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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Fever Few
        
(Message started by: 85Vette on May 5^th, 2003, 10:53am)

Title: Fever Few
Post by 85Vette on May 5^th, 2003, 10:53am

Is anyone familiar with a CH sufferer taking Fever Few for treatment? I know it's normally used for migraines, but someone recommended it for clusters, too, and I was wondering if anyone had success with this? ::)

Thanks for any input!

85Vette

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by Bob_Johnson on May 5^th, 2003, 12:01pm

Appears to be general agreement here and in the medical literature that it has no benefit for CH.

Would that it was so easy and cheap!

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by cbolony on May 5^th, 2003, 1:05pm

Quote:

Fever Few

What is it ??? ???

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by Ueli on May 5^th, 2003, 1:35pm

on 05/05/03 at 13:05:42, cbolony wrote:

What is it ??? ???

Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) is a herb only known to a very few insiders, therefore http://www.google.com/ finds only 81'000 hits.

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by JDH on May 6^th, 2003, 12:35pm

Tried it once in the past for CH and got zero results.

Jim

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by brain_cramps on May 7^th, 2003, 5:13pm

on 05/06/03 at 12:35:36, JDH wrote:

Tried it once in the past for CH and got zero results.

Me too

grant

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by maura03063 on May 10^th, 2003, 11:58am

I have not tried feverfew but I am using Migraspray which is made from it. It taked 10 sprays under the tounge, hold for 30 seconds and swallow. If I get it in quick enough, the pain usually subsides afer about 15 mins. It doesn't work every time but I feel that it has worked better than anything else I have tried.

Maura03063

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by katethecelt on May 11^th, 2003, 6:50am

I've know people with migraines, but not CH, who have had success with it.

I've had good results using it to treat fevers.

Wishing you PFDAN's

Kate

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by NewHeadPLZ on May 13^th, 2003, 2:32pm

Last time I used Fever Few, got the damn headaches, I'll never take that shit again!! >:(

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by paragate on May 22^nd, 2003, 5:10pm

Feverfew works, theoretically, by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, which are nasties that are part of the inflammatory process. I know migraine sufferers who swear by the stuff, but it doesn't do anything at all for me wrt clusters.

I'm intrigued by the sublingual feverfew extract. Didn't know anyone came out with such a thing. Though I'm not interested in using it to treat a cluster episode (fifteen minutes is eternity!), it could be something to keep in the medicine chest for milder kinds of headaches.

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by BobG on May 22^nd, 2003, 9:29pm

Back in the last century, October 01, 1999 to be exact, Professor Onionhead said of Fever Few "they smell similar to skunk and the leaves taste about the same."

go here…………………..
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/wwwboard/messages/25380.html

and here…………..where Monica said "I hate to barf!"
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/wwwboard/messages2/103881.html

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by floridian on May 27^th, 2003, 9:21pm

Feverfew not only affects serotonin, it also inhibits nitric oxide production, and is an strong anti-inflammitory. I'd be willing to bet that taking feverfew on a daily basis would significantly cut cluster headaches in some people IF started a few months before that time of the year. Another problem with feverfew is that the active ingredient is not very stable, and many dried herb products contain little or no parthenolides... look for a standardized preparation from a reputable company.

Green Tea - loaded with powerful antioxidants that dampen down nitric oxide, which is part of the inflammitory process and triggers swelling of blood vessels around the trigeminal nerve. I can't guarantee this, but I drink several cups of tea (usually decaf) and think it helps.

Another herb to consider is hypericum (St. Johns Wort). SJW is usually associated with treating depression, but it has strong anti-anxiety effects (on par with valium, without the memory loss or impaired motor skills) and it is a strongly anti-inflammitory. By influencing the GABA/anxiety system, it may help balance serotonin and other neurotransmitters. Maybe a coincidence, but two years ago I took it daily from January through December, and no headaches. I quit, and last summer, the headaches returned. Most people on this board don't give SJW much credence, but I think it may be useful if taken continuously, starting well in advance of a cycle.

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by smfaison on Jul 8^th, 2003, 7:25pm

I have tried Feverfew, but couldn't tell that it did anything at all.

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by jlm77 on Jul 10^th, 2003, 2:59am

I tried feverfew a few years ago with some sucess--but I used it with 1000mg ginko and 1000mg of complex amino acids in a combination. It helped once there was enough in your system, after a few week of taking it

Title: Not much luck w/ feverfew
Post by _Binger on Jul 25^th, 2003, 4:35pm

I tried feverfew extract with a standardized dose of parthenolide (every day) and really felt like it was helping----Then the winter ended and the clusters came back. It may have helped while my cycle was in it's down time, but I think in the end the clusters were too much. For those who take caffeine to help, I can not recomend guarana enough. Guarana is made from the seed of the guarana berry, and it's active ingredient is guaranine--which is chemically identical to caffeine. For me, it seems like all forms of caffeine, from coffee, green tea, etc. help my headaches at first, and then come back worse as they wear off. This does not seem to happen with the guarana. There are many places to get guarana, especially over the internet. I recomend the Traditional Medicinal's Guarana Chai.....and no, I am not making any money, any free product, or even a high five. Remember, everybody's different---this could be the worst thing you ever tried. LOL-------Binger

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by hdbngr on Aug 12^th, 2003, 9:39am

Tried it years ago with a combo of chromium piccolate (weight loss stuff) as a recipe found in a pain magazine. Didn't help the pain, altough I did lose weight.

Word of warning to any female sufferers out there, Feverfew CANCELS the protective effects of oral contraceptives. :o

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by jon69 on Aug 12^th, 2003, 10:15am

I remember when I was first diagnosed with CH (about ten years ago) somebody recommended feverfew to me.

It did nothing.

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by 5-string on Aug 12^th, 2003, 3:01pm

I've been taking 2 every 8 hours since wed. I don't know if its doing anything. This cycle has been going on for 4 weeks and although my head is still hurting I'm actually getting 1-1 1/2 hours of no pain from time to time as of yesterday. Sooo,I don't know.

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by floridian on Aug 13^th, 2003, 7:39pm

Word of warning to any female sufferers out there, Feverfew CANCELS the protective effects of oral contraceptives.

I couldn't find any research that feverfew counteracts oral contraceptives. Maybe you were thinking of St. Johns Wort... one article that got lots of press said that theoretically, SJW Might lead to faster metabolism of oral contraceptives because it activates the cytochrome P450 system. Grapefruit juice does the same - so ladies, please avoid Sea Breezes, Salty Dogs, Arizona Buttkickers, Bitter Evan, Acapulco #2, Blue Canaries, Cape Breezes, ... and advice from Anita Bryant.

Note to Ueli (added day after post): thanks for keeping me on my toes. Upregulate, downregulate - between grapefruit in the morning and St Johns Wort at night, my cytochromes don't know which way they are going. That bottle of selenium I took yesterday didn't help my thinking process either. Then mention Anita Bryant, and my logic dissolves.

Title: Ahem, floridian
Post by Ueli on Aug 13^th, 2003, 8:36pm

Up to now I believed an enzyme in grapefruit is hampering the cytochrome P450 system. The lower breakdown rate for certain drugs leads to higher concentrations.

Two month ago you shared that opinion:

on 06/19/03 at 18:16:51, floridian wrote:

Grapefruit is a potent inhibitor of the p450 enzyme system, ....

;D Ueli

Title: Re: Fever Few
Post by Pushkin on Aug 15^th, 2003, 12:42am

I take feverfew standardized at 5% parthenclide during my CH cycles and I believe it helps. I've tried non-standardized feverfew and it didn't seem to do anything. I consider it a 2nd line of defense medication, for me helpful, but not anything like O2 or refrigerated air blowing directly into my face.