Herb reference
Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch. Bip.
Crystalis is a reference resource for herbal, crystal, and somatic practice.
This library is designed to help readers orient, compare, and research. It is not a substitute for medical care or practitioner judgment.
Botanical / meta
A bushy perennial herb growing 15–60 cm tall with strongly scented, yellow-green, pinnately lobed leaves and daisy-like flower heads with white ray florets surrounding yellow disc florets. Crushing the leaves releases a characteristic bitter, citrus-like aroma. The plant readily self-seeds and can become naturalized in temperate climates.
Feverfew contains sesquiterpene lactones, principally parthenolide (0.1–0.5% in leaves), along with costunolide, reynosin, and canin. Other constituents include flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, quercetin), volatile oils (camphor, pinene, bornyl acetate), and melatonin. Parthenolide is the primary bioactive compound and a known inhibitor of NF-kappaB and prostaglandin synthesis.
The practical read
Feverfew contains sesquiterpene lactones, principally parthenolide (0.1–0.5% in leaves), along with costunolide, reynosin, and canin. Other constituents include flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, quercetin), volatile oils (camphor, pinene, bornyl acetate), and melatonin. Parthenolide is the primary bioactive compound and a known inhibitor of NF-kappaB and prostaglandin synthesis.
Route panel
Evidence and safety may differ by preparation. Essential oil, tea, tincture, extract, infused oil, and topical use are not interchangeable.
Quality
Easy to cultivate in well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade. Drought-tolerant once established. Harvest leaves before flowering for highest parthenolide content. Self-seeds readily; can become invasive in some climates. Divide clumps every 2–3 years to maintain vigor.
Fresh leaves contain higher parthenolide levels than dried. Standardized extracts typically guarantee 0.2–0.7% parthenolide content. Available as fresh leaf, dried herb, capsules, tablets, and liquid extract. Quality markers include a strong bitter-citrus aroma and verified parthenolide content via HPLC analysis.
Companion
Crystal side
The deeper layer
Clinical and compound notes are included as a research layer, not as treatment instructions.
HIGH RISK — CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY AND BREASTFEEDING. Parthenolide can cause uterine contractions and has potential abortifacient effects. Parthenolide may also be transferred through breast milk — not safe during lactation. Contraindicated in individuals taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel) due to potential additive blood-thinning effects. Discontinue at least 2 weeks before surgery. May cause allergic reactions in individuals sensitive to Asteraceae family plants (ragweed, chamomile, echinacea). Common side effects include mouth ulcers, gastrointestinal upset, and dermatitis with fresh leaf contact (parthenolide is a known skin sensitizer). Long-term safety data is limited. Not recommended for children.
Questions
Feverfew is high risk and contraindicated in pregnancy and breastfeeding, because parthenolide can cause uterine contractions and has potential abortifacient effects and may transfer through breast milk. It is contraindicated in individuals taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications such as warfarin, aspirin, and clopidogrel because of potential additive blood-thinning effects, and it should be discontinued at least two weeks before surgery. Because feverfew is in the Asteraceae family, it can cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to ragweed, chamomile, and echinacea. Common side effects include mouth ulcers, gastrointestinal upset, and dermatitis from fresh leaf contact, since parthenolide is a known skin sensitizer. It is not recommended for children, and long-term safety data are limited.
Feverfew is used preventively as a daily preparation rather than as an acute remedy taken at headache onset. The leaf is the medicinal part, and dried standardized leaf products, capsules, and tinctures are the common forms, with parthenolide content (roughly 0.1 to 0.5% in leaves) often used as a standardization marker. A Cochrane review of feverfew for preventing migraine found the evidence promising but not definitive, with benefit reported in several trials at consistent daily dosing. Because effects build over weeks of regular use, feverfew is taken continuously rather than intermittently. Chewing fresh leaves is traditional but commonly causes mouth ulcers, so standardized preparations are generally preferred.
Quality feverfew leaf should be yellow-green, aromatic, and bitter, ideally with a documented parthenolide content, since parthenolide is the primary bioactive and degrades over time. Material with no documented parthenolide level, or that is brown, dusty, and scentless, may be pharmacologically inert even if it looks like feverfew. The strong bitter, slightly camphoraceous aroma reflects the sesquiterpene lactones and volatile oils such as camphor and pinene. Confirm botanical identity as Tanacetum parthenium, since related Asteraceae plants can be mistaken for it. For standardized products, a stated parthenolide percentage is the most useful quality marker.
Feverfew's distinctiveness comes from parthenolide, a sesquiterpene lactone that inhibits NF-kappaB and prostaglandin synthesis, mechanisms tied to its anti-inflammatory and migraine-preventive reputation. Unlike acute headache treatments, feverfew works as a prophylactic taken daily over time to reduce migraine frequency. A recognized issue is the so-called post-feverfew syndrome, a rebound of headaches along with anxiety, poor sleep, and joint stiffness that can follow abrupt discontinuation after long-term use, so tapering rather than stopping suddenly is advised. Its sesquiterpene lactone chemistry also explains both its mouth-ulcer side effect and its cross-reactivity in people allergic to other Asteraceae plants. This prophylactic, parthenolide-driven profile is what sets feverfew apart.
Store dried feverfew leaf in airtight containers away from light, heat, and moisture, since parthenolide is sensitive to degradation and the active content falls with age and poor storage. Even well stored, dried leaf is best used within about a year, as potency declines over time. Browning, loss of the bitter aromatic smell, and a faded green color suggest the active fraction has deteriorated. Tinctures generally hold their potency longer than dried leaf when kept cool and dark. For standardized products, observing the labeled expiry and storage instructions is the most reliable way to ensure adequate parthenolide remains.
Sources & Citations
Peer-reviewed sources for the pharmacological and clinical claims on this page. Crystalis herb entries describe tradition and current research; they are reference, not medical advice.
SCI
Resource framing
Crystalis is a reference resource for herbal, crystal, and somatic practice.
This library is designed to help readers orient, compare, and research. It is not a substitute for medical care or practitioner judgment.
Clinical and compound notes are included as a research layer, not as treatment instructions.
Evidence and safety may differ by preparation. Essential oil, tea, tincture, extract, infused oil, and topical use are not interchangeable.