Butterbur is a daisy-like plant said to have medicinal properties. It is used for various conditions, such as
allergies or
migraines and is available in a variety of different
dietary supplements.
Butterbur contains a variety of different active compounds, such as petasin, isopetasin, flavonoids, and tannins. It is thought that these compounds are probably responsible for most of the medicinal properties of the plant.
Butterbur is believed to relieve allergies by decreasing the production of leukotrienes and histamine, two substances in the body that are responsible for many of the symptoms of allergies. It is not yet clear how the supplement might work to prevent
migraine headaches.
Is Butterbur Effective?
There is growing evidence to suggest that butterbur may actually work for preventing
migraines or treating allergies. However, more research is necessary to confirm these findings and to explore the possibility that the supplement may be effective for other uses as well.
As with most dietary supplements, there is no well-established standard dose for butterbur, although general guidelines may be obtained from a few clinical trials
(see Butterbur Dosage for more information).
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