(Other names: Meadow daisy, Sheep flower) It is from the Compositae family. It is a perennial, durable herbaceous plant whose homeland is unknown, but grows wild in meadows, gardens, fields and roadsides in the Marmara, Aegean and Black Sea regions of our country. It can grow up to 60 cm in length. Its round-sectioned trunk is lightly hairy, light green in color and has a branching structure.
Its fragrant leaves are deeply indented, green, sometimes yellow-green. Its flowers, which open in small and loose clusters at the end of long stems in midsummer, resemble those of some daisy species. The center of the flower is flattened like that of Matricaria daisies. It has white ligules on the outside and yellow tubular flowers in the middle. Its mature flowers form light brown, tiny, narrow and flat seeds.
The feverfew, which loves sunny places and dry and well-drained soils, reproduces by the seeds it sheds. The feverfew plant contains volatile oils and some esters such as parthenolide. In some places in Anatolia, its tender leaves are eaten as a vegetable. In some places, the leaves of the plant are added to some foods to add flavor due to its bitter taste. Again, these leaves are placed in scent bags to repel moths.
The medicinal effects of the plant, known for its headache-relieving effect in ancient times and used for this purpose, and the methods of using them can be listed as follows:
1. The headache and migraine relieving effects of the feverfew plant seem to have been rediscovered recently.
2. It is a muscle spasm reliever. Perhaps that is why it has beneficial effects against headaches and migraines.
3. It is beneficial for dizziness and ringing in the ears by increasing the effects of other drugs when taken together.
4. It has a mild sedative effect.
5. It is a tonic that strengthens the body.
6. It is effective against inflammatory arthritis.
7. It relieves pain during painful menstrual periods. It prevents menstrual delays.
In order to benefit from these effects, the tender leaves are collected during spring and summer, preferably before the plant blooms. Fresh or frozen (after thawing), 3-5 leaves are placed between bread and eaten. In this way, the use of the feverfew, which is good for current headaches and migraines, should be continued for 3-6 months for permanent treatment of migraines. In order to relieve headaches and migraines at that moment and benefit from its other effects, the infusion obtained by taking 3-5 tender leaves of the plant and steeping them in boiling water for 10-15 minutes can be drunk like tea.
The plant can cause mouth ulcers in people with sensitive mouths. Pregnant women should not take feverfew.
