Feverfew is fast becoming a very popular herbal remedy for many ailments, most notably, feverfew migraine treatment. While it has been suggested as a natural healing remedy for many things including fever, dizziness, earache, and even cancer, most feverfew uses outside of headache relief are still unsubstantiated. Although its effectiveness has been proven time and time again, this popular treatment for migraine headaches does come with its own list of side effects, including those due to drug interactions, even if it is a natural remedy.
Feverfew side effects are mostly digestive in nature and include tummy aches, heartburn, diarrhea, nausea, constipation, flatulence and bloating. Other feverfew side effects are neurological in nature, such as a sense of nervousness or tiredness or trouble sleeping has been reported. While these can be bothersome, they are rarely serious. Sharing similarities with butterbur side effects, use is not considered safe for pregnant or nursing mothers. In fact, old folk legends indicate that feverfew may have even been considered useful for inducing abortions. Whether or not this is true is unknown, however the very suggestion of it is indicative that it should never be used by expecting mothers.
Aside from the common and rarely serious general feverfew side effects, there are more serious, and often dangerous or life threatening considerations to factor in. These are a result of the properties of feverfew interacting with chemical drugs that you are taking. Because feverfew can change the productivity level of the liver, it may cause your existing medications to be integrated into your system at a slower rate. This decrease in utilization can lead to increased or enhanced side effects from the drugs that you are currently consuming. Additionally, due to feverfew’s anti clotting properties, using it with blood thinning drugs such as warfarin may cause an unsafe inability for blood to clot properly. You should also not take feverfew if you have kidney problems or are taking kidney medications as feverfew’s interactions with the kidneys may inhibit the effectiveness of your medication.
All chemical drug treatments have side effects, and many products from nature are no different. However, safe and practical use can provide many benefits that in most cases can offer healing with less adverse reactions. Feverfew side effects are minimal, however it can cause dangerous changes within the body in case of some drug interactions. If you are considering feverfew, make it a point to consult with your health care provider to ensure that you are healthy enough to use this powerful herb and that it will not improperly conflict with anything you are currently taking.
