Difference between revisions of "Butterbur"

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Other Names: Blatterdock, Bog Rhubarb, Bogshorns, Butter Bur, Butterburr, Butter-Dock, Butterfly Dock, Capdockin, Chapelière, Contre-Peste, Exwort, Flapperdock, Feuille de Pétasite, Fleur de Pétasite, Grand Bonnet, Herbe à la Peste, Herbe aux Teigneux, Japanese Butterbur, Japonica Petasites, Langwort, Pestwurz, Pétasite, Pétasite du Japon, Pétasite Hybride, Pétasite Japonaise, Pétasite Officinal, Pétasite Vulgaire, Petasites, Petasites hybridus, Petasites officinalis, Petasitidis Folium, Petasitidis Rhizoma, Petasitidis hybridus, Petasites Japonicus, Petasites Vulgaris, Plague Root, Purple Butterbur, Racine de Pétasite, Rhizome de Pétasite, Tussilago hybrida, Umbrella Leaves.<br>Butterbur is an herb. People use the leaf, root, and bulb to make medicine.
 
==Special Precautions of Butterbur==
 
==Special Precautions of Butterbur==
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Typically, butterbur is taken in the form of tablets. However, it's also available as teas, extracts, and capsules containing raw herbs. Doctors from Mayo Clinic have compiled this list of important considerations for those interested in taking butterbur to treat their seasonal allergies or to prevent migraines: Look for standardized butterbur supplements. A butterbur supplement labeled "standardized" has a consistent measured amount of the active ingredient. The U.S. Pharmacopeia's "USP Dietary Supplement Verified" seal on an herbal supplement is another label to look for when buying supplements.Make sure it's PA-free. Butterbur that's PA-free has had the pyrrolizidine alkaloids—potentially harmful toxins—removed during processing. Only use a butterbur supplement that's labeled PA-free.Follow dosage instructions. Only take as much butterbur as directed—taking more could lead to increased complications and serious side effects.Record your use. Keep track of how much and how often you use butterbur. This will help you measure any positive outcomes or adverse side effects.
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*Some butterbur products may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), and that’s the major safety concern. PAs can damage the liver, lungs, and blood circulation, and possibly cause cancer. Butterbur products that contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are UNSAFE when taken by mouth or applied to broken skin. Broken skin allows chemicals to be absorbed into the body. Do not use butterbur products unless they are certified and labeled as free of PAs.
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*PA-free butterbur products are POSSIBLY SAFE for adults and children when taken by mouth appropriately. PA-free root extracts seem to be safe when used for up to 16 weeks in adults. There is some evidence that a specific PA-free butterbur extract (Petadolex, Weber&Weber, GmbH & Co, Germany) can be safely used in children who are 6-17 years old for up to 4 months.
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*Not enough is known about the safety of using PA-free butterbur products on unbroken skin. Don’t use it.
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*PA-free butterbur is generally well tolerated. It can cause belching, headache, itchy eyes, diarrhea, asthma, upset stomach, fatigue, and drowsiness. However, it seems to cause less drowsiness and fatigue than cetirizine (Zyrtec). Butterbur products might cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to ragweed, marigolds, daisies, and other related herbs.
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*Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Taking butterbur by mouth is LIKELY UNSAFE. Butterbur preparations containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) might cause birth defects and liver damage. Not enough is known about the safety of using butterbur products that do not contain PAs during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Don’t use it.
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*Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Butterbur may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking butterbur.
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*Liver disease: There is some concern that butterbur might make liver disease worse. Don’t take it.
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* Medications that increase break down of other medications by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inducers) interacts with BUTTERBUR
 
==The benefits of Butterbur are==
 
==The benefits of Butterbur are==
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Butterbur a well-researched European herb prevents migraines and is as effective against allergies as Allegra and Zyrtec—without the side effects? More than 50 million Americans—1 of 5—suffer from allergies, which rank 5th among chronic diseases in the U.S.  Over the past 30 years that number has risen steadily.  For many, autumn (rather than spring) is the time of year when allergies are most severe and debilitating. Allergies can lead to a daily sentence of expensive and often ineffective drugs laden with side effects. As a result, many allergy sufferers are realizing that the best relief may come from Mother Nature rather than the pharmacy. "Using nature-based products can be a very useful way to handle mild allergies," says Mary Hardy, M.D., director of integrative medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. One of the most promising natural remedies is an herb known as butterbur. Unlike most natural allergy remedies (or natural remedies in general, for that matter!), butterbur has been extensively evaluated in scientific studies.  Indeed, Hardy specifically points to butterbur for it proven track record, stating that the herb "has had some very impressive clinical trial results." One of the most thorough butterbur studies was carried out by a group of Swiss researchers and published in the British Medical Journal. Just one tablet of butterbur administered 4 times daily was just as effective in controlling symptoms of hay fever as cetrizine, the active ingredient in Zyrtec.  
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Butterbur contains chemicals that might relieve spasms and decrease swelling (inflammation).
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<br>What Is Butterbur?<br>Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is a large-leafed shrub plant native to Europe as well as some parts of Africa and Asia.  The herb is also known as butter-dock or bog rhubarb. Extracts from its roots, leaves, and stem have been used to treat conditions such as...
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* Preventing migraine headaches. Taking butterbur by mouth seems to prevent migraine headache. Using a specific extract from the butterbur root over 16 weeks can reduce the number and severity of migraine headaches and the length of time they last. This butterbur extract seems to reduce the number of migraine headaches by almost half. Doses of at least 75 mg twice daily seem to be necessary for best results. Lower doses of 50 mg twice daily may not be effective in adults. There is also some evidence that this butterbur extract can decrease the frequency of migraine headaches in children aged 6-17 years. The butterbur extract researchers used was standardized to 15% petasin and isopetasin (the active ingredients in butterbur) and was free of liver-damaging chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). It was made by Petadolex, Weber&Weber, GmbH & Co. of Germany.
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==>  Migraine headaches
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*Hay fever caused by grass pollen. Taking a specific butterbur leaf extract seems to decrease nose discomfort in people with hay fever. Some evidence also suggests that this extract might be as effective as 10 mg per day of cetirizine (Zyrtec) or 180 mg per day of fexofenadine (Allegra). The leaf extract used in the research was made by Tesalin, Ze 339, Zeller AG, was free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), and was standardized to 8 mg total petasin, an active ingredient.
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==>  Stomach ulcers
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* Pain.
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==>  Infections
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*Colic.
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==>  Coughs
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*Cough.
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Butterbur has also been used in the traditional medicine practices of the Greeks and Native Americans against pain, inflammation, and skin sores. In the 14th century, butterbur was even used to ward off the plague!With regards to allergies and asthma, butterbur has a long history as an effective medication.  Its anti-inflammatory effects decrease histamine and leukotrienes—two of the main chemicals responsible for the body's allergic reaction.
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*Asthma.
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<br>Symptom Relief Without Side Effects<br>Several studies have shown that butterbur blocks the action of inflammatory chemicals—such as histamines—released during allergy attacks. Scientists believe butterbur's mechanism is similar to synthetic antihistamines like Zyrtec and Allegra.
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*Chronic bronchitis.
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A study published in Clinical and Experimental Allergy indicated that butterbur is as effective as fexofenadrine (Allegra) in treating hay fever.  Another study showed similar results when butterbur was compared to Zyrtec. The Swiss researchers noted that participants given butterbur experienced none of the usual drowsiness or other side effects of allergy medications.Furthermore, two human studies have shown that butterbur is an effective preventive treatment for migraines, including one study published in the journal Neurology.
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*Irritable bladder.
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<br>Butterbur For Migraine<br>
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*Urinary tract spasms.
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The Migraine Research Foundation reports that migraine ranks among the world's top 20 most disabling illnesses.  About 14 million people experience migraine attacks on a near-daily basis. More than 90% of sufferers can't work or function normally during migraine attacks, and the Foundation says, "...sufferers live in fear that an attack could disrupt their ability to work or go to school, care for their families, or enjoy social activities." Many migraine patients abandon preventive treatments due to side effects. Butterbur may offer an exciting alternative. Not only has butterbur been used historically against migraine, but research also shows that the root prevents migraines more effectively than placebo. In the Neurology study, 200 migraine sufferers were randomly assigned to either 75 mg of butterbur, 50 mg of butterbur, or placebo. People receiving higher doses of butterbur experienced a 48% reduction in migraine frequency compared to a 36% reduction for lower doses and a mere 26% reduction for placebo.  
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*Wounds.
 
[[Category:Treatments]]
 
[[Category:Treatments]]
 
[[Category:herbal medicine]]
 
[[Category:herbal medicine]]

Latest revision as of 02:25, 27 December 2012

Other Names: Blatterdock, Bog Rhubarb, Bogshorns, Butter Bur, Butterburr, Butter-Dock, Butterfly Dock, Capdockin, Chapelière, Contre-Peste, Exwort, Flapperdock, Feuille de Pétasite, Fleur de Pétasite, Grand Bonnet, Herbe à la Peste, Herbe aux Teigneux, Japanese Butterbur, Japonica Petasites, Langwort, Pestwurz, Pétasite, Pétasite du Japon, Pétasite Hybride, Pétasite Japonaise, Pétasite Officinal, Pétasite Vulgaire, Petasites, Petasites hybridus, Petasites officinalis, Petasitidis Folium, Petasitidis Rhizoma, Petasitidis hybridus, Petasites Japonicus, Petasites Vulgaris, Plague Root, Purple Butterbur, Racine de Pétasite, Rhizome de Pétasite, Tussilago hybrida, Umbrella Leaves.
Butterbur is an herb. People use the leaf, root, and bulb to make medicine.

Special Precautions of Butterbur

  • Some butterbur products may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), and that’s the major safety concern. PAs can damage the liver, lungs, and blood circulation, and possibly cause cancer. Butterbur products that contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are UNSAFE when taken by mouth or applied to broken skin. Broken skin allows chemicals to be absorbed into the body. Do not use butterbur products unless they are certified and labeled as free of PAs.
  • PA-free butterbur products are POSSIBLY SAFE for adults and children when taken by mouth appropriately. PA-free root extracts seem to be safe when used for up to 16 weeks in adults. There is some evidence that a specific PA-free butterbur extract (Petadolex, Weber&Weber, GmbH & Co, Germany) can be safely used in children who are 6-17 years old for up to 4 months.
  • Not enough is known about the safety of using PA-free butterbur products on unbroken skin. Don’t use it.
  • PA-free butterbur is generally well tolerated. It can cause belching, headache, itchy eyes, diarrhea, asthma, upset stomach, fatigue, and drowsiness. However, it seems to cause less drowsiness and fatigue than cetirizine (Zyrtec). Butterbur products might cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to ragweed, marigolds, daisies, and other related herbs.
  • Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Taking butterbur by mouth is LIKELY UNSAFE. Butterbur preparations containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) might cause birth defects and liver damage. Not enough is known about the safety of using butterbur products that do not contain PAs during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Don’t use it.
  • Allergy to ragweed and related plants: Butterbur may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking butterbur.
  • Liver disease: There is some concern that butterbur might make liver disease worse. Don’t take it.
  • Medications that increase break down of other medications by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inducers) interacts with BUTTERBUR

The benefits of Butterbur are

Butterbur contains chemicals that might relieve spasms and decrease swelling (inflammation).

  • Preventing migraine headaches. Taking butterbur by mouth seems to prevent migraine headache. Using a specific extract from the butterbur root over 16 weeks can reduce the number and severity of migraine headaches and the length of time they last. This butterbur extract seems to reduce the number of migraine headaches by almost half. Doses of at least 75 mg twice daily seem to be necessary for best results. Lower doses of 50 mg twice daily may not be effective in adults. There is also some evidence that this butterbur extract can decrease the frequency of migraine headaches in children aged 6-17 years. The butterbur extract researchers used was standardized to 15% petasin and isopetasin (the active ingredients in butterbur) and was free of liver-damaging chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). It was made by Petadolex, Weber&Weber, GmbH & Co. of Germany.
  • Hay fever caused by grass pollen. Taking a specific butterbur leaf extract seems to decrease nose discomfort in people with hay fever. Some evidence also suggests that this extract might be as effective as 10 mg per day of cetirizine (Zyrtec) or 180 mg per day of fexofenadine (Allegra). The leaf extract used in the research was made by Tesalin, Ze 339, Zeller AG, was free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), and was standardized to 8 mg total petasin, an active ingredient.
  • Pain.
  • Colic.
  • Cough.
  • Asthma.
  • Chronic bronchitis.
  • Irritable bladder.
  • Urinary tract spasms.
  • Wounds.
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