I just read an interesting article in The Clinical Advisor about feverfew flowers and its role in preventing migraines. Apparently, the flowers and leaves contain sesquiterpene lactone an ingredient known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. The trial that caught my eye involved 170 migraine sufferers who were randomized into receiving either 6.24 mg of feverfew three times a day or placebo. The number of migraine attacks dropped from 4.76 to 1.9/month in those receiving feverfew.

Although the exact mechanisms of how a migraine headache begins are not entirely clear, serotonin is believed to play an important role. When these levels drop during a headache, the trigeminal nerve in the face release neuropeptides that cause blood vessels in the brain to become dilated and inflamed. Feverfew seems to act by inhibiting the inflammatory response.

The National Institutes of Health has a great website on headaches and migraines that you might want to check out. For more information on feverfew, safety and side effects as well as dose and cost of this over the counter medication, you can read the original article noted in The Clinical Advisor.

Other related posts:

Migraine Brain: An Interview with Neurologist Dr. Carolyn Bernstein