Feverfew: Migraines.

Date: Thu, 8 Dec 1994 21:28:25 -0700
Sender: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants discussion list <HERB.TREARN.BITNET>
From: Phxhawk <phxhawk.INDIRECT.COM>
Subject: Re: Migraine headaches

> Help please...which herbs help alleviate migraines?

I found this info in another newsgroup: "My husband who used to suffer from migraines, takes feverfew, a lacy-edged yellow-green herb. Generally it doesn't cure migraines, but rather prevents them. We grow the plant in the garden and although it is an annual, it self-seeds, so plants spring up all over. My husband takes a piece the size of a small finger nail once a day."

You can also purchase feverfew in capsule form- it is sold in health food stores. However, an herbalist here in Phx, wrote that if one brand doesn't work, try another as the chemical content varies from brand to brand.

Hope this helps.

From: Pami Jo Evans <pami.REX.PFC.MIT.EDU>

>Help please...which herbs help alleviate migraines?

I would agree with all those who suggested Feverfew. However, my father and brother are both highly succeptable to migraines. For them, I made up a batch of garni bags full of one part each Pennyroyal, Peppermint, and Chamomile. This works wonders for them. The Pennyroyal works on the migrane, the peppermint soothes the nausea, and the chamomile helps them to just relax, and sweetens the tea. They take a cup of the tea just as they feel the migraine coming on, and it seems to never develop.

The only problem with this is the possible side effects of the pennyroyal. I don't believe that one cup every now and again will make much difference, but it is best to make an informed decision. There has been much discussion in the past here on the list about pennyroyal, so you might consider checking with the listserv.

Much luck and relief

From: Phxhawk <phxhawk.INDIRECT.COM>

On Sat, 10 Dec 1994, Anita F Hales wrote:
> May I suggest that these are NOT migraine headaches. Migraines are a specific type of headache and there are different types of migraines. They are not just bad headaches. They are frequently completely debilitating to the sufferer.

I recently attended a lecture given by a neurologist who not only treats migraine sufferers but is also afflicted by migraines herself. In her opinion, *all* headaches are migraines. The degree just varies. She said that migraine is a disease; the headache is a symptom caused by deficiency of serotonin.

Now, I'm not implying that she was Moses descending from the mountain, but I found her lecture very interesting.

From: Paul Bergner <bergner.TELEPORT.COM>

If you examine the scientific literature, you'll see that although feverfew works better than placebo, it doesn't work all that well -- for instance a subgrounp of people who take it don't get any benefit at all. of those who it helps , the typical improvement is 25% fewer attacks of migraine. also, most of the forms available in the marketplace have very little active ingredient, which is volatile and tends to evaporate in dried products. the best form is to grow the fresh plant and eat the leaves fresh. Even then, we are talking about a suppressive treatment -- you cut one head of a hydra-headed monster and two more appear somewhere else. Feverfew apparently works through affecting the prostaglandin chemistry. I have reports of women who took it and it helped their migraine headaches, but they began to have menstrual pain, which they ahd never had before.

Paul Bergner