Butterbur Extract Alleviates Symptoms of Hay Fever

By Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H.
Spring is in the air, and so is the pollen. If stepping outside makes you cough, sneeze, or cry, you may be one of the 40 million Americans suffering from hay fever.

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis (rhinitis means inflammation of the lining of the nose), is caused by an allergy to the pollen of trees, grasses, and weeds. Many types of pollen are so small and lightweight that they can remain suspended in the air for hours, and as a result, they're easily inhaled.

When pollen comes into contact with the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, or eyes, it can trigger the release of irritating, inflammatory chemicals, including histamines and leukotrienes. These chemicals, in turn, are responsible for producing a runny or stuffy nose and itchy eyes, as well as wheezing, sneezing, and coughing.

It's not hard to find dozens of over-the-counter remedies designed to treat these allergy-related symptoms. Decongestants and antihistamines are two of the most popular treatments, but they often produce a slew of unpleasant side effects.

Antihistamines are notorious for causing sedation and drowsiness. If you don't mind sleeping through the allergy season, these medicines are an excellent choice.

Decongestants, on the other hand, tend to have a stimulating effect, which can leave you feeling nervous and irritable. Since these medications are known to elevate heart rate and blood pressure, they're not recommended for folks with hypertension and certain heart conditions.

If you're looking for a natural approach to treating your allergic symptoms, you might consider an herb called butterbur. Officially known as Petasites hybridus, the plant is native to Europe and parts of Africa and Asia.

Extracts of the butterbur plant have long been used medicinally in the treatment of asthma, allergies, and headaches. The active ingredient in the extract is petasin, a substance known to block the production of histamines and leukotrienes in the body.

The results of several scientific studies suggest that butterbur extract can reduce many allergic symptoms as effectively as some prescription drugs. In a 2005 study published in the British Medical Journal, Swedish researchers reported that butterbur was as effective as the antihistamine Zyrtec in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

The two-week study included 125 adults, all of whom had experienced symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis for at least two consecutive years.

Half the participants took the recommended dose of Zyrtec: one 10-milligram tablet daily. The other half took butterbur, standardized to 8 milligrams of petasin per tablet, at a dosage of one tablet four times daily.

While both butterbur and Zyrtec produced effective symptom relief, the subjects taking butterbur reported significantly less drowsiness and fatigue than those taking Zyrtec. Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that butterbur should be considered for the treatment of allergic rhinitis when the sedative effects of antihistamines need to be avoided.

For folks who suffer from seasonal allergies and migraine headaches, butterbur offers a bonus benefit. In an article published in a 2004 issue of the journal Neurology, researchers reported that migraine sufferers who took butterbur extract twice daily for 12 weeks experienced a significant reduction in the frequency of migraine headaches compared to those taking placebo pills.

While the findings of these studies are encouraging, other studies have produced conflicting results. More research is needed to verify the reported benefits of the herb, as well as to identify any unfavorable side effects.

In clinical studies performed to date, commercially prepared butterbur extract has been shown to have an excellent safety profile. Among volunteers taking the dietary supplement, the most commonly reported side effects were mild stomach upset and belching.

Safety concerns stem from the fact that parts of the raw butterbur plant contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), chemicals that are potentially toxic to the liver and kidneys. When these agents are removed by the manufacturer during processing, the product is labeled "PA free."

If you decide to take butterbur for the treatment of hay fever or migraine headaches, it's important to make sure the product is free of the toxic alkaloids. It's also wise to look for a supplement labeled "standardized," which means the product offers a consistent, measured amount of the active ingredient.

Butterbur shouldn't be used by women who are pregnant or nursing. Folks taking prescriptions medications should check with their physicians before using any herbal product.

Butterbur isn't a cure for hay fever, but it can make springtime a little more enjoyable for allergy sufferers in search of relief.

========

Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H., is a family physician in Kingsport, Tenn., and author of "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her Web site is [http://www.rallieonhealth.com].