Butterbur

History and Uses:
Butterbur is native to Europe, North America and most of Asia and has been employed over the centuries as a traditional herbal remedy around the world for coughs and respiratory problems. It was also formerly used as a general cardio-tonic. The name of the genus, Petasites, is derived from the Greek word, petasos, describing a type of hat with a wide brim; and in fact, the leaves of Butterbur are still used today as impromptu sunshades or umbrellas. Butterbur's large heart-shaped leaves were once even used to wrap butter during warm weather to prevent it from melting (prior to the invention of the refrigeration). During the Middle Ages, Butterbur was routinely used to treat plague and fever, and in the seventeenth century, fresh Butterbur leaves were put directly on skin wounds and the plant taken internally to treat cough, bronchial asthma, smooth muscle spasms and migraine headaches. Other practitioners have used the herb in blends intended to be smoked to relieve coughs, though the logic behind this use is highly questionable, and could lead to more respiratory irritation. The root of this herb is thought to be helpful for migraine prevention and also for relieving chronic cough or asthmatic conditions. Butterbur is often used in combination with Horehound or Marshmallow as a cough remedy. The whole plant Butterbur is known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) which have been associated with liver toxicity and carcinogenesis and are considered unsafe. Today, however, Butterbur extracts are available without the pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which have been removed for medicinal use. The main active medicinal constituents of this botanical include petasin and isopetasin, both of which are believed to reduce smooth muscle spasms and have significant anti-inflammatory effects. Researchers theorize that these ingredients inhibit the production of leukotriene, a substance that inflames blood vessels. Without that inflammation, migraines are said to be less likely to occur. Butterbur also inhibits the production of histamine, which helps to keep your nasal passages open and relieving allergic congestion. One recent study published in the British Medical Journal was a randomized, controlled trial comparing Butterbur to the antihistamine, cetrizine, in patients with seasonal allergies. One hundred and twenty-five patients from four outpatient clinics in Switzerland and Germany participated with 61 receiving Butterbur and 64 receiving cetrizine. After two weeks, the groups were comparable on measures, such as physical and emotional functioning and physician assessment of the symptom severity and overall improvement.