Butterbur petasin comes from the Asteraceae family, and is a fleshy, creeping plant with a short root and is native to Europe and North Africa. Extracts from the leaves and roots have been used, since ancient Greek times, as an anti-inflammatory, a smooth muscle relaxant (anti-spasmodic) and pain reliever (analgesic). These traditional uses are supported by modern science. Butterbur petasin’s main active ingredients are petasin and isopetasin, with the highest concentrations occurring in the root. Â

There are two types of Butterbur plant, both looking identical yet very different. One kind of Butterbur contains petasins (Butterbur Petasin) and the other contains only trace amounts (Butterbur Furan). When choosing a brand of Butterbur ensure that it is made from Butterbur Petasin and that it is standardised to at least 7.5mg of Petasin and isopetasin per 50mg butterbur.

Their effects are reported to be:

• Spasmolytic: reducing spontaneous activities and spasms in smooth muscle, including vascular walls.
• Anti-inflammatory: acting on the arachnidonic acid cycle by inhibiting inflammatory leukotriene synthesis.

There are no known drug interactions with Butterbur petasin extract, so normal acute medication can be used alongside it.

Butterbur petasin has been shown in several clinical trials to reduce migraine attacks on average by 60%. It has been used successfully in Europe for over 25 years, and is now becoming popular in the UK and USA.

One recent randomised, double blind clinical study at the University of Munich looked at the effectiveness of this extract over a three-month period. Patients who experienced at least three migraine attacks per month for at least a year participated. When given 50mg of the Butterbur petasin extract twice a day for three months they experienced fewer and less severe attacks. In fact, the supplement reduced the average number of migraines from 3.3 to 1.3 per month (a reduction of 60%!). In addition to lower intensity pain and shorter duration of migraines, they also experienced less nausea. Butterbur petasin can ease the crippling pain of migraine, by preventing the inflammation of blood vessels and tissue in the brain.

Further Evidence on Butterbur Petasin
An even more recent large-scale clinical trial involving 202 patients in Germany and the USA confirms the results of the first study. This second study also underlines the importance of dosage. 50mg twice daily of the standardised extract of Butterbur petasin was effective. However, a daily dosage of 150mg (50mg three times a day) was of even greater benefit. Significantly, over 70% of those taking the higher dosage had at least a 50% reduction in Migraine attacks.

Who Should Take Butterbur petasin?
The more severe your migraine the more you will benefit from Butterbur petasin. Anybody having two or more Migraine attacks per month or whose life is being seriously affected by Migraine should consider giving it a try.
 

How to take Butterbur petasin?
50mg Butterbur petasin extract (7.5mg petasin and isopetasin) should be used three times daily with meals for one month then twice daily for a further three to five months, The Butterbur petasin can then be stopped after this initial cycle and the benefits will be maintained. It only needs to be re-administered for another 4-6 months cycle if and when the migraines return or increase in frequency.

It is important to realise that Butterbur petasin takes approximately six weeks to start having an effect and does not reach its full potential until after twelve weeks of usage.

Contra-indications and Interactions
There are no known drug interactions with Butterbur petasin extract, which has been extensively used in Germany for the last 25 years (It is estimated that more approximately 0.5 million have used it over this time. It should not be used during pregnancy or breast feeding without medical advice.