Natural Supplements

Petasites Hybridus (Butterbur)

Butterbur is a perennial shrub that naturally grows in cold, damp areas. The primary chemical compound found in this herb is called petasin, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and vasodilation properties. Medicinally, butterbur is effective for seasonal allergies, asthma, and migraine prophylaxis.

Petadolex by Thorne Research is the Center's top choice for Butterbur. You can find it on our webstore.

The active chemicals in butterbur are effective for allergies due to their action in blocking leukotrienes. Leukotrienes, like histamines, are responsible for causing many of the inflammatory symptoms of allergies, such as runny nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes. In fact, in on small clinical trial of 16 patients, butterbur has been shown to be as effective for allergies as Allegra. In another clinical trial, 125 patients with seasonal allergies took either zyrtec or butterbur, and it was found that butterbur worked as well as Zyrtec, but without the sedating side effects. Leukotrienes can also cause inflammation in the airways, causing bronchoconstriction and increase mucus production. Since butterbur helps to block leukotriene synthesis and therefore inflammation, butterbur can be an effective natural treatment for allergic rhinitis and can possibly be an effective adjunct therapy for asthma.

Butterbur also has an affinity for cerebral blood vessels. Petasin has affects on smooth muscle and therefore has a vasodilating effect. In one human trial of 245 patients age 18 to 65 that fit the criteria for migraines, petasin was shown to decrease frequency of migraines by 48% and was more effective than placebo. This study was conducted by the Department of Neurology at Albert Einstein Medical College.

Butterbur can be a very effective adjunctive therapy to other natural therapies and dietary lifestyle changes for allergies, asthma, and migraines. However, dosing of butterbur is very important, and petasin extracts must be standardized to be effective. Please call the Center for Integrative Health and Healing to schedule an appointment and see if butterbur as well as other natural therapies, can work for you.