Wakefield Museums and Castles

Feverfew normally flowers from June to September.

It has small, composite, daisy-like flowerheads. The flowerheads are 3⁄4 inch across. They rise from thin stalks and grow in loose flower clusters.

The flowers have white, strap-shaped petals, called a 'ray floret'. These appear around a central disk of yellow tubular flowers.

Fresh feverfew leaves can be eaten. They are sometimes chopped and added to salads or sandwiches.

However, feverfew has a strong, bitter flavour. It can cause mouth ulcers for people who are prone to them.

The leaves and flowers of feverfew can be used to create a greenish-yellow dye. It is particularly used for wool.

'After-mordants' such as iron or tin can be used to create olive or gold-brown shades.

In Medieval Europe, feverfew was planted near the doors of houses. It was thought to give protection against the plague.

In folklore, the plant was believed to bring good luck and protect against evil spirits.

Anglo-Saxons thought that sudden stabbing pains were magically produced by invisible fairy folk shooting ‘elf arrows’. They thought that feverfew leaves could cure this 'elfshot'.

Feverfew attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Its strong smell helps to deter wasps, flies and ants.

In the 300s BC Hippocrates listed feverfew as useful in treating lesions.

Traditionally, people have used feverfew for many issues. These include respiratory, gastrointestinal and menstrual disorders. It has also been used to treat kidney and liver disease, tinnitus, earache, fever, infertility, anaemia, bites and stings, vertigo and St Anthony’s Fire.

It was used in syrup form, with honey, for coughs, sore throats and the relief of catarrh. When mixed with wine it was thought to help with what we would now call depression and anxiety.

The leaves can cause a skin rash for people with sensitive skin. Fresh leaves can also irritate people's mucous membranes.

It can increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant medications. It is not advised to be used by people regularly taking anti-migraine medication, or anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen, or Vitamin E supplements.

Other side effects can include mouth ulcers, indigestion and abdominal pain.

Long-term use of feverfew followed by stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms. These include rebound headaches and muscle and joint pains.

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.