Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) has been used for centuries across continents. Native to southeastern Europe and the Balkans, it was brought to North America by early European settlers. Since then, it has been widely cultivated and naturalized in various regions worldwide.
The ancient Greeks and Romans used feverfew in traditional medicine, although its earliest medicinal use remains undocumented. In the 1st century CE, the Greek herbalist physician Dioscorides documented its anti-inflammatory properties.
Feverfew is promoted for fevers, headaches, and arthritis, and topically, it’s used for toothache and as an antiseptic. Its chemical compound, parthenolide, is under research for potential cancer properties.
Interestingly, it has been called the “medieval aspirin” or the “aspirin of the 18th century” due to its historical significance.