1Meta-Analysis2006
Shrivastava R, Pechadre JC, John GW · Clin Drug Investig (2006)
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19 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Most Feverfew studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1985–2025 with a typical study size of 82 participants.
Based on 19 studies · 2 meta-analyses · 7 RCTs · 1,053 total participants
Confidence
High confidenceBy outcome
4 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2016
Shrivastava R, Pechadre JC, John GW · Clin Drug Investig (2006)
Ernst E, Pittler MH · Public Health Nutr (2000)
Saranitzky E, White CM, Baker EL, Baker WL, Coleman CI · J Diet Suppl (2009)
Diener HC, Pfaffenrath V, Schnitker J, Friede M, Henneicke-von Zepelin HH · Cephalalgia (2005)
Ferro EC, Biagini AP, da Silva ÍE, Silva ML, Silva JR · Acupunct Med (2012)
Cady RK, Goldstein J, Nett R, Mitchell R, Beach ME, Browning R · Headache (2011)
Pfaffenrath V, Diener HC, Fischer M, Friede M, Henneicke-von Zepelin HH · Cephalalgia (2002)
In plain English: Systematic reviews/meta-analyses suggest preliminary or satisfactory clinical evidence for... feverfew (Tanacetum partenium) for migraine prevention... However, firm conclusions of efficacy cannot be generally drawn.
Izzo AA et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2016)
In plain English: Alternative agents, including feverfew, magnesium, and melatonin, have shown effectiveness and are generally well tolerated.
Moreland P, Gaffney B, Lanham JS. · American family physician (2025)
In plain English: Additionally, the safety, toxicity, and potential adverse effects of feverfew are comprehensively evaluated, with an overarching goal of providing valuable insights into the plant's potential for targeted and effective treatments.
Kashkooe A, Jalali A, Zarshenas MM, Hamedi A. · Biomedicines (2024)
In plain English: Feverfew may offer modest benefits in migraine prevention, warranting further high-quality, large-scale RCTs with standardised protocols.
Nelaturi V, Viswanatha GL, Shenoy RR, Khanna S, Krishnadas N. · Natural product research (2025)
In plain English: A landmark randomized, placebo-controlled trial found feverfew reduced the frequency and severity of migraine.
Murphy JJ et al. · Lancet (London, England) (1988)
In plain English: One larger rigorous study reporting 0.6 fewer attacks per month adds some positive evidence, but this is low quality evidence needing confirmation in larger rigorous trials.
Wider B et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2015)
In plain English: An early systematic review found feverfew more effective than placebo in most, but not all, trials.
Vogler BK et al. · Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache (1998)
In plain English: An early controlled trial reported fewer migraines with feverfew.
Johnson ES et al. · British medical journal (Clinical research ed.) (1985)
In plain English: Conclusions The results provide preliminary evidence that VM symptom frequency and severity can be reduced by using nonprescription therapies.
Hannigan IP, Rosengren SM, Di Tanna GL, Watson SRD, Welgampola MS. · Internal medicine journal (2024)
In plain English: A combination of riboflavin, magnesium, and feverfew was studied for migraine prophylaxis.
Maizels M et al. · Headache (2004)
In plain English: our results indicate that PD-Feverfew extracts have potent anti-inflammatory activity suggesting that this botanical would be efficacious in relieving inflammation without inducing immune sensitization.
Sur R et al. · Inflammopharmacology (2009)
In plain English: A phase I dose-escalation study established tolerability of standardized parthenolide doses of feverfew.
Curry EA 3rd et al. · Investigational new drugs (2004)