Feverfew in pregnancy and breastfeeding

What NCCIH says about safety

No serious side effects have been reported from feverfew use. Side effects can include nausea, digestive problems, and bloating. If the fresh leaves are chewed, sores and irritation of the mouth may occur. People who are sensitive to ragweed and related plants may have allergic reactions to feverfew. Using feverfew topically may cause dermatitis (when the skin becomes red, sore, or inflamed). Feverfew may slow blood clotting and should be stopped at least 2 weeks before scheduled surgery. Feverfew may interact with some medicines, including those used for migraine. If you take feverfew or any other medicine, talk with your health care provider before using feverfew or other herbal products; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways. Do not take feverfew while pregnant because it may affect uterine contractions. If you’re considering using feverfew while pregnant, consult your health care provider. Little is known about whether it’s safe to use feverfew while breastfeeding.

Quoted in full from NCCIH so nothing is lost in summarising. Where they say “little is known”, that means the studies do not exist — not that the herb is known to be safe, and not that it is known to be harmful.

How much is actually known

Some studies in people have looked into feverfew’s use as a remedy for migraine headache. For instance, a 2020 review looked at 7 studies of feverfew for migraine, which included a total of 634 participants. The studies, which were small and used different sources and dosage levels of feverfew, showed inconsistent findings. There’s little or no evidence about feverfew for any other health conditions.

What the research has found

Some research suggests that feverfew may help prevent migraine headaches, but results have been mixed. Some research suggests it may reduce migraine headache frequency, as well as some symptoms, such as pain, nausea, vomiting, and light and noise sensitivity. There’s not enough evidence to know if feverfew is helpful for other conditions.

Before you take this

Dose and form change the answer completely. A culinary amount of a spice, a cup of tea, and a concentrated supplement extract are three different things, and most research is done on the last of them.

Supplements are also not regulated like medicines, so strength and purity vary between products. Bring the actual bottle to your midwife, doctor or pharmacist — that conversation is worth more than any page, including this one.