by Mouse

Created on: September 01, 2010

For me, a migraine sufferer since 1995, there is only one answer to this question: Feverfew.

Feverfew is the common name of the plant Tanacetum Parthenium, which is a member of the daisy family and is a close relation of chamomile, which it resembles visually. It has the same large (relative to the petals), spongy, yellow centre, with white daisy-like petals. The leaves of the feverfew plant tend to be a little more yellow-green and vibrant than the chamomile plant.

Feverfew works in much the same way as aspirin and is safe for most people, EXCLUDING PREGNANT WOMEN (because of the levels of prostaglandin which may cause miscarriage). I personally also do not use it in children under 12 years, but then I would not give them aspirin either.

After trying Feverfew for the first time in 1997, I have been able to permanently come off my prescribed migraine medicine and now treat all my headaches and those of family and friends, with Feverfew.

At the time, I was studying hard for my GCSE mock exams, sometimes for extended periods of time and the frequency and intensity of my migraines had increased. I had my dosage of migraine medicine increased three times in a two month period and I was now on the safest maximum strength for me and still finding no relief. My Mum read an article on the uses of Feverfew for headache treatment in a Women's Magazine and we liked the look of the flower, so we figured, in the worst case scenario, if it didn't work, we'd still have a pretty plant for the garden. Fortunately it worked amazingly well and I now keep at least two plants on the go at all times.

The treatment is very simple:

* When the headache is first noticed (or as soon after as possible) pick a handful of Feverfew leaves (in this instance 'handful' refers to an amount that would be a handful in the hand of the patient) and rinse them in cold water.

* Pat dry on kitchen roll or a clean teatowel.

* Make a plain two-slice sandwich (use or don't use butter or spread as you normally would) and put the leaves in it.

* Sprinkle the leaves with either salt or sugar (depending on the preference of the person with the headache) and close the sandwich.

The person with the headache should eat the whole sandwich for the full effect. Some people complain that the taste is slightly bitter. If this is the case, you can add plain lettuce to the sandwich to make it more tasty.

Within about 20minutes, the headache should be completely gone or significantly improved. During that twenty minutes, the headache sufferer may be comforted by a cold wet cloth with vinegar on it.

Feverfew can be easily obtained at garden centres, or will grow effectively by splitting an established plant or from a cutting. It should be kept confined in a pot or container of some sort as left to its own devices it will spread like crazy and may inhibit other plants. It is very easy to grow and while it prefers a bit of sun, will also grow in most partially shaded areas.

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