Naturtherapien feverfew prevents migraine outbreak

There are several ways to treat a migraine. In addition to medicines, non-pharmacological methods such as Sports or relaxation techniques complement the treatment. But that's not all, because apparently the herbal medicine offers a remedy for the severe headache. As explained at a press conference in Vienna, this is the so-called "feverfew" whose effectiveness according to the experts has been proven in studies.
One in ten suffers from headache attacks
In Austria, about one in ten suffers from migraine, with women being affected three times more frequently than men. Characteristic of the disease are recurrent, episodic, half-sided headache, which may be accompanied by nausea, blurred vision, numbness, sensitivity to light and noise. Particularly treacherous in migraine is that the causes are still not fully understood and a complete cure is not possible - therefore, the treatment is mainly about alleviating the symptoms and avoiding further pain attacks.

Study: Feverfew works against migraine. Image: babsi_w - fotolia

However, there is not "the" therapy, which works equally well for all patients, the head of the headache outpatient department at Vienna's AKH, Christian Wöber, quoted by the news agency "APA". As reported by the agency, the specialist in neurology and psychiatry on Thursday in Vienna in a press breakfast of the Austrian Society for Phytotherapy (ÖGPhyt) on "New herbal treatment option for migraine" lectured.

Feverfew inhibits excessive secretion of serotonin
Now migraine patients with the so-called "feverfew" apparently also a herbal medicine for the relief or prevention of the discomfort available. As the experts explained at the press conference, the active ingredient parthenolide inhibits the excessive secretion of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which plays a decisive role in the development of a headache attack. Although it has been known for centuries that the herb as a home remedy for headache and fever help, but only in recent years, the effectiveness has been proven by studies on patients.

Capsules can only help preventively
The feverfew (Latin: Tanacetum parthenium) is a member of the daisy family and visually reminiscent of the flowers of chamomile. Migraine patients can purchase the remedy over the counter in capsule form at the pharmacy or drugstore, but it is important to read the package leaflet or consult the doctor or pharmacist before using it. Although feverfew is generally well tolerated, but unsuitable for pregnant women and people with allergies to daisy family, said Wöber and Rudolf Bauer, director of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Graz. To prevent the symptoms, the experts should be taken after a capsule containing 100 milligrams of powdered herb a day over a period of three to six months - in acute cases, the herbal home remedy for migraine, however, cause nothing. (No)