Question
What is it for.  A neighbor of mine is growing
it and doesn't know what to do with it.

Also chamomile, how do you make tea with it?
Should it be dried first, do you use the flowers
or the leaves?

Answer
Cheryl:
Feverfew is for migraine headaches and certain arthritis. Here is more info. Use german camomille flowers and leaves for tea. Harvest flowers as soon as they bloom. German is best for tea, The roman is stronger and may give headaches. More info on Google.com.

HERBALPEDIA
FEVERFEW
Tanacetum parthenium also
Chrysanthemum parthenium
Family: Compositae
Names: febrifuge plant, wild quinine,
bachelor's button; Mutterkraut (German);
grande camomille (French); erba madre,
camomilla grande (Italian)
Description: Small, bushy herb, strongly
scented with a height up to 4 feet and a width
of 2 feet. The flowers are daisylike, with white
petals and raised yellow center 1 inch in
diameter, clustered together with up to 30
heads. The leaves are yellow-green, divided
and flexible, shaped like miniature oak leaves 3
inches long. It blooms from June to August.
Cultivation: A perennial hardy to Zone 4, it
will grow in almost any soil though production
is higher in fertile soil. Prefers full sun or
partial shade and can survive drought
conditions. Deer don't bother it and rare for
pest or disease problems. Bees dislike it so
don't plant around other plants requiring bee
pollination. Seeds germinate easily in 10-14
days. Cover seeds lightly. Transplant in late
spring/early summer with a spacing of 12-18
inches in the row and rows at 24 to 30 inches.
Cuttings do not readily root and the mature
plants will self sow readily. Tops are harvested
just as the flowers are forming. For
commercial purposes best harvest is the second
year with year three having a smaller one and at
that point it should be tilled under. An acre
should yield between 1,000 and 4,000 pounds.
Flowers dry easily in 4-6 days. Easily shipped
fresh and some of feverfew's most important
constituents break down readily. Should be
sold within 6 months of harvest.
Constitutents: essential oil (alpha-pinene),
sesquiterpene lactones (parthenolide,
santamarine); sesquiterpenes (camphor)
History: Originally from the Balkan peninsula
and western Asia, the herb grows wild all over
the northern hemisphere. The generic name is
of uncertain origin, but may come from tanaos
an altered form of 揳thanasia?meaning long-lived
because of the duration of flowering; its
emmenagogic property is associated with the
Greek parthenos, virgin. The Greeks called it
pyrethron, probably from pyro, meaning 揻ire?
descriptive of its taste. This became pyrethrum
to the Romans. Feverfew was first designated
botanically as Matricarea as a close relative of
chamomile. Since then, it's been joined with
the chrysanthemums and the pyrethrums. Old
England knew it as featherfoil which became
featherfew and eventually feverfew. It was
after the plant acquired the name that herbalists
tried using it for fevers In the Victorian
language of flowers feverfew stands for fire,
warmth, protection.
Properties: bitter, anti-inflammatory,
analgesic, tranquilizer, emmenogogue,
carminative, purgative
Energetics/Meridians Affected: bitter, cool;
stomach and liver.
Culinary Uses: Feverfew has been added to
food to cut the greasy taste but is extremely
bitter and disagreeable to most palates.
Medicinal Uses: When the wife of a Welsh
doctor ended her 50-year-old history of
migraine with a course of feverfew, a detailed
scientific investigation of feverfew gotunderway and in clinical trials in Britain during
the 1980s the herb was demonstrated to be an
effective remedy for migraine. 20 headache
patients eat fresh feverfew leaves daily for 3
months and stop using headache-related drugs
during the lasst month. After they were given
capsules of .37 grains of freeze-dried leaf every
day, they experienced less severe headaches
and fewer symptoms, including nausea and
vomiting, than a placebo group. As an added
benefit, their blood pressure went down.
Despite extensive research, the exact nature of
its action is not yet understood, but the
constituent parthenolide appears to inhibit the
release of the hormone serotonin, which is
thought to trigger migraine. The parthenolides
in feverfew do not work by the same method as
salicylates. While many herbalists feel the
fresh leaves, or an extract made from them, are
preferred, results have been seen with fresh,
freeze-dried, and air-dried leaves, although
boiling feverfew tea for 10 minutes instead of
steeping it did reduce its activity in one study.
As a preventative it should be taken in small
quantities (3 leaves a day) regularly. The herb
can help arthritic and rheumatic pain, especially
in combination with other herbs.
The herb has been used since Roman
times to induce menstruation. It is given in
difficult births to aid expulsion of the placenta.
It has not been shown to cause uterine
contractions, but because of its history in
promoting menstruation pregnant women
should probably not use it.
In South America where feverfew is
naturalized, it has been effective for colic,
stomachache, morning sickness and kidney
pains. In Costa Rica, it has also been employed
as a digestive aid and emmenagogue.
Mexicans have used it as a sitz bath to regulate
menstruation as well as an antispasmodic and
tonic.
Feverfew is useful for cats as an
alternative to aspirin, which is toxic to felines.
Use a glycerin-based tincture or a cooled tea
with a dose of 12-20 drops of the tincture or ?br> tsp of a strong tea for each 20 pounds of the
animal's weight, twice daily. Pets can be
bathed in a cooled tea as a flea rinse.
Dosage: For prevention of migraines take a 100
mg capsule per day. At the start of a migraine
take 5-10 drops of the tincture every 30
minutes at onset. Best for 揷old?type
migraines, involving tightening of the cerebral
blood vessels and eased by applying a hot
towel to the head.
Combinations:
Premenstrual Tea: 1 tsp each vitex berries and
wild yam rhizome; ?tsp each burdock root,
dandelion root, feverfew leaves and hops
stobiles; 1 quart water. Combine herbs and
water in a pot and bring to a boil. Turn off heat
and steep for at least 20 minutes. Strain out
herbs. Drink at least 2 cups daily, as needed.
Can also be taken as a tincture.
For acute states of rheumatoid arthritis, add up
to 2 ml tincture 3 times a day, to other herbal
remedies.
Drink a weak infusion after childbirth to
encourage cleansing and tonifying of the
uterus.
Migraine formula: 3 parts feverfew; 1 part
lemon balm; ?part passion flower; 1 part
rosemary; 1 part sacred basil; 2 parts ginkgo
leaf freeze-dried capsules or tincture. Pour 1
quart of hot, steaming water over 6 tablespoons
of herbs and steep, covered, 5-15 minutes.
Drink ?cup every hour until symptoms
subside. The herbs can be taken as a tincture,
4-6 times a day, 30-60 drops.
Cosmetic Uses: An infusion of the herb in
boiling water and allowed to cool is used
externally to apply to the face to remove
freckles and soreness. It was used in a 17 th
century beauty preparation made by Gervase
Markham.
Complexion Milk: Place a handful of leaves
and flowers in a pan and cover with a ?pint of
milk. Simmer for 20 minutes, let cool, and
stain into bottles. It will nourish a dry skin and
remove blackheads and pimples.
Cautions: Problems such as mouth ulcers and
soreness and occasional digestive disturbances
have been reported in about 18% of those using
feverfew on a regular basis.