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Along with providing information on whether Butterbur supplements might be right for you, this article also links to Fullscript where you can buy high quality supplements. Order online through Fullscript’s secure healthcare formulary to get the best prices and free shipping on professional-grade supplements.
What Is Butterbur?
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is a marsh-loving plant found in Europe, Asia, and North America. It has large, heart-shaped leaves and produces pink or purple flowers in early spring. Historically, butterbur has been valued for its medicinal properties, and people have used it for centuries to address health issues ranging from headaches to seasonal allergies. Today, it’s primarily known for its potential benefits in treating migraines, allergies, and asthma.
How Butterbur Works
Butterbur contains natural compounds in its roots and leaves, such as petasin and isopetasin. These chemicals are believed to help reduce inflammation, relax blood vessels, and decrease spasms in the smooth muscles, which may contribute to relief from migraines and allergies. Some research suggests that petasin, in particular, helps inhibit the production of certain inflammatory molecules, which could explain its effects on allergy and migraine symptoms.
What Is “PA-Free” Butterbur?
While butterbur has therapeutic uses, certain compounds in the plant can be dangerous. Butterbur naturally contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which are toxic to the liver and can lead to serious health problems with long-term exposure. PA-free butterbur products undergo a purification process that removes these toxic compounds, making them safer for consumption. Only PA-free butterbur should be considered for medicinal use, as consuming unprocessed butterbur can result in liver damage.
Health Considerations
When considering butterbur, it’s important to choose only PA-free formulations. Additionally, consult a healthcare provider before using butterbur, particularly if you have existing liver conditions or are on medications that affect the liver. Butterbur may interact with other medications or conditions, so discussing its use with a healthcare professional can help ensure its safe and effective use.
What are the Benefits of Butterbur?
Here are some potential health benefits [NBK537160] of butterbur:
- Migraine relief: Butterbur may help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches. [PMC9108977]
- Allergy relief: It may provide relief from seasonal allergies by reducing symptoms like sneezing, itching, and nasal congestion. [PMID: 15611396] According to a study comparing butterbur with cetirizine (an ingredient in many allergy medications), both treatments were found to be similarly effective in easing these symptoms. [PMC64514]
- Asthma support: Butterbur may help improve breathing and reduce asthma attacks in some people by providing additional anti-inflammatory effects, which can help ease asthma symptoms. [PMID: 14720270]
Is Butterbur Safe?
Overall, when taken in recommended doses and from a reputable source, butterbur appears to be safe for most people. While butterbur has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes, the safety of the supplement has been a topic of concern due to the presence of potentially harmful compounds called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). NOW® Butterbur is also free of undesirable pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), so it can be used regularly. However, some butterbur supplements may still contain PAs, which can be toxic and may cause liver damage.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have any underlying medical conditions, or are taking any medications. Don’t use butterbur without talking to your doctor.
Medication Interactions with Butterbur
Some medications may interact with butterbur. These include:
- Anticoagulants (blood thinners): Butterbur may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with blood thinners like warfarin or aspirin. This interaction can be potentially severe.
- Antihypertensive medications (blood pressure drugs): Butterbur may lower blood pressure, so combining it with blood pressure medications could cause blood pressure to drop too low. This interaction may be moderate to severe.
- Sedatives (CNS depressants): Butterbur might cause drowsiness, and taking it with sedatives like benzodiazepines or sleep aids could increase this effect. This interaction may be mild to moderate.
- Antihistamines: Since butterbur may help with allergies, taking it with antihistamines could enhance their effects. This interaction may be mild to moderate, depending on the specific antihistamine.
- Liver-metabolized medications: Butterbur might affect the liver’s ability to break down certain medications, potentially increasing or decreasing their effectiveness. This interaction’s severity may vary depending on the specific medication.
Supplement Interactions with Butterbur
- Ginkgo biloba: Like butterbur, ginkgo may have blood-thinning properties. Taking both together could increase the risk of bleeding. This interaction may be mild to moderate.
- Fish oil: Fish oil also has blood-thinning effects, so combining it with butterbur might increase the risk of bleeding. This interaction may be mild to moderate.
- Vitamin E: Vitamin E can act as a blood thinner, so taking it with butterbur may increase the risk of bleeding. This interaction may be mild to moderate.
- Valerian: Valerian has sedative effects, so combining it with butterbur could enhance drowsiness. This interaction may be mild to moderate.
Why Professionals Choose the Fullscript Formulary
Your health is on the line. Health professionals know that many other online and retail options set a very low bar for quality–sometimes amazingly low. The Fullscript formulary is the most secure online source for the highest quality brands securely sourced to assure freshness and purity. Here’s what makes Fullscript the best:
- Meticulous vetting of brand quality. Health professionals trust Fullscript to continuously monitor the quality of each item on the platform. Other retailers operate with profit as their highest or only motive when choosing brands. Fullscript cares only about quality and reliability. Unlike discount stores, large online marketplaces, and other retailers you won’t find ingredients sourced from China or other questionable locations or companies.
- Free shipping over $50 and best prices when you order through Supplement Sciences.
- Freshness. Fullscript prioritizes freshness over bulk buying even if it means an increased risk of briefly being out of stock.
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- How It Works:
- Easy Sign-up & No Spam Email: Click the “View Product” button below to be taken to Fullscript’s login page where you can quickly create your secure account with just your name, email, and phone number. Then you will be taken directly to the product page.
- Wide variety of supplement options: Once you sign in to your account, you are not limited to the products listed below. You will see similar items listed at the bottom of each product page on Fullscript.
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Order Butterbur
Butterbur 75mg by NOW Foods
NOW® Butterbur is free of undesirable pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), so it can be used regularly. Suggested Use: Take 1 capsule twice daily.
Amount Per 1 Capsule Serving
Butterbur Extract … 75mg** (Petasites hybridus) (Root) (min. 15% Sesquiterpenes as Petasins)
Feverfew …. 200mg**
(Tanacetum parthenium) (Aerial Parts)
Food First!
Although this article discusses supplements in detail, don’t forget that we are absolutely committed to the “Food First” approach to nutrition. When it comes to your health, the totality of your eating habits far surpasses the impact of individual nutrients or any single supplement you consume. Even though this article doesn’t delve into the broader picture of your overall diet, it’s crucial to keep this element at the forefront of our minds. Your food needs to provide all the vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals to nourish your body systems down to the cellular level.
Food choices, rather than supplements, are the most critical factors for a healthy gut microbiome. These trillions of tiny inhabitants in your gut affect your brain waves; they orchestrate your immune system. They possess the power to create molecules that can switch genes on or off and are even capable of synthesizing neurotransmitters. Opting for organic foods and steering clear of plastic packaging (including those labeled BPA-free) is a smart move to limit toxin exposure. The sum of all these parts leads to a powerful conclusion: the ultimate key to your health lies in the quality and balance of the food you consume. Supplements are secondary.
What To Eat
To Sum It Up
Butterbur can offer much needed relief for migraines, allergies, and asthma thanks to its active compounds, which can help reduce inflammation and relax blood vessels. Some caution is warranted due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in raw butterbur, so it is essential to use only PA-free products to avoid liver toxicity. Consulting a healthcare provider before starting butterbur is also recommended, particularly for people with existing liver conditions or those taking medications.
This Article is Not a Substitute for Medical Advice
Dietary supplements are not designed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The Supplement Sciences website seeks to provide comprehensive access to the most relevant supplement information along with convenient online ordering. We do not provide medical advice and cannot guarantee that every product suggested is completely without risk. Since each person is unique in their health history and medication use, it is important to discuss supplements with your personal physician. Specifically, pregnant women and individuals being treated for cancer or liver or kidney problems must consult their physician about every nutritional supplement they plan to take. People taking medications for the treatment of HIV or with a history of organ transplant must not take supplements without consulting with their physician.