feverfew

Feverfew is a perennial plant native to Europe, known for its small, white, daisy-like flowers with yellow centers. It has naturalized in much of North America and is recognized for its historical use in herbal medicine. Traditionally, it has been employed to address various ailments, including fevers, migraine headaches, and menstrual cramps. The plant's scientific name is Tanacetum parthenium, and it was first documented before the 12th century.1

It is important to distinguish feverfew from "feverwort," which refers to North American plants in the genus Triosteum. These plants, also known as wild ipecac or horse gentian, were historically used medicinally, but they are a different species from feverfew. "American feverfew" (Parthenium integrifolium) is another distinct plant found in the southeastern U.S. with white flowers that resemble those of true feverfew.23