Feverfew bark

Feverbark is the bark of the Alstonia tree. Fever bark is used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, fever bark is used for fever, high blood pressure, diarrhea, rheumatic joint and muscle pain and malaria. In addition to this, feverfew bark is also used as a stimulant.

How does fever tree bark work?

Feverfew tree bark contains chemicals that can lower blood pressure.

How effective is feverfew bark?

There is not enough scientific data to assess the effectiveness of feverfew bark for fever, high blood pressure, diarrhea, malaria, rheumatic joint and muscle pain, and when used as a stimulant. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of feverfew bark in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Feverfewbark does not appear to be safe and harmless. It contains chemicals that can cause side effects such as nasal congestion, irritability, allergic reactions, eye problems, kidney problems, depression and psychotic reactions. High doses can cause heart problems and death.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Feverfew tree bark does not appear to be safe and harmless and could cause harm to mother and child. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid feverfew bark.

Depression: Some of the chemicals found in feverfew bark could worsen depression.

Stomach ulcers: Some of the chemicals in fever tree bark may aggravate stomach ulcers.

Schizophrenia: Some of the chemicals in fever tree bark could trigger psychotic episodes.

Surgeries: Feverfew tree bark acts as a stimulant. There are concerns that it could cause problems during surgery by increasing heart rate and blood pressure. For this reason, you should stop taking feverfew bark two weeks before an operation.

Interactions

Feverfew bark should not be taken in combination with the following medications:

Anesthetics

Feverfew tree bark contains a chemical called reserpine. Taking reserpine in combination with anesthetics used during surgery can cause heart problems. It is important to tell the doctors treating you before surgery which natural products you have taken before the operation. You should stop taking feverfew bark at least 2 weeks before an operation.

Naloxone

Feverfew bark contains a chemical that can affect the brain. This chemical is called yohimbine. Naloxone also affects the brain. Taking it in combination with yohimbine could increase the risk of side effects such as anxiety, nervousness, tremors and hot flushes.

Phenothiazines

Feverfew bark contains a chemical called yohimbine. Some phenothiazines have similar effects to yohimbine. Taking feverfew bark in combination with phenothiazines could increase the effects and side effects of yohimbine.

Stimulants

Stimulants accelerate the function of the nervous system. By accelerating the function of the nervous system, stimulants can cause restlessness and accelerate the heartbeat. Taking feverfew bark in combination with stimulants could cause serious problems including increased heart rate and high blood pressure. For this reason, taking stimulants in combination with feverfew bark should be avoided.