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Butterbur

Butterbur or Petasides hybridus is a perennial shrub that has had medicinal uses throughout history. It was used to treat plague and fever during the Dark Ages. Records from the 1600's note that it was useful in treating cough, asthma, and skin wounds (Eaton J, 1998) (Mauskop A, 2000). This plant can be found growing in Europe, and in parts of Asia, and North America. Its large downy leaves can achieve a diameter of 3feet, making it the largest of all indigenous floras. Butterbur has preserved many of its historical uses while acquiring new ones over time. It is mostly used in modern medicine as a prophylactic treatment of migraines, and as an antispasmodic agent for chronic cough and asthma. However, it has been successful in preventing gastric ulcers and treating irritable bladder and urinary tract spasms (Mauskop, 2002) (Reglin). Its main active constituents, petasin and isopetasin, have dramatic effects on the muscle and vascular systems and prostaglandin metabolism. Butterbur's activities make it a very promising prospect for a healthy supplement.

Extracts from the root, rhizomes, and leaves of butterbur contain large concentrations of the active constituents. Petasin is responsible for any antispasmodic properties of the plant. It has been known to reduce smooth muscle and vascular wall spasms. It is also capable of inhibiting leukotriene synthesis, creating an anti-inflammatory effect. In a 2001 study of petasin, researchers discovered potential hypotensive effect in smooth muscle. Petasin inhibits Ca+ influx into smooth muscle cells. Increased free calcium molecules are necessary for muscle contraction. Petasin inhibits the VDCC pathway, the main channel through which calcium enters the cell. In clinical trials petasin was able to inhibit contraction by 89% (Wang et. al, 2001). Isopetasin contributes to a lesser extent than petasin. Isopetasin is responsible for a positive effect on prostaglandin synthesis, which contributes greatly to the effects of the extract (Mauskop, 2000).

Butterbur's activities provide extensive relief from a number of symptoms. The reduction of smooth muscle contraction makes butterbur a possible treatment for urinary disorders, menstrual cramps, migraine headaches, kidney stone disorders, bile flow obstruction, liver complications, or gastrointestinal disorders due to muscle spasm (Eaton, 1998). There are several studies to back these claims, such as the clinical study published in 2000 that reported a 60% reduction in migraine frequency, severity, and associated-symptoms when treated with butterbur extract (Mauskop, 2000) (Grossman, 2000). In another study done in Poland butterbur extract had effects on asthmatic patients that indicate that it could be a useful tool in improving lung ventilation due to its anti-inflammatory activities (Ziolo G, 1998). Butterbur has proven over time and through science that it is a useful supplement for pain relief and over all good health.

References

Eaton J. Butterbur, herbal help for migraine. Nat Pharm 19998; 2:1, 23-24.

Wang G, Shum A, Lin Y, Liao J, Wu X, Ren J, Chen C. Calcium Channel Blockade in Vascular Smoot Muscle Cells: Major Hypotensive Mechanism of S-Petasin, a Petasites formosanus.

Mauskop A. Petasites hybridus: ancient medicinal plant is effective prophylatctic treatment for migraine. Townsend Lett 2000; 202:104-106.

Reglin F. A clinical review: Petadolex [R] (Standardized Butterbur Extract), Praxis-Telegram, Nr. 1/98:13-14. Ziolo G, Samochowiec L. Study on clinical properties and mechanism action of Petasites in bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive bronchitis. Pharmaceutica Acta Helvetica 1998; 72:359-380.

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