Allergic Rhinitis

Supplements for Natural Sinus Relief of Chronic Allergic Rhinitis

Butterbur for Natural Sinus Relief

Natural sinus relief of chronic allergic rhinitis is possible with Butterbur. Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) alleviated symptoms in allergic rhinitis patients and was compared to an antihistamine in a randomized controlled trial including 125 participants. This herbal agent has beneficial effects in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis possibly comparable to the antihistamine Zyrtec (cetirizine). For two weeks, patients were randomized to either one tablet of butterbur (petasites carbon dioxide extract ZE 339 standardised to 8.0 mg of total petasine per tablet) four times daily or one tablet of cetirizine in the evening. The SF-36 questionnaire, a medical outcome health questionnaire, was used as a self-assessment tool of the subject’s natural sinus relief. The questionnaire also included the physician’s clinical global impression scale (CGI) with a five-point score for comparing current severity of the condition with that of the previous year. Improvements in both the SF-36 and CGI scores were similar in both groups. The overall incidence of adverse events was similar for the two treatment groups. However, two-thirds of the adverse events for the cetirizine group were drowsiness and fatigue – symptoms not reported in the butterbur group. Fatigue occurred less in the butterbur group than the cetirizine group, headache occurred in two patients of each group, and elevated liver enzymes occurred in 1 patient of the butterbur group. (1)