-99 (Willmar Schwabe) is the most clinically validated extract; fresh or freeze-dried leaf preferred

Benefits

Migraine prevention (variable evidence)

Several positive RCTs show feverfew reduces migraine frequency (by 24–32%) and severity — but a Cochrane review of 6 trials found mixed results, with only some preparations showing significant benefit. The inconsistency is largely attributed to variable parthenolide content across commercial products. Standardized parthenolide extracts (MIG-99) show more consistent results than unstandardized products.

Supported by Trial 1

Anti-inflammatory activity

Parthenolide inhibits NF-κB by covalently modifying the IκB kinase β subunit — a strong, irreversible anti-inflammatory mechanism also being investigated for cancer applications. This NF-κB inhibition reduces prostaglandin production, inflammatory cytokines, and may contribute to the anti-migraine effects through reduced neuroinflammation.

Supported by Trial 1

Platelet aggregation inhibition

Parthenolide inhibits platelet aggregation and reduces serotonin release from platelets — two mechanisms historically proposed to explain feverfew's anti-migraine effects, as platelet serotonin release is elevated before migraines and contributes to vasomotor changes initiating the migraine cascade.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Parthenolide NF-κB covalent inhibition

Parthenolide contains an alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone moiety that covalently alkylates cysteine 179 of IKKβ — irreversibly inhibiting IκB kinase and NF-κB activation. This strong, sustained NF-κB blockade reduces expression of inflammatory genes including COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-6 in neuronal and immune cells.

2

Serotonin release inhibition from platelets

Parthenolide inhibits serotonin secretion from platelets by blocking secretory arachidonate metabolism and prostaglandin-thromboxane synthesis. Since platelet serotonin release before migraines contributes to vasomotor dysregulation, this mechanism was the original rationale for feverfew in migraine prevention.

3

Neutrophil degranulation inhibition

Feverfew extracts inhibit neutrophil degranulation and chemotaxis — reducing the release of inflammatory proteases and reactive oxygen species that contribute to neurogenic inflammation in migraine and inflammatory conditions.

Clinical trials

1
MIG-99 Feverfew for Migraine Prevention — RCT
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of MIG-99 feverfew CO2 extract (6.25 mg three times daily, equivalent to ~5-10 mg parthenolide-content product per day) vs placebo in 170 migraine patients for 16 weeks. Outcomes: monthly migraine frequency, severity, MIDAS scores. (Diener et al. 2005, Cephalalgia)

170 migraine patients. 16-week intervention.

MIG-99 reduced migraine frequency by ~24% in subgroup with ≥4 migraines at baseline. Migraine duration and severity also reduced. Note: Cochrane review (Wider et al. 2015, n=561) concluded that feverfew may be effective for migraine prevention, but evidence is mixed and trial quality variable. The AAN/AHS 2012 migraine prevention guideline gave feverfew Level B (probably effective) — though enthusiasm has tempered. Standardized extracts (MIG-99) more reliable than crude herbs. 4-12 weeks needed for effect.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Rebound headache and anxiety ('post-feverfew syndrome') on abrupt discontinuation after prolonged use — taper dose gradually
Mouth ulcers and GI irritation with fresh leaf chewing — use encapsulated preparations
Avoid during pregnancy — uterine stimulant properties at high doses

Important Drug interactions

Anticoagulants (warfarin) — parthenolide inhibits platelet aggregation; additive antiplatelet effects; monitor INR
NSAIDs — complementary anti-inflammatory mechanisms; generally safe to combine
Triptans (sumatriptan, rizatriptan) — used for acute migraine treatment; feverfew for prevention; can be used together
Antiplatelet drugs — additive effects on platelet aggregation

Featured in these supplement guides

Migraine Prevention→

More Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients

Cardiovascular
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids, primarily eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an…
Cardiovascular
Pycnogenol® (French Maritime Pine Bark)
Pycnogenol® (Horphag Research) is a standardized extract from the bark of French maritime…
Anti-Inflammatory
Meriva® (Curcumin Phytosome — Indena)
Meriva® is a curcumin phytosome® formulation developed by Indena (Italy) — using Indena's…
Cognitive
Longvida® Optimized Curcumin (Verdure Sciences)
Longvida® is a patented curcumin extract developed by Verdure Sciences using SLCP™ (Solid…

Explore Other Ingredients

Antioxidant
Curcumin/Turmeric
Curcumin, the primary bioactive compound in turmeric (Curcuma longa), is commonly suppleme…
Muscle & Recovery
Bromelain
Bromelain is a group of protein-digesting enzymes extracted from pineapple stems, used in…
Sleep Health
Serezin™
Serezin™ is PLT Health Solutions' patented blend of Boswellia serrata and ginger (Zingiber…

Frequently asked questions about Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)

What is feverfew used for?

Feverfew is an herb used traditionally and studied for migraine prevention. Its compound parthenolide is thought to influence the inflammatory and blood-vessel processes involved in migraines.

Does feverfew help with migraines?

Feverfew is one of the traditional herbs for reducing migraine frequency, with mixed but generally supportive evidence. It is taken daily as a preventive rather than to stop an acute migraine. Give it a couple of months.

How much feverfew should I take?

Studies commonly use standardized extracts providing a specific amount of parthenolide, or about 50 to 150 mg of dried leaf per day; follow product labeling. Consistent daily use is needed for prevention.

Is feverfew safe?

It is generally well tolerated; chewing fresh leaves can cause mouth sores, so capsules are preferred. Stopping abruptly after long use may cause rebound headaches. It may have a mild blood-thinning effect, and pregnant women should avoid it.

What is Feverfew?

Feverfew is a daisy-family herb with a long history of use in European folk medicine for fevers, headaches, and arthritis. Its primary active compound, parthenolide, inhibits NF-κB, platelet aggregation, and serotonin release — mechanisms mechanistically relevant to migraine.

What is the recommended dosage of Feverfew?

The clinically studied dose is 50–300 mg/day dried leaf (standardized to ≥0.2% parthenolide); MIG-99: 6.25 mg three times daily (18.75 mg/day); prevention requires continuous daily use for at least 3 months Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Feverfew safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Feverfew is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Rebound headache and anxiety ('post-feverfew syndrome') on abrupt discontinuation after prolonged use — taper dose gradually Mouth ulcers and GI irritation with fresh leaf chewing — use encapsulated preparations It may also interact with some medications. Feverfew is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Feverfew interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Anticoagulants (warfarin) — parthenolide inhibits platelet aggregation; additive antiplatelet effects; monitor INR nsaids — complementary anti-inflammatory mechanisms; generally safe to combine If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Feverfew?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Feverfew as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 2 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(2 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Wider B, Pittler MH, Ernst E Feverfew for preventing migraine Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015;2015(4):CD002286. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002286.pub3.PubMedUsed to support: Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs concluding that feverfew is likely more effective than placebo for migraine prevention, supporting the 'Migraine prevention' benefit.
  2. Diener HC, Pfaffenrath V, Schnitker J, Friede M, Henneicke-von Zepelin HH Efficacy and safety of 6.25 mg t.i.d. feverfew CO2-extract (MIG-99) in migraine prevention–a randomized, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled study Cephalalgia. 2005;25(11):1031-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2005.00950.x.PubMedUsed to support: Pivotal double-blind placebo-controlled RCT of MIG-99 feverfew CO2-extract (18.75 mg/day) showing significant reduction in migraine frequency vs placebo, directly supporting 'Migraine prevention'.