Tanacetum parthenium
Feverfew ( Tanacetum parthenium )
Feverfew ( Tanacetum parthenium, syn. Chrysanthemum parthenium ) is a plant from the sunflower family ( Asteraceae). Other common names are false chamomile, chamomile and ornamental herb fever.
The trivial name feverfew is regionally used for many other plant species, such as the alpine lovage, which were usually as a medicinal herb use.
Description
The Feverfew grows as a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching in its wild form stature heights of 30 to 80 centimeters. It smells strongly aromatic. The stem is ribbed and branched above. The change-constant leaves are stalked. The delicate, light green, almost hairless leaf blade is ovate in outline and pinnatifid to pinnately lobed with a larger end.
The flowering period extends from June to September. In loose corymbs total inflorescences are five to 30 basket- shaped part inflorescences together. The flower heads have a diameter 13-22 mm and containing the tongue and tubular flowers. The female florets are white and 5-9 millimeters long. The hermaphroditic disc florets are yellow.
Occurrence
The Feverfew is an ancient ornamental and medicinal plant traditionally grown in cottage gardens for example. There are a number of cultivars whose flowers are often filled and sometimes consist only of ray florets. The Feverfew is often wild from gardens. It is found for example in ruderal grass and forb communities. The locations then loamy, nutrient-rich soils are preferred. However, a permanent naturalization has not been established.
Originally, the feverfew in the eastern Mediterranean region was home. Due to its historical long -repudiation in Central Europe the species is classified as archaeophyte. In Central America, Asia and Australia feverfew is locally naturalized.
Naturopathy
Feverfew has been described by Dioscorides in the 1st century as a medicinal herb. In the Middle Ages it was used against fever and headache. The name comes from its use in pregnancy complaints - it triggers menstruation and promotes the removal of the placenta.
Today's naturopathic use
The leaves of feverfew can reduce the occurrence of migraine attacks when they are taken regularly prophylactically for weeks. They are also soothing and digestive act and fight parasites in the intestines. Used externally, they should also help against Hauteiterungen and repel insects. The parthenolide contained inhibit the formation of prostaglandins and the release of serotonin from platelets. They have recently been considered as a possible basis for a new drug to treat leukemia. Feverfew is available as a ready-made preparation. It is easy to pull in your own garden to use the leaves directly. Because of the bitter aromatic taste, they will be happy to put you on bread. For pregnancy and lactation has not been fully experience.
Toxicity
The aboveground plant parts contain several sesquiterpene lactones. The quantitatively most important is parthenolide, which plays a role as a contact allergen. Its proportion is depending on location and season in the short ether extract up to 1%. Since the feverfew few years ago as an ornamental plant in the market, the number of observed allergic contact dermatitis has increased. The Feverfew is also true as mainly responsible way with the producers of airborne contact dermatitis. In 50% of patients sensitive to feverfew is regularly observed with other composites cross reactions; particularly common with chrysanthemums, tansy, marguerite, yarrow and sunflower, as well as with representatives of other plant families such as laurel or Frullania.
Pictures
Fiederteiliges Laubblatt
Flower baskets
Example of a " filled " ornamental variant, basket size corresponds to the wild-type