Feverfew - Identification, Description, and Uses!

Here's my Facebook page
/ okanagangardenerandfor...
Here is my Instagram page
/ okanagan_gardenerandfo...
Feverfew - Tanacetum parthenium
AKA batchelor's button, featherfew, featherfoil, midsummer daisy
Feverfew plant is a nice plant to have just for the way it looks. Feverfew is a perennial plant that has escaped gardens and become established in North America. It has a long history if medicinal use, and has gained some notoriety for its ability to prevent migraine headaches. Feverfew has other medicinal uses including relieving inflammation arthritis. Originally from Europe, feverfew's medicinal use dates back to the 1st century AD. It gained a lot of attention as a medicinal plant in the 20th century for its ability to prevent migraines. In the 1970s the wife of a doctor on Wales began chewing three leaves of feverfew a day in an attempt to relieve some migraine pain. After a few months this was effective in reducing and eliminating her migraines and preventing them from returning. Feverfew has a lot of studies supporting its effectiveness. One of the ways it is thought to help with headaches and migraines is by preventing the blood vessels in the brain from constricting.
Feverfew Plant Identification and Description
Feverfew grows from a taproot and grows 1 to several branches that we 12" to 32" tall. The leaves are yellow-green, aromatic, 1-2 times pinnately lobed, fern-like and somewhat pointy-tipped. Feverfew flowers are daisy-like and grow in flat-topped clusters of up to 20 flowers. The flower heads of feverfew have yellow disc flowers and white ray flowers. The white ray flowers petals may overlap. On the underside of the flowers, there are 2-3 whorls of lance-shaped bracts with translucent edges.
Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium has Medicinal Uses
Some of the medicinal uses for feverfew include for the treatment of headaches and migraines. It is said that daily use of feverfew for months has resulted in migraines being reduced in severity and prevented from returning. Feverfew has limited benefit for the relief of headaches. Feverfew has also been used to alleviate inflammation, stress-related tension, pain and inflammation and fevers. Feverfew has also been used to relieve painful menstruation and cramping.
Crushing the feverfew leaves and inhaling deeply can help to clear the sinuses. Due to the bitterness and the warning below related to eating and chewing feverfew leaves, many people who use feverfew medicinally use it in tincture or capsule form.
Feverfew is Edible
You can eat the leaves of feverfew, but they are very bitter and also they might cause mouth ulcers. A tea can be made from the leaves and flowers which is also bitter and aromatic, but it is not as bitter as eating the leaves themselves. However, eating the feverfew leaves may cause mouth ulcers.
Distribution of Feverfew
Feverfew is a widespread garden escapee found in much of North America. It is originally from Europe and is now established here. In the Pacific Northwest, feverfew can be found from BC to California at low to mid elevations on disturbed sites and in gardens.
A Warning about Feverfew
Chewing the leaves may cause mouth ulcers. Feverfew is also not recommended for pregnant women because it may affect uterine contractions.
Please consume wild plants at your own risk! Consult multiple reliable sources before consuming any wild plants! This video is for information and entertainment only!
References
Gladstar, Rosemary. Herbs for Common Ailments. Storey Publishing. 2014.
Grogan, Barbara. Recipes for Natural Living: Healing Herbs Handbook. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2018.
Kloos, Scott. Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants. Timber Press, Inc. 2017
MacKinnon, A. Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada. Lone Pine Media Productions (BC) Ltd. 2014.
MacKinnon, A. Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada. Lone Pine Media Productions (BC) Ltd. 2014.
Pojar, Jim and MacKinnon, Andy. Plants of Coastal British Columbia including Washington, Oregon & Alaska. BC Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing. 2004.

[@whooshr5588]

I planted feverfew seeds in a wildflower patch in my garden in 1995. It grew well and when the next spring time rolled around, I could see that the feverfew plants had seeded around the garden and into a few of my clay flower pots. Those flower pots moved with me to a new location, and then four subsequent locations I’d moved to. Each year, the plants spread their seeds around my yard and into all of my outdoor flower pots, with hundreds of plants popping up around the garden. Now in 2024, I’m seeing the 29th generation of those original plants. Feverfew is so beautiful, hardy, drought tolerant, and (obviously!) a vigorous self-seeder! I’m always grateful for them because seeing those little starts each spring makes me feel connected and also takes down memory lane, thinking back on the trajectory of my life over all these decades. Seeing them each spring brings me peace…they are like dedicated friends, hanging in there with me through the seasons of my life. It’s beautiful to have a physical, living touchstone to my life from 30 years ago.

[@tanyakilbane7636]

“May effect uterine contraction, “ he said with a smile! 😊

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I think I felt awkward describing that!

[@Erizedd]

I've had this plant growing all over my garden for years now, and had no idea what it was (seed must have blown on the wind). Up until today I thought it was some variety of camomile because the flowers look similar, and only realised it wasn't because the leaves look totally different when I looked it up. I suffer from the worst menstrual cramps and just discovered I had an amazing pain remedy right under my nose for years without knowing. LOL. Thanks for the video!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

That's very interesting! I think sometimes the plants we need seem to find us. I hope you feel better! Thank you, too!

[@Helen-sv3zr]

Thanks for posting, great video!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

You're welcome! Thank you, too!

[@cindyhulsey266]

Great video, it really helps in trying to identify this plant. Nice details, thanks!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you! I looked for other videos to help me confirm identification of feverfew, and I couldn't find anything that I thought was really good, so that's part of why I made this video. That makes me really happy to know you thought it helped with ID!

[@Saffirance]

Thanks for the information. It could save a life in a bad situation. They are really cute flowers too. Not a bad plant to have around.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I agree! They are really cute! Thank you!

[@markirish7599]

I eat about 5 leaves straight off the plant every few day's. Im getting used to the bitterness . Great channel. New subscriber. Best wishes from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you so much! Best wishes to you, too!

[@robh5492]

Great video, very informative. We just found some growing new as a weed in our garden this year. I shall keep it and see if I can put it to use.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you! That's how we got ours. It just showed up!

[@Metalhead1409W]

Thanks for the information! I have brutal migraines, and I cannot take Advil or Tylenol (they are ototoxic). I'm heading to the health store today to pick some up.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

You're welcome! I hope you get some relief!

[@pricklypear7516]

Use with caution. Feverfew has been associated with lowering blood pressure (which accords well with the therapeutic uses mentioned here) apparently by dilating blood vessels. The dosage was three fresh leaves. It's really hard to gauge the amount you're actually getting if it's already dried, and it's impossible to judge the age or strength of the herb. "Bitter" doesn't begin to describe the flavor. I heard one forager compare it to turpentine and cat litter. That's an apt description.

[@flortwenty]

Thank youuu !!! You gave me all the answers Google did not have for me ! Because I thought it was chamomile I’m happy to know this one is also medicinal 💙💙🌸🌸🌸

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Excellent! I'm glad I could help!

[@missymiss2308]

Goodness… This grows wildly including by the roadsides, where I live. I always thought it’s some type of chamomile 😂. But the leaves made me think otherwise. Thank you for the clarity!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@bustabranden]

Thanks for the info there is tons of these growing near my house and I’ve been trying to figure out what they are

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

You're welcome!

[@ashleaspruce8185]

I subscribed bc. I’m from the Okanagan as well. Why you only have 3 videos. Do more please.

[@emmalee478]

He has more than 3! Check out his page! He's got a bunch on burdock and mullein. He's done catnip, yarrow, stinging nettle, and prickly lettuce. And tons more!!

[@LH-zw7dg]

Definitely have these growing in my garden! Now I just have to figure out how to make a tincture!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I've been spreading the seeds of ours, so hopefully we have more next year! Thank you!

[@Meike164]

Making a tincture is not difficult. After picking and washing the herb, Chop or grind the herb. Put this on a scale. Multiply the weight by 6. This is how many millilitres you'll need of a good alcoholic beverage. Put the herb into a jar and pour the beverage in there. Keep this in a warm place. Shake every 3 days and after 2 weeks it's done. Put it through a coffee filter to remove the plant material. Use 5 to 15 drops of this in a glass of water per time. Hope this helped :)

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

@@Meike164 thank you!

[@daphneraven6745]

It’s a lot worse than that. It can cause irritation of the inside of the mouth, if you’ve got a sensitivity to it. So what most of us two to get past the bitterness and the risk of irritated tissues of the mouth, is stuff to leave in a gel cap before taking it. It doesn’t have the same problem in the stomach just in the mouth. So that gets around it. Another way around it is to crumple up your leaf and tuck it in the middle of a little ball Of butter or coconut oil to swallow.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Great tips! Thank you!

[@daphneraven6745]

@@OkanaganGardenerandForager : I’ve been using feverfew for a long time. It’s worked wonders. I started doing tinctures of late, and the reason why I came to your channel is in the hopes of finding out a little bit of information About the difference in the efficacy of the tincture of tinctures or fever few instead of just taking the leaves, and flowers. I see that your presentation here is mostly for beginners, (and a really nice one as well, that’s not intimidating for the beginner) so I’m wondering if you would consider doing a video that’s just a tiny bit more advanced to address those questions, please?I sure would appreciate that. :-)

[@fionnaitsradag5152]

What a good idea!

[@canadiangirl5159]

Where do I find that type of Feverfew seeds ? I'm in Alberta and my daughter gets migraines so I want to grow some.

[@fionnaitsradag5152]

You can find seed online pretty easily. It's also available from most seed catalogs.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

It looks to me like there are quite a few options online. The species name is Tanacetum parthenium. You could probably find them in a local store as well. Good luck!

[@feltingme]

I ownder, if only leaves are effective for migraines or flowers too?

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

It's my understanding the flowers can be used as well. I think a lot of people save the flower heads, dry them and use them later for tea and other things. Thank you!

[@meganwillo1]

Weird, we had one pop up in a pot with a transplanted raspberry!!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Cool! I don't know how feverfew came into our yard in the first place, but now we've got a bunch of them!

[@sheikhali8603]

Is feverfew also known as Chamomille? Or is it another plant?

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

It's another plant, but the flowers do look similar.

[@noahriding5780]

That plant looks similar to chamomile? How do you tell them apart? And are they related?

[@wreynnwood4097]

The leaves are different. Where I live is a perennial, selfsows. Chamomile is am annual. Chamomile scent is more pleasant!

[@jackielawson6950]

Leaves of feverfew look like celery leaves.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I agree! Thanks!

[@kdcm6690]

It attracts aphids like crazy.

[@wreynnwood4097]

Huh not seen that

[@emmalee478]

We have it all over and no aphids. They are on our plum trees though 😢

[@emmalee478]

Too bad they don't taste better!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Yeah, I don't think I'll be using it to make a salad, haha! Thank you!

[@sharonsheehy3128]

All you do ,is have it on a sandwich with Vegemite

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

@@sharonsheehy3128 there's not much Vegemite around here. Does it help with the taste?