Petasites pill
petasites research petasites for migraine

Petasites hybridus (butterbur) is a shrub found throughout Europe as well as parts of Asia and North America. Petasites 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.

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. Studies demonstrate patented Petadolex is safe and well tolerated.

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

Medical uses for Petasites
Migraine Headache: Two clinical studies using 50 mg and 75 mg of a standardized Petasites extract twice daily for 12 weeks demonstrated its effectiveness as a prophylactic treatment for migraine headaches. 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. Petasites may work by preventing peptidoleukotriene biosynthesis.

Effectiveness of Petasites hybridus preparations in the prophylaxis of migraine: a systematic review.
Phytomedicine. 2006 Nov;13(9-10):743-6. Headache Center Hirslanden, Münchhaldenstr. 33, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland.
The objective of this review was to evaluate the strength of evidence of effectiveness for Petasites hybridus in the prophylaxis of migraine. Several databases and other sources were searched to identify randomised-controlled trials investigating Petasites hybridus preparations. Two trials totalling 293 patients (60 and 233 patients) were included in this review. Both trials investigated the proprietary Petasites root extract Petadolex. The extract at higher dose (150 mg) showed a greater decreased frequency of migraine attacks and a greater number of responders (improvement>50%) after treatment over 3-4 months than the extract at lower dose (100 mg) and placebo. Moderate evidence of effectiveness is, thus, available for a higher than the recommended dose of the proprietary Petasites root extract Petadolex in the prophylaxis of migraine. Further rigorous studies are required to confirm effectiveness and safety in long-term use before treatment with Petasites root extract can be recommended as an alternative option in the treatment schedule for the prophylaxis of migraine.

Asthma and Bronchitis: Various parts of the petasites plant have been used for centuries to treat bronchial asthma and whooping cough. Petasites’ 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 Petasites 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.

Petasites Safety
Petasites has not been studied extensively enough to determine its side effects.

Petasites Dosage
Typically, petasites 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. Studies demonstrate patented Petadolex is safe and well tolerated.

Petasites Research Update
Petasites hybridus (Butterbur root) extract in the treatment of asthma - an open trial.
Altern Med Rev. 2004 Mar;9(1):54-62. Danesch UC. University of Heidelberg, Germany; past research position, Stanford School of Medicine; Research and development, Weber and Weber. Correspondence address: Muenchner Strasse 13, D-82061, 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 Petasites hybridus extract Petadolex is an effective and safe therapy for the treatment of asthma.

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