WHAT IT DOES BEST: Butterbur is pri...

WHAT IT DOES BEST: Butterbur is primarily used to treat hay flush and migraine headaches, and is also increasingly used to soothe symptoms of asthma. Research indicates that butterbur has antispasmodic (smooth-muscle relaxing), antihistamine, and anti-inflammatory effects

THE BACKGROUND: Butterbur has been used for centuries medicinally over Europe, some parts of Asia and North America to treat febrile affections plague, chronic cough and asthma, and to raise wound healing.

newly come FINDINGS:

hay fever: Butterbur extract was set to be as effective at reducing hay excitement symptoms as the antihistamine medication cetirizine (brand name, Zyrtec) however without the drug's drowsy side tenor according to a two-week human investigation involving 125 patients published in a 2002 issue of the British Medical Journal. Also, butterbur extract was set to be as effective as fexofenadine (Allegra) for treating year-round hay febrile affection in two studies: a small human meditation published in the April 2004 issue of Clinical and Experimental Allergy: Journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, and a large inquiry published in the June 2005 issue of Phytotherapy Research. However, the July 2004 issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology reported that a smaller human close attention on intermittent hay fever place butterbur to be no more effective than a placebo in treating grass pollen allergies.

migraine headaches: Research indicates butterbur extract significantly cut shorts the frequency of migraines. common study, published in the March 2005 issue of Headache, reviewed the forces in children and adolescents using 50-150mg of butterbur extract. Migraine oftenness was reduced by at least half in 77 percent of the participants. Also, in a reflection published in the December 2004 issue of Neurology adults given 75mg twice daily reported a 48 percent reduction in migraine oftenness while those given 50mg twice daily reported a 36 percent reduction.

asthma: Preliminary human studies refer to butterbur may reduce the severity of asthma symptoms. In the March 2004 issue of Alternative Medicine Review, researchers reported that the herb reduc the number, severity and duration of asthma attacks in 64 adults and 16 children. Also from one side of to the other 40 percent of participants taking asthma medication were able to lower their dose on the study's end.

WHAT'S THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT?.

Petasin and isopetasin, brace compounds that have anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effects

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS:

Butterbur contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), plant toxins that may cause liver damage and increase the risk for liver cancer. Preparations used in research and upon the market remove these alkaloids to below detectable limits. Mild gastrointestinal symptoms have been reported, primarily burping.

IS IT SAFE TO TAKE WHILE PREGNANT OR NURSING?

Not make acceptableed Safety in pregnancy has not been established.

ARE THERE ANY physic INTERACTIONS? None known at time of printing.

WHICH model AND HOW MUCH?

A 50-75mg butterbur (Petasites hybridus) origin extract standardized to contain 75mg petasins (petasin and isopetasin), and liberated of PA, may be taken twice daily with meals, or as directed.

AKA: Petasites hybridus, butterdock, blatterdock, moss rhubarb

PART USED: Root

SOURCE NATURALS UROVEX BUTTERBUR EXTRACT softgels

PLANETARY HERBALS UROVEX BUTTERBUR EXTRACT softgels

SOLARAY BUTTERBUR EXTRACT vegcaps

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Amber Ackerson, ND

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