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What is feverfew? |
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How to prevent and treat an asthma attack.
Answer
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a traditional medicinal herb, well known to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks and still widely used today. In ancient times it was a remedy for many ailments, including fever, melancholy, headaches, arthritis and digestive problems. Over the centuries feverfew's reputation for relieving headaches became it's most common use and in 1772 a renowned herbalist, John Hill, recorded that as a treatment for headaches 'this herb exceeds whatever else is known'.
Today feverfew is mainly used as a treatment for migraine. Herbalists regard it as an anti-inflammatory and accordingly believe it to limit the inflammation of blood vessels in the head. They also believe it to inhibit the release certain chemicals (serotonin and prostaglandins) which are said to aid the onset of migraines by causing the blood vessels in the head to spasm. It should be noted however that the migraine sufferer is advised to take feverfew for several weeks before any benefit can be expected.
First answer by EloiseDCJ. Last edit by EloiseDCJ. Contributor trust: 42 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question]
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