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Butterbur
The effectiveness of Butterbur root extract (Petadolex) for treatment of migraine headaches was examined in this study which randomized 33 participants to received 50 mg butterbur twice a day and 27 participants to placebo. After 3 months, the frequency of migraine attacks significantly decreased in the treatment group from an average of 3.4 at the beginning of the study to 1.8. The placebo group experienced a non-significant decrease from 2.9 to 2.6. Additionally, butterbur was shown to cut the frequency of migraine headaches by at least 50% in 45% of patients in treatment arm and only 15% in the placebo arm. (6)
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) and allergic rhinitis:
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) using butterbur vs. antihistamine for allergic rhinitis: A RCT trial including 125 participants showed that the herbal agent butterbur (Petasites hybridus) 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 butterbur (petasites carbon dioxide extract ZE 339 standardized to 8.0 mg of total petasine per tablet), four times daily herb extract (n=61) or one tablet cetirizine (n=64) in the evening. The SF-36 questionnaire, a medical outcome health questionnaire, was used as a self-assessment tool. The questionnaire also includes 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. (8)
