Herbal Pain Relief

Biology:
The common butterbur is an herbaceous perennial from the family of the daisies (Asteraceae). It is native from Western Europe into northern Asia. It has rounded leaves up to 80cm in diameter, which grow from stems up to 120cm long.

Cultural history:
Mankind already knows the commCommon Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) on butterbur from prehistoric times. Excavations have shown that it was used as a rain cover and as toilet paper. Common butterbur is first mentioned in Roman scriptures from the 1. Century BC. Greeks and Romans used it against ulcers. In the middle Ages it was thought to cure the plague – therefore its other common names Devil’s hat and Pestilence wort. The 17th century British herbalist Nicholas Culpeper considered it as a remedy against heart dysfunctions.

Active ingredients:
The common butterbur contains a number of chemically very complicated alkaloids in different strains, Petasin, Neopetasin, Isopetasin, Furanoeremophilane, Eremophilanlactone and pyrrolizidine among others, with the highest concentrations of these alkaloids in the roots of the plant.

Effects & side effects:
A couple of studies, mainly from Switzerland, have proven Butterbur to be highly effective in the prevention and treatment of severe cases of migraine. It is also effective in the treatment of hay fever without causing the sedative side effects of the antihistamines usually prescribed against hay fever. Another indication is the relief of pain caused by urinary and gastrointestinal spasms.

Taken in higher doses or over longer periods of time butterbur is however suspected to cause cancer and liver damage. The lack of conclusive studies into these risks have prevented butterbur so far to be used as widely as its beneficial effects would suggest.