Evidence-based·Last reviewed May 30, 2026·How we grade evidence

Feverfew

Botanical

Useful mainly for adults seeking a preventive (not acute) option for migraine.

Quick decision guide

May help most

adults seeking a preventive (not acute) option for migraine

Common dosing range

50–150 mg/day of dried leaf or extract standardized to 0.2–0.4% parthenolide

When to expect effects

Weeks

Watch out for

Asteraceae (daisy/ragweed) allergy; do not stop abruptly after long-term use

What is it

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a flowering plant in the daisy family, traditionally used for headache prevention and inflammation. The leaves contain parthenolide and other sesquiterpene lactones thought to be the active compounds.

Is it worth it for you?

Use this as a quick fit check, not a diagnosis.

Worth considering if…

You get recurrent migraines and want a daily preventive
You can commit to several weeks of consistent use
You want a non-prescription option to discuss with your clinician

Probably skip if…

You want to stop an attack already in progress
You are allergic to ragweed, chamomile, or other Asteraceae plants
You are pregnant or take anticoagulants

Evidence at a glance

migraine prevention

Limited Evidence
Effect
Modest reduction in attack frequency
Best fit
adults with recurrent migraine seeking prophylaxis
Time
Weeks

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

migraine prevention

Supplement benefit
Limited Evidence

Several RCTs and systematic reviews suggest feverfew modestly reduces migraine frequency versus placebo when taken daily, though results are mixed and effect sizes are small. Parthenolide is thought to act by inhibiting NF-kB signaling and platelet serotonin release. Product quality varies widely because parthenolide content is inconsistent across preparations.

Effect size
Modest reduction in attack frequency
Time to effect
Weeks
Best fit
adults with recurrent migraine seeking prophylaxis
Less likely
people wanting acute relief of an active migraine

Bottom line: A reasonable daily preventive that may modestly cut migraine frequency, with quality-dependent and somewhat mixed evidence.

Evidence is mixed

Some trials show clear benefit while others find feverfew no better than placebo, partly due to inconsistent parthenolide content.

SourceSaranitzky et al., 2009 — PubMed· conflictingPfaffenrath et al., 2002 — PubMed· conflicting
SourceSaranitzky et al., 2009 — PubMedPfaffenrath et al., 2002 — PubMed

How it works

Parthenolide inhibits NF-kB signaling and serotonin release from platelets, both implicated in migraine pathophysiology. Feverfew may also reduce inflammatory mediators and modulate vascular tone in cerebral blood vessels. Clinical evidence is best for migraine prevention rather than acute treatment. Effects build over weeks of daily use. Quality control of feverfew products is a known issue; parthenolide content can vary widely.

How to take it

1. Typical dose
50–150 mg/day, standardized to 0.2–0.4% parthenolide
2. Timing
Daily for prevention; effects build over weeks
3. With food
With water; food may reduce GI upset
4. How long to try
Trial at least 8–12 weeks before judging

What to track

Migraine frequency per month
Attack severity and duration
GI tolerance and mouth ulcers

2 commercial forms

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Standardized leaf extract (MIG-99)

Most-studied form in migraine trials.

Standardized to 0.2-0.4% parthenolide for consistent dosing.

Dried whole leaf

Traditional form; less consistent dosing.

Variable parthenolide content depending on growing and processing.

Safety

Know the common side effects, key cautions, and who should avoid it.

Common side effects

GI upsetMouth ulcers (especially chewing fresh leaves)Rebound headache if stopped abruptly after long-term use

Who should avoid it

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Avoid; feverfew may stimulate uterine contractions.

SourceMemorial Sloan Kettering — Feverfew — MSKCC About Herbs

Interactions

Anticoagulants (warfarin) / antiplatelets (aspirin, clopidogrel)Moderate

May inhibit platelet aggregation and add to bleeding risk

SourceMemorial Sloan Kettering — Feverfew — MSKCC About Herbs
NSAIDsMinor

Additive antiplatelet effect; NSAIDs may also blunt feverfew

SourceMemorial Sloan Kettering — Feverfew — MSKCC About Herbs
Serotonergic drugsMinor

Theoretical interaction via serotonin pathways

SourceMemorial Sloan Kettering — Feverfew — MSKCC About Herbs

Documented interactions

Evidence-graded pair pages with sources, dosing notes, and timing guidance — a complement to the narrative section above.

Warnings (1)

+ warfarin

low

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) inhibits platelet aggregation in laboratory studies via its parthenolide sesquiterpene lactones, which creates a theoretical, additive bleeding concern alongside warfarin. The evidence is bench/in-vitro only: systematic reviews classify feverfew's anticoagulant signal as low-level laboratory evidence, and there are no published human case reports of bleeding when feverfew is combined with warfarin. The cautious, mechanism-based approach is to avoid concentrated feverfew supplements while on warfarin and to disclose use to the clinician managing anticoagulation.

See all 1 Feverfew interaction →

Protocols featuring Feverfew

Evidence-backed routines where Feverfew plays a role.

Migraine Prevention

recovery

Migraine has one of the best-evidenced supplement literatures of any condition — primarily because the field needed effective alternatives to pharmaceuticals with significant side effect profiles. Magnesium, riboflavin (B2), and CoQ10 each have multiple randomized trials supporting their use for migraine frequency and severity, and they appear in headache neurology guidelines as Level B (probably effective) or Level C (possibly effective) evidence. The stack is best used as PREVENTION (daily, ongoing) — not as acute migraine treatment. If you have not been formally diagnosed with migraine, the protocol still applies to general headache prevention but proper diagnosis is worth pursuing — migraines are often under-treated.

Choosing a product

What to look for on the label — and what to be skeptical of.

Look for…

Standardized to 0.2–0.4% parthenolide
Stated species Tanacetum parthenium
Batch/quality testing for parthenolide content

Be skeptical of…

'Stops migraines instantly'
'Works for acute attacks'

Frequently asked questions

How long until feverfew works for migraines?⌄

Benefits usually take 4-8 weeks of daily use. It is for prevention, not acute treatment of an active migraine.

Can I take feverfew with my migraine prescription?⌄

Discuss with your clinician. Combining feverfew with serotonergic migraine drugs (triptans) or anticoagulants needs careful evaluation.

References by claim

migraine prevention

Saranitzky et al., 2009 — PubMed (2009) link

Pfaffenrath et al., 2002 — PubMed (2002) link

Safety

Memorial Sloan Kettering — Feverfew — MSKCC About Herbs link

Track Feverfew with Pilora

Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.

Coming to App Store
Evidence-based·Last reviewed May 30, 2026·Evidence current as of May 30, 2026·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.