You are here: Q&A->
Page 26->Feverfew for migraines
Feverfew for migraines
My 15-year-old daughter takes Feverfew tablets to control her migraines after conventional tablets did not help at all. Can you tell us what dose she should be taking and for how long? Is there anything else that could help?
The herb that is currently getting all the attention as a natural remedy for the relief of migraines is not feverfew but a less well-known plant called butterbur. This does not mean feverfew is not going to work for your daughter and if you want to stick with it, she should take a daily dose of that provides the equivalent of at least 250mcg (micrograms) of parthenolide which is one of the active agents, and remember to wait for at least a month to give it time to take effect.
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) works in the same way as feverfew to open up the constricting blood vessels in the head that are causing the migraine but it also has a nerve-calming action and so can help banish tension headaches too. Clinical trials of this herb revealed how migraine sufferers who took 50mg of standardised extract, twice daily, reduced the number of migraine days by 62% over a six-month period. A standardised extract guarantees a minimum dose of the active ingredients and for the same results, you need the same dosage.
*Migravoid provides 50mg of Butterbur per capsule and costs £19.95 for 60 tablets. Mail order from Victoria Health on 0800-413596.