Butterbur Beats Migraines

[gothicmom]

Butterbur Beats Migraines

This herb prevents attacks and eases the pain.

by Sara Altshul

What It Is

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) has exotic stalks of purple flowers that bloom before its elephantine leaves appear.

What Folk Medicine Says

Herbalists in the Middle Ages used butterbur's roots to treat fevers and plague. Seventeenth-century medical literature cites its use for headaches, asthma, allergies, and coughs.

What We Know

Research suggests that the plant contains compounds that prevent blood vessel inflammation--a possible migraine trigger. In a 2000 study, German researchers gave 58 migraine sufferers either 50 mg of butterbur extract or placebo pills twice a day. After 3 months, the butterbur takers had approximately 50% fewer migraines; the placebo group saw about a 10% decrease. No side effects were reported.

What New Research Shows

In a recent study, German and American researchers gave adult migraine sufferers either a 75-mg dose or a placebo twice a day. After 4 months, researchers found that butterbur reduced migraines by 48%; the placebo reduced them by 26%. (Migraines often respond to a placebo; on average, about a third of patients respond to sugar pills.)

A new German study of 108 children with recurrent migraines showed similar results: 10- to 17-year-olds got 50 mg of butterbur twice a day; 6- to 9-year-olds took half as much. After 4 months, both groups reported less pain, and 77% had halved the number of migraines they usually got.

What to Buy

Petadolex is the supplement used in the studies. Avoid home-brewed tonics--they can be toxic.

Dose

Follow instructions on the package.

Cost

$41.50 for 50 pills at www.migraineaid.com.

[Saephyr]

Why did no one tell me this one?

I wonder?

[Onyx]

I've tried that, tried feverfew also. No luck.

With my Inderal I'm only getting a severe one a few times a year and compared to what I had before it's nothing less than a miracle.

I hope the butterbur might help someone though.

[gothicmom]

I'm taking Elavil. I only get one every 28 days! It lasts for a day then i'm done.

My neighbor said that brewers yeast works too, not sure how to take it though.