Common Names: feverfew, bachelor’s buttons, featherfew , European feverfew

Latin Names: Tanacetum parthenium, Chrysanthemum parthenium, Matricaria parthenium

• Feverfew is a perennial plant with leaves that look like those of chrysanthemum and flowers that look like daisies.
• Feverfew is native to parts of western Asia and the Balkans, but it now grows throughout the world.
• Traditionally,  people have used feverfew for a variety of purposes, including  respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, menstrual disorders,  kidney disease, liver disease, tinnitus, earache, fever, infertility,  and anemia. 
• Feverfew is currently promoted for migraine  headaches, blood vessel relaxation, minor pain (especially in the head,  such as tension headaches), and joint support. Topically (applied to the  skin), feverfew is promoted to provide relief from itching and skin  irritation.
• Feverfew (also known as European feverfew) is different from American feverfew (Parthenium integrifolium), a plant native to the eastern United States.

• Some  studies in people have looked into feverfew’s use as a remedy for  migraine headache. For instance, a 2020 review looked at 7 studies of  feverfew for migraine, which included a total of 634 participants. The  studies, which were small and used different sources and dosage levels  of feverfew, showed inconsistent findings. 
• There’s little or no evidence about feverfew for any other health conditions.

• Some  research suggests that feverfew may help prevent migraine headaches,  but results have been mixed. Some research suggests it may reduce  migraine headache frequency, as well as some symptoms, such as pain,  nausea, vomiting, and light and noise sensitivity.
• There’s not enough evidence to know if feverfew is helpful for other conditions. 

• No  serious side effects have been reported from feverfew use. Side effects  can include nausea, digestive problems, and bloating. If the fresh  leaves are chewed, sores and irritation of the mouth may occur. 
• People who are sensitive to ragweed and related plants may have allergic reactions to feverfew.
• Using feverfew topically may cause dermatitis (when the skin becomes red, sore, or inflamed).
• Feverfew may slow blood clotting and should be stopped at least 2 weeks before scheduled surgery.
• Feverfew  may interact with some medicines, including those used for migraine. If  you take feverfew or any other medicine, talk with your health care  provider before using feverfew or other herbal products; some herbs and  medicines interact in harmful ways.
• Do not take feverfew while  pregnant because it may affect uterine contractions. If you’re  considering using feverfew while pregnant, consult your health care  provider. Little is known about whether it’s safe to use feverfew while  breastfeeding. 

• Take  charge of your health—talk with your health care providers about any  complementary health approaches you use. Together, you can make shared,  well-informed decisions.
• Federal Regulation of Herbal Products
  • Depending  on what’s in them, how they’re intended to be used, and how they’re  administered (orally or topically), herbal products are regulated in a  variety of ways. Many herbal products intended for oral use are marketed  as dietary supplements. The rules for making and distributing dietary  supplements are less strict than those for drugs.
  • Unlike drugs,  dietary supplements are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug  Administration (FDA) before they are sold to the public. When public  health concerns arise about the safety of a dietary supplement or an  ingredient including an herb, the FDA can take action to protect the  public. Manufacturers and distributors of supplements are responsible  for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before  marketing to ensure that they meet all regulatory requirements. 

• Using Dietary Supplements Wisely
• Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
• Know the Science: How To Make Sense of a Scientific Journal Article

The  NCCIH Clearinghouse provides information on NCCIH and complementary and  integrative health approaches, including publications and searches of  Federal databases of scientific and medical literature. The  Clearinghouse does not provide medical advice, treatment  recommendations, or referrals to practitioners.

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-644-6226

Telecommunications relay service (TRS): 7-1-1

Website: https://www.nccih.nih.gov

Email: info@nccih.nih.gov (link sends email)

A  service of the National Library of Medicine, PubMed® contains  publication information and (in most cases) brief summaries of articles  from scientific and medical journals. For guidance from NCCIH on using  PubMed, see How To Find Information About Complementary Health Practices on PubMed.

Website: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

ODS  seeks to strengthen knowledge and understanding of dietary supplements  by evaluating scientific information, supporting research, sharing  research results, and educating the public. Its resources include  publications (such as Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know)  and fact sheets on a variety of specific supplement ingredients and  products (such as vitamin D and multivitamin/mineral supplements).

Website: https://ods.od.nih.gov

Email: ods@nih.gov (link sends email)

• Feverfew. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Bethesda, MD: National Library of Medicine; 2022. Accessed at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501861/ on July 13, 2023.
• Feverfew. NatMed Pro website. Accessed at naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com on April 12, 2023. [Database subscription].
• Lopresti AL, Smith SJ, Drummond PD. Herbal treatments for migraine: a systematic review of randomised-controlled studies. Phytotherapy Research. 2020;34(10):2493-2517.

This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged.

NCCIH  has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to  substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care  provider(s). We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment  or care with your health care provider. The mention of any product,  service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCIH.

Last Updated: February 2025 

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