NUTRITIONAL FUNCTIONS Feverfew's anti-migraine activity comes from parthenolide, a sesquitepene lactone. Parthenolide is a spasmolytic that makes smooth muscle in the walls of cerebral blood vessels less reactive to vasoconstrictors. Parthenolide helps prevent migraines and lessen the severity of existing migraines by acting as an antagonist to vasoconstrictors such as serotonin, prostaglandins, and norepinephrine. Parthenolide and standardized extracts of feverfew containing parthenolide block the release of serotonin from blood vessels and prevent platelets from over-aggregating. Parthenolide also inhibits the actions of compounds released from cells that cause inflammation. Has been used as an abortifacient, antiseptic, aperient, carminative, depurative, emmenagogue, resolvent, stomachic, tonic, and vermifuge. Homeopaths use it like chamomile. The salicylic acid in white willow bark lowers the body's levels of prostaglandins, hormone like compounds that can cause aches, pain, and inflammation. While white willow bark takes longer to begin acting than aspirin, its effect may last longer. And, unlike aspirin, it doesn't cause stomach bleeding or other known adverse effects. Specifically, white willow bark may help to relieve acute and chronic pain, including headache, back and neck pain, muscle aches, and menstrual cramps. The effectiveness of white willow bark for easing these and other types of discomforts results from its power to lower prostaglandin levels. White willow bark also helps control arthritis discomforts. Some arthritis sufferers taking white willow bark have experienced reduced swelling and inflammation, and eventually increased mobility, in the back, knees, hips, and other joints.

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