People who suffer from migraines, headaches and seasonal allergies are finding relief in butterbur’a purple-flowered herb once used to wrap butter.
Butterbur is an all-natural way to combat migraines, headaches and allergies.
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is an herb most commonly used medicinally to prevent migraines and treat respiratory allergies, such as hay fever.
Though conventional antihistamines are effective at suppressing allergy symptoms, they can cause drowsiness and interact with other drugs, so some prefer to go a natural route. In a 2002 Swiss study, nasal airflow increased nearly 100 percent in people who took butterbur to treat congestion due to hay fever‘part of why even some doctors recommend it over other remedies.
The big question: does butterbur work?
Around the world, about 1 in 12 men and 1 in 7 women experience the pulsing, throbbing pain of migraine headaches. For more than half, these big headaches return with frightening regularity.
How to use butterbur
To put a stop to recurring migraines or clear congestion due to respiratory allergies such as to pollen, mould or pet hair, I would recommend butterbur supplements containing standardized levels of the active ingredient petasin.
You should follow the dosing directions for the individual product, but in general a good adult dose is 100 to 150 milligrams of butterbur a day that provides 15 to 32 milligrams of petasin.
Only buy butterbur extracts labelled ‘PA-free.’ This means that harmful toxins called pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which raise risk for liver damage and even cancer, have been removed.
Butterbur is related to ragweed, so avoid this herb if you’re allergic to ragweed, marigolds, daisies or chrysanthemums.
How does it work?
A family of multitasking chemicals in butterbur accounts for this herb’s ability to dry up seasonal allergy symptoms and stop strong headaches before they start. This includes a compound called petasin that helps relax smooth muscle, such as the muscle in artery walls, which can help prevent the blood vessel constrictions that lead to migraine pain.
In a Swiss study of 580 allergy sufferers, 90 percent enjoyed symptom relief while taking butterbur for 2 weeks during allergy season. And 8 in 10 said the herb made everyday life easier as a result.