Herb, Feverfew
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Quick Overview
HERB, Feverfew –
Chrysanthemum parthenium
FULL SUN Native to central and southern Europe, Feverfew has been cultivated for centuries and was brought to the US in the 1700s.There were many medicinal claims for this plant, most unfounded, but in recent times it has been found to be a powerful anti-inflammatory and an aid against migraine headache pain. The leaves, seeds and roots of this 2-3 ft. plant can be used. Start seed indoors about 2 weeks before the last frost date. Transplant outside in June. Rows should be 18 in. apart. When seedlings are 2 in. high, thin, leaving 9-12 in. between plants. Harvest throughout the season by cutting leaves and blooms off the plants. Harvest roots in the second year.
| Type | Spacing | Planting Depth | Days to Germination | Maturity |
| Biennial | 9-12 in. | 1/2 in. | 14-21 | 90-365 |
Herb, Feverfew
The name, Feverfew, which clearly refers to one of its outstanding medicinal properties, that of reducing fevers, comes from the Latin, febrifugia meaning “driver out of fevers”. Dioscorides, the ancient Greek physician, prized the herb for its effect on a woman’s uterus. It would be administered during childbirth to aid in the expulsion of the afterbirth. For centuries, it has been used in making confections and wines and as an insect repellant. The chemical, pyrethrin, an active ingredient in feverfew is what makes it effective as an insect repellant.
One of the most interesting and important discoveries about this herb was suggested in 1978 and verified in 1985. Researchers have found that certain substances in the plant appear to make smooth muscle cells less responsive to body chemicals that trigger migraine muscle spasms.
