Butterbur is an herbal supplement used for pain, upset stomach, stomach ulcers, migraine and other headaches, ongoing cough, chills, anxiety, plague, fever, trouble sleeping (insomnia), whooping cough, asthma, hay fever (allergic rhinitis), and for irritable bladder and urinary tract spasms.

How does butterbur work for migraines?

Butterbur extract, which is made from the leaves and roots of the butterbur plant, may help reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. That’s because it contains a family of compounds called petasins, which have anti-inflammatory, anti-spasm, and blood vessel-widening properties ( 4 , 5 ).

How long does it take for butterbur to work for allergies?

In a human study , people with allergies that were given butterbur tablets for a week showed significant improvement of their allergy symptoms. After five days of treatment, the participants’ bodies contained smaller amounts of the allergy-producing substances leukotriene and histamines.

Does butterbur make you sleepy?

PA-free butterbur is generally well tolerated but can cause side effects such as belching, headache, itchy eyes, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, fatigue, upset stomach, and drowsiness. Butterbur may cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to plants such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and daisies.

Is butterbur an anti inflammatory?

These results suggest that butterbur extract is considered as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant therapeutic herb for hypersensitivity treatment of liver.

Is butterbur extract good for allergies?

Butterbur contains compounds that reduce inflammation. Clinical research has shown that butterbur extract is effective at treating migraines, allergies and asthma. Studies on butterbur for allergies have shown the extract is just as effective as an antihistamine drug, but it doesn’t cause the drowsiness side effect.

How safe is butterbur?

Which butterbur products are PA-free?

Only butterbur products that have been processed to remove PAs and are labeled or certified as PA-free should be considered for use. Some countries have withdrawn butterbur products from the market because of concerns about liver toxicity.

What are the active constituents of butterbur?

Petasins, the sesquiterpene compounds found in butterbur, are thought to be the active constituents (1) (2) (3). Its leaf and root extracts have been shown effective in controlling migraines in adults and in children (4) (5) (6) (17) (19); and asthma (7). Butterbur extract may also be effective against somatoform disorders (20).

Is butterbur safe to use?

Butterbur has not been proven helpful for allergic skin reactions, chronic obstructive bronchitis, insomnia, upset stomach, urinary tract symptoms, asthma, and other conditions. What Do We Know About Safety? Some butterbur products contain chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs).

What are the benefits of butterbur extract?

Leaf and root extracts of butterbur are effective in controlling migraines in adults and in children , and asthma . Butterbur extract may also be effective against somatoform disorders . But results from studies on allergic diseases are mixed.