BUTTERBUR BENEFITS and side effects
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Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) has been one of the most popular herbs in
the last few hundred years. Butterbur may have benefits for people with
migraine, tension headache, spasms of the urogenital tract, allergy, hay
fever and asthma. [1-5]

ASTHMA

Recently, Butterbur root powder has been shown to improve lung function
in patients with chronic asthma and chronic bronchitis. Asthma is a chronic
inflammatory disorder of the airways. Asthma treatment typically consists of
a control medication to provide long-term therapy and a relief medication to
provide quick-relief therapy. The therapies have the potential to cause
adverse systemic side effects.

Butterbur root powder has been shown to improve lung function in patients
with chronic asthma and chronic bronchitis. TIn a study of 80 patients with
mild or moderate asthma, researchers found two-thirds of the patients had
their airflow improved after 2 months of 50-150 mg butterbur root extract
treatment. Butterbur root extract was well tolerated in the study and only
11 adverse events happened in 7 patients. [2]

OTHER ALLERGIC DISEASES
Several laboratories characterized petasins (petasin, isopetasin, and
neopetasin) isolated from extracts of butterbur (Petasites hybridus) as
active ingredients, which inhibit leukotriene synthesis in leukocytes. In an
open clinical trial of patients suffering from allergic rhinitis, researchers
found a reduction of leukotriene and histamine levels in nasal fluids
associated with butterbur extract administration. [4] However, in a study of
60 patients suffered from perennial allergic rhinitis, 50 mg twice a day of
butterbur didnÂ’t show a benefit to patient suffered from intermittent
allergic rhinitis. [7]

MIGRAINE
In a three-arm, parallel-group, randomized trail, researchers supplemented
245 patients suffered from migraine with butterbur extract 75 mg twice a
day, or butterbur extract 50 mg twice a day or placebo twice a day. Over 4
months of treatment, the researchers found a 48% reduction of migraine
attack for patients taking 75 mg of butterbur extract twice a day while only
26% reduction for the placebo group. [5]

Butterbur main components are the petasines and they are the chemicals
contributing the major benefits of butterbur. Petasines can inhibit the
synthesis of leucotrienes and decrease the intracellular concentration of
calcium; leading to the anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic properties of
butterbur extracts. [1]

BUTTERBUR SIDE EFFECTS
Butterbur contains hepatotoxic and carcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
However, because of the modern advanced extraction technique the
concentrations of these toxic chemicals lie far below the detection limits.
[1,2]

A few cases of a reversible cholestatic hepatitis have been reports and
these cases are probably associated with long-term administration of
butterbur. It is unknown which components of butterbur are responsible for
the long-term hepatotoxicity. Further side effects involve the mild
gastrointestinal disturbance. [1]

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REFERENCE [1] Kalin P The common butterbur (Petasites hybridus)--portrait of a
medicinal herb Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd. 2003 Apr;10 Suppl 1:41-
4. 2. Danesch U. Petasites hybridus (Butterbur root) extract in the treatment of
asthma an open trial. Altern Med Rev. 2004;9(1):54-62. [3] Brattstrom A. A newly
developed extract (Ze 339) from butterbur (Petasites hybridus L.) is clinically efficient
in allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Phytomedicine. 2003;10 Suppl 4:50-2. Review. [4]
Thomet OA and Simon HU Petasins in the treatment of allergic diseases: results of
preclinical and clinical studies. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2002 Oct;129(2):108-12.
Review. [5] Brown RP and Gerbarg PL, Herbs and nutrients in the treatment of
depression, anxiety, insomnia, migraine, and obesity. J Psychiatr Pract. 2001 Mar;7
(2):75-91. [6] Lipton RB et al, Petasites hybridus root (butterbur) is an effective
preventive treatment for migraine. Neurology. 2004 Dec 28;63(12):2240-4. [7] Gray
RD et al, Effects of butterbur treatment in intermittent allergic rhinitis: a placebo-
controlled evaluation. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2004 Jul;93(1):56-60.
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) has been one of the most popular herbs in the last few hundred years. Butterbur
may have benefits for people with migraine, tension headache, spasms of the urogenital tract, allergy, hay fever
and asthma. [1-5]