Feverfew - Week of 3/5/06

Admin Mon 10 Nov 2008, 11:03 pm

Feverfew - Week of 3/5/06

Hello! Well, another week has flown past since we last corresponded.
It is my pleasure to address you once again with information I hope
you will find interesting, useful and informative. I'm having the
regular, aging aches and pains that accompany aging. Thank God, they
are brief and don't require anything other than a heating pad to
manage them. BUT….it may be useful for me (and for you) to explore
the issue of Chronic Pain, and some options for treatment. I will
discuss one herb in this posting, and deal with a few others in the
next posting. This week, we will look at FEVERFEW.

FEVERFEW (Chyrsanthemum parthenium) is a flowering plant in the daisy
family that is used for chronic and persistent pain. "..Feverfew has
come to be used to treat most of the same disorders treated by
aspirin, including migraine headaches, fever, and arthritis...."

But FOREMOST, it must be kept in mind that feverfew is a prophylactic
remedy. Prophylactic is a fancy word for preventative. That means
feverfew works to PREVENT migraines if taken regularly over time. It
will NOT help a current attack. The active ingredient in feverfew is
parthenolide and also some other plant chemicals called sesquiterpene
lactones. Several studies have been done to confirm that it can
reduce the regularity and severity of migraine attacks. Feverfew
should be avoided if you are allergic to chamomile or chrysanthemum.
Those with blood clotting disorders or taking anti-clotting drugs
should probably avoid feverfew as well. You should be able to pick up
a bottle of feverfew at your favorite health food store. Many
(including our list owner "Q",) have good experience with the brand
name "Nature's Way".

Feverfew is mostly used as a headache medicine due it's ability
inhibit blood clotting (platelet aggregation is thought to play a role
in some forms of migraine) and the anti-inflammatory and antihistamine
(histamines create inflammation and constrict blood vessels)
properties of the prostaglandins. Others have found feverfew to be
effective in treating high blood pressure, digestive disorders (acting
much like its close relative, chamomile, in calming the smooth muscles
of the digestive tract), and in relieving menstrual cramps.

So.... AGAIN, it is IMPORTANT to not experiment with this if you are
already taking anti-clotting medication. Although it works best when
eating the whole leaf, eating the whole leaf may cause irritation or
ulcers on the mouth and tongue. Ulceration is not a problem with the
capsule form of the herb. Also, it should be taken with a meal.

Lately feverfew has been studied for its usefulness in reducing lower
back pain. Tests have shown that it does help in many cases.

But, of course...IT'S YOUR HEALTH. Why take my word for it? You can
research anything mentioned on this site yourself. Good search engines
are www.mamma.com or www.google.com. or www.dogpile.com or ww.ask.com
Enter one or more keywords and do your own research.

Until next time remember, most illness (upwards of 80% according to
experts) can be attributed to FOUR important factors that can weaken
your immune system and your ability to fight off disease:

1. Anxiety, depression, anger, guilt and other STRESS factors. LEARN
TO FORGIVE AND LET GO.

2. Improper and/or inadequate NUTRITION habits. LEARN TO AVOID
PROCESSED AND/OR REFINED FOODS.

3. A sedentary lifestyle that does not include enough EXERCISE.
FIND SOME KIND OF PHYSICALLY ENGAGING ACTIVITY IF IT IS NOTHING BUT
MORNING OR EVENING WALKS.

4. Not enough rest and quality SLEEP time. GO TO BED. "EARLY TO BED
AND EARLY TO RISE; MAKES A MAN HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND WISE"

LEGAL DISCLAIMER - Required by the FDA. The statements on this page
have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and these
statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease.

Until Next Week,
REGAL