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Feverfew Facts

Feverfew Facts
Feverfew is herbaceous plant that belongs to the aster family. It originates from the southeastern parts of Europe and Asia, but it can be found around the world today. Feverfew grows in the mountains, hillsides, wastelands, along the roads and on the edges of the forest. It prefers moist, well-drained soil and areas that provide enough sun. Feverfew has been used in folk medicine starting from the ancient Greece. It is still popular and widely used as herbal remedy. Other than that, feverfew is often cultivated in ornamental purposes.
Interesting Feverfew Facts:
Feverfew is bushy plant that produces several, slightly grooved stems. It can reach 18 to 24 inches in height.
Feverfew produces feathery, yellow-green leaves that are alternately arranged on the stem and branches. They have bitter taste and emit strong, citrus-like aroma. Leaves are covered with hairs and oriented downward.
Feverfew blooms from July to October and produces numerous flowers arranged in flat clusters on top of the plant.
Flower head of feverfew consists of creamy white, petal-like ray florets on the periphery and yellow, tightly packed, disk florets in the middle. Flowers contain both types of reproductive organs and they are able to perform self-pollination.
Fruit of feverfew is a single-seeded cypsela. Seed ripens during August and September.
Name "feverfew" originates from Latin word "febrifugia" which means "fever reducer". Feverfew is also known as wild chamomile because of its small, yellow-white flowers.
Dry leaves of feverfew can be used as ingredient of various salty dishes and pastry. They have slightly bitter flavor.
Dry flowers of feverfew are used for the preparation of herbal tea that produces calming effects in humans.
During the Middle Ages, people believed that feverfew can clean the air and protect against plague, malaria and bite of mad dogs.
Feverfew was often used in treatment of fever, arthritis, digestive disorders and menstrual pain in the past.
Capsules, made of dry feverfew leaves are very popular and commonly consumed herbal remedy which effectively alleviates and diminishes symptoms of migraine. Feverfew is also often used in treatment of hay fever and asthma. This plant is available in the form of capsules, tincture, syrup and infusion.
Despite its healing capacities, fresh leaves of feverfew can induce allergic reaction of the skin (contact dermatitis) and sores in the mouth (after consumption of fresh leaves). It can also disrupt liver function and decrease effects of other (conventional) drugs in the body.
Fresh leaves and stem of feverfew are used as a source of light yellow-green pigment that can be used for the coloring of wool.
Flowers of feverfew emit strong, pungent odor that repels bees. They can be used as insect repellent in the gardens.
Feverfew is perennial plant that can survive more than 2 years in the wild.


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