Feverfew Health Benefits
Feverfew is a herb that has been used for reducing fever and treating migraines, but it has also long been used as an anti-inflammatory agent. Similar to drugs like Aspirin, it reduces inflammation by blocking the production of prostaglandins.
Feverfew has also been used to treat one of the oldest diseases known to man - arthritis. Arthritis is a debilitating condition that causes joint pain, stiffness and swelling, often along with inflammation. In most cases diet is the primary factor although in some cases arthritis is inherited or a result of viral infections. Arthritis is a general name for a variety of diseases. Out of the most common types, Rheumatoid arthritis has been proven to benefit the most from treatment with feverfew.
Conventional treatment of arthritis involves anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation. These treatments reduces symptoms only temporarily and does not heal the problem. The use of these conventional drugs for a long time may lead to serious side effects such as further joint damage and even kidney and liver problems. Feverfew with it’s similar anti-inflammatory properties can be used to treat arthritis with less potential side effects.
Other than arthritis, feverfew can be used to treat many other conditions. Some of those uses are: high blood pressure, psoriasis, allergies and fever.
Because the quality of feverfew plants vary dramatically, it is important to buy products from reputable companies who have high quality control measures in place. Since the parthenolide in feverfew plants is extremely unstable in contact with high heat, the best preparation are the ones using as little heat as possible.
