Butterbur supplement root and use of this herb as an alternative treatment for allergy relief and certain types of headache

 Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is a shrub found throughout Europe as well as parts of Asia and North America. Butterbur that has been used medicinally for centuries to treat cough, asthma, and skin wounds. The plant can grow to a height of three feet and is usually found in wet, marshy ground, in damp forests, and adjacent to rivers or streams. For more butterbur research.

Petadolex 60 Softgels - Enzymatic Therapy

Petadolex contains the patented extract of butterbur that supports healthy blood vessel tone in the brain, as well as normal blood flow in the brain.* Butterbur has been the subject of several placebo-controlled clinical studies.

Petadolex is standardized to contain 15% of butterbur's key ingredient, petasin. It's also guaranteed to be pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) free, so you can use it with confidence. PA's are toxic compounds that can harm the liver. Studies demonstrate patented Petadolex is safe and well tolerated.

Butterbur Supplement Facts:
 Purple Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) 50 mg
    (Petadolex brand) Root Extract standardized to contain 7.5 mg petasins and to be free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs)

Active ingredients
Petasin, a kind of sesquiterpene ester, appears to be a major active compound of Butterbur extract. It has inhibitory activities on leukotriene generation in eosinophils and neutrophils. This indicates that it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy properties. Butterbur may be helpful for seasonal allergic rhinitis. Butterbur also helps reduce smooth muscle spasm.

Medical uses for Butterbur herb and extract

Migraine Headache relief
Clinical studies using 50 mg and 75 mg of a standardized Butterbur extract twice daily for 12 weeks have demonstrated its effectiveness as a prophylactic treatment for migraines. When used to treat migraines, administration is prophylactic and supplementation should be carried out daily for a few weeks and then tapered until migraine incidence begins to increase. Butterbur may work by preventing peptidoleukotriene biosynthesis.

Butterbur root extract and music therapy in the prevention of childhood migraine: An explorative study.
Eur J Pain. 2007; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Heidelberg,  Heidelberg, Germany.
This study was to assess efficacy of a butterbur root extract Petadolex and music therapy in primary school children with migraine. Following a 8-week baseline patients were randomized and received either Petadolex butterbur root extract, music therapy or placebo over 12 weeks. Butterbur root extract and music therapy might be superior to placebo and may represent promising treatment approaches in the prophylaxis of paediatric migraine.

Asthma and Bronchitis help
Various parts of the Butterbur plant have been used for centuries to treat bronchial asthma and whooping cough. Its possible effectiveness in treating respiratory disorders such as asthma and bronchitis is attributed to the antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties of the petasin constituent. (see below)

Gastrointestinal Disorders: A German study found extracts of butterbur blocked ethanol-induced gastric damage and reduced ulcerations of the small intestine caused by indomethacin, an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat arthritic conditions. The results of this study were attributed to inhibition of lipoxygenase activity and leukotriene biosynthesis.

Butterbur Safety, adverse effects
Butterbur has not been studied extensively enough to determine its side effects.

Butterbur Dosage
Typically, Butterbur extracts are standardized to contain a minimum of 7.5 mg of petasin and isopetasin. The adult dosage ranges from 50-100 mg twice daily with meals.

Enzymatic Therapy - Petadolex, 60 Softgels
 Petadolex contains the patented extract of butterbur that supports healthy blood vessel tone in the brain, as well as normal blood flow in the brain.* It has been the subject of two placebo-controlled clinical studies. In the most recent, participants reported a 62% improvement." Petadolex is standardized to contain 15% of butterbur's key ingredient, petasin. It's also guaranteed to be pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) free, so you can use it with confidence. PA's are toxic compounds that can harm the liver.

Purple Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) (Petadolex brand) Root Extract

Butterbur study
Petasites hybridus extract in the treatment of asthma - an open trial.
Altern Med Rev. 2004.
Danesch UC. University of Heidelberg, Germany; past research position, Stanford School of Medicine; Research and development, Weber and Weber. Correspondence address: Muenchner Strasse 13, Neuried, Germany.
The efficacy and tolerability of a butterbur root extract (Petadolex) for the treatment of asthma was analyzed in a prospective, non-randomized, open trial. Subjects included 64 adults and 16 children/adolescents treated for two months with the extract, followed by two months during which the intake of the extract was optional. Concomitant asthma medication was permitted. The number, duration, and severity of asthma attacks decreased, while peak flow, forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and all measured symptoms improved during therapy. In addition, more than 40 percent of patients using asthma medications at baseline reduced intake of these medications by the end of the study. This study suggests the Butterbur extract is an effective and safe therapy for the treatment of asthma.

A placebo-controlled evaluation of butterbur and fexofenadine on objective and subjective outcomes in perennial allergic rhinitis.
Lee DK, Gray RD, Robb FM et al. Clin Exp Allergy. 2004.
Summary Background There are presently no placebo-controlled data regarding the effects of butterbur on subjective and objective outcomes in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Objective We performed a placebo-controlled evaluation of the effects of Butterbur and fexofenadine (FEX) on subjective and objective outcomes in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Methods Sixteen patients with perennial allergic rhinitis and house dust mite sensitization were randomized in double-blind cross-over fashion to receive for 1 week either Butterbur 50 mg twice daily, FEX 180 mg once daily and placebo (PL) once daily, or PL twice daily. The peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) response to adenosine monophosphate (AMP) challenge administered as a single 400 mg/mL dose was measured over a 60-min period after challenge, and domiciliary total nasal symptom score was recorded. Results Pre-challenge values for mean+/-SEM PNIF (L/min) were not significantly different comparing all groups; BB (138), FEX (140), and PL (138). The maximum % PNIF fall from baseline after nasal AMP challenge was significantly attenuated compared to PL (46), with BB (34) and FEX (39). The area under the 60-min time-response curve (%.min) was also significantly attenuated compared to placebo, with Butterbur and fexofenadine. There was also a significant reduction in total nasal symptom score with BB (1.8+/-0.4) and FEX (1.8+/-0.4), compared to PL. There were no significant differences between Butterbur and FEX for any outcomes. Conclusion BB and FEX, in comparison to PL, were equally effective in attenuating the nasal response to AMP and in improving nasal symptoms, highlighting a potential role for BB in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Safety of a patented special butterbur root extract for migraine prevention.
Danesch U, Rittinghausen R. Weber and Weber, Inning, Germany. Headache. 2003.
To report on the safety of a patented special butterbur root extract used for migraine prevention. Two placebo-controlled clinical trials have been conducted supporting the beneficial use in humans. Results from acute, subchronic and chronic animal toxicity studies as well as from mutagenicity studies are reported. Safety data gained from clinical trials, postmarketing surveillance studies and pharmacovigilance are evaluated and discussed. The patented special butterbur root extract is safe for the treatment in humans.

Butterbur supplement pill questions
Can Butterbur Petadolex be given to 4 yr old? If so what would the dosage be? I am at my wits end trying to find something safe to treat my son with for his seasonal allergies with asthmatic cough. As of now he is on Flovent 2 puffs 2 times a day every day starting from October through March and Albuterol as needed. The Flovent is NOT an option anymore for me it has changed my son’s behavior for the worse and the Albuterol is not a preventive. We have tried Singulair and it does the same as Flovent. I want something safe that isn’t going to affect my son’s behavior but will do its job so that he isn’t miserable during the time mentioned above that he is to take the preventive every year. This will be his second year using the Flovent and I have done tons of research and none of the inhalers or respules will guarantee no change in behavior. Actually none of the them actually list on their packaging or inform doctor’s of these side affects.
    Unfortunately, we are not familiar with the use of butterbur extract in children so we don't know if it works or what the appropriate and safe dosages would be. Consider this asthma page.

Are there any side effects when combining tribulus terrestris herb with a butterbur supplement?
   We are not aware of a butterbur study that has looked into this combination, but as long as the dosage are kept reasonable, there should be no major interactions and adverse effects.