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Butterbur treats hay fever
A plant extract for treating seasonal allergic rhinitis circumvents the sedative side effects of antihistamines. | By Tudor Toma

Antihistamines are the classical treatment for seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever), but whilst they can reduce rhinorrhoea and sneezing they are less effective in reducing nasal congestion and may cause drowsiness. In January 19 British Medical Journal, Andreas Schapowal from the Allergy Clinic Landquart, Switzerland — on behalf of the Petasites Study Group — showed that butterbur (Petasites hybridus) can be efficient in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis when the sedative effects of antihistamines need to be avoided.

Extracts from the leaves and roots of butterbur — variously known as butter dock, bog rhubarb and exwort — contain a mixture of eremophilan type sesquiterpenes (petasines). These petasines were seen to inhibit the biosynthesis of leukotrienes, which have been implicated in the anti-inflammatory action in type I hypersensitivity.

Schapowal et al. performed a randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy and tolerability of butterbur extract tablets (ZE 339) with cetirizine in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. They found that after two weeks, the effects of butterbur and cetirizine were clinically the same. But, butterbur produced fewer sedating effects than cetirizine (BMJ 2002, 324:144–146).

"The trends in favour of butterbur in some measures need to be confirmed in future prospective trials," concluded the authors.

Links for this article
Schapowal A, et al.: Randomised controlled trial of butterbur and cetirizine for treating seasonal allergic rhinitis. BMJ 2002, 324:144–146.
http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/324/7330/144


http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1032368,00.html

HERB SPELLS HEADACHE RELIEF

Two new studies conclude that the herbal extract butterbur may be effective in cutting the number and severity of migraine headaches in children and adults. Like other supplements, butterbur (an ancient treatment for plague) should be used with care.
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