Butterbur

Native Americans used Butterbur as a treatment for headache and inflammation, and now modern researchers have rediscovered its medicinal benefits, especially for the treatment of migraines. Some Butterbur has petasin and isopetasin. The root of the plant contains the highest concentrations of these two chemicals.

The Butterbur plant is found in the daisy family Asteraceae, in the genus Petasites. They are usually strong plants with thick, crawling underground rhizomes and big leaves that resemble rhubarb in the growing season. Sweet Coltsfoot is another name for many species in this genus.

The short spiky flowers of the Butterbur plant appear just before the leaves in springtime, and pop up with only a few long, green basal bracts. They can also be flesh colored or dull white – it varies according to species.

Petasites (Butterbur) is very closely related to the genus Tussilago (Coltsfoot), and also related to the genus Senecio.

More and more, Butterbur extracts are being used for the treatment of migraine headaches. There is a lot of research being conducted to study its’ effectiveness. More severe cases tend to benefit the most from Butterbur, and more than one mainstream double-blind study has shown that extracts of Butterbur petain and/or isopetasin can prevent and/or relieve migraines. In addition, a peer-reviewed journal published a Swiss study that discovered another benefit of Butterbur extract: it can be an effective treatment for hay fever, without the sedative effect experienced with most commercial antihistamines.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids occur naturally in Butterbur. These chemicals are toxic to the liver and may be the cause of some cancers. The rhizomes and stalks of Butterbur contain the highest concentrations, while the lowest occur in the leaves and can go up or down depending on where the plants are grown. But this should not be a concern when taking prepared Butterbur remedies, as these alkaloids have been removed. Interactions with other drugs shouldn’t be a problem either, but it’s best to consult your physician before deciding to take any type of medication or remedy.

You can now purchase Migravent, a safe and effective product that contains Butterbur, and will bring you migraine relief.