Tanacetum parthenium, Chrysanthemum parthenium., Pyrethrum parthenium   Feverfew, Featherfew, Midsummer Daisy, Batchelor's buttons  Family Compositae
ORIGIN: Europe and Britain.
HABITAT: Just about any soil.
DESCRIPTION: Feverfew is a perennial herb reaching up to 60cm. Stem; downy erect. Leaves; have an irregular surface and are divided into broad unequal obtuse oval leaflts, yellowish-green, alternate, stalked. Flowers are white and yellow, about 2 cm in diameter and arranged in corymbs.
TASTE: Bitter and nauseous   ODOR:  Strongly aromatic.
PART USED: Whole herb. Leaves and flowers. Gathered in summer.
ACTIONS
1. GROUP- The circulatory system- Diaphoretics..
2. Antispasmodic.
3. Expectorant.
4. Stomachic.
5. Bitter tonic.
6. Emmenagogue.
7. Antirheumatic
8. Febrifuge.
9. Analgesic.
10. Anthelmintic.
INDICATIONS- Often used in cooking, adding an aromatic bitter taste.
1. Amenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea. Emmenogogue.
2. "Nervousness and lowness of spirits". Migraine- prophylactic treatment. Hysteria. Headache. Tranquillizer.
3. Fevers. General sensitivity to fevers.
4. Coughs.
5. Insect bites.
6. Worms.
7. Earache.
8. Rheumatism.
9. Stomachic.
10. Antispasmodic.
Topically- The tincture has an anti-ecchymotic (skin discoloration due to bleeding from blood vessels into surrounding tissue) effect when used externally.
SIDE EFFECTS: Sometimes side effects may include dermatitis and soreness or ulceration of the mouth (PNC).
PREPARATIONS 
Infusion  2-4 ml in  50-75 ml water- frequently.
Fluid extract  2-6 ml.
Local   Tincture to relieve pain of insect bites.  Tincture 1:30 as a personal insect repellent.
Also made into medicinal wine. 
CONSTITUENTS
Volatile oil- a-pinene, bornyl acetate and angelate, costic acid, b-farnesine, and spiroketal enol ethers.
Phytosterol. Tannic acid, Anthemic acid (the bitter principle).
Sesquiterpene lactones- parthenolide, santamarine.
Acetylene derivatives- mainly in the root.
Pyrethrins.
RESEARCH
The sesquiterpene lactones inhibits prostaglandin production and arachidonic acid release, explaining, in part, its antiplatelet and antifebrile actions.
Extracts also inhibit secretion of serotonin from platelet granules and proteins from polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Serotonin is implicated in the aetiology of migraines, and secretion is also increased in rheumatoid arthritis.
The stomachic effect may be due to the spiroketal ethers which are spasmolytic- as in German Chamomile.
Parthenolide has been shown to reduce calcium secretion in animals, which may be useful in the treatment of hypercalcuria.
(LM,MEMP,PNC).