A handful of studies support the use of butterbur extract as a potentially effective treatment for allergic rhinitis.
IIn a 2-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 186 people with intermittent allergic rhinitis, use of butterbur at a dose of three standardized tablets daily, or one tablet daily, reduced allergy symptoms as compared to placebo.3 4 Significantly greater benefits were seen in the higher dose group. Such "dose dependency" is taken as a confirming sign that a treatment really works.
In another double-blind study, 330 people were given either butterbur extract (one tablet three times daily), the antihistamine fexofenadine (Allegra), or placebo.4 5 The results showed that butterbur and fexofenadine were equally effective, and both were more effective than placebo.
A previous 2-week, double-blind study of 125 individuals with hay fever (technically, seasonal allergic rhinitis) compared a standardized butterbur extract against the antihistamine drug cetirizine.5 6 According to ratings by both doctors and patients, the two treatments proved about equally effective. Unfortunately, this study did not use a placebo group.
A handful of studies support the use of butterbur extract as a potentially effective treatment for allergic rhinitis.
IIn a 2-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 186 people with intermittent allergic rhinitis, use of butterbur at a dose of three standardized tablets daily, or one tablet daily, reduced allergy symptoms as compared to placebo.34 4 Significantly greater benefits were seen in the higher dose group. Such "dose dependency" is taken as a confirming sign that a treatment really works.
In another double-blind study, 330 people were given either butterbur extract (one tablet three times daily), the antihistamine fexofenadine (Allegra), or placebo.44 5 The results showed that butterbur and fexofenadine were equally effective, and both were more effective than placebo.
A previous 2-week, double-blind study of 125 individuals with hay fever (technically, seasonal allergic rhinitis) compared a standardized butterbur extract against the antihistamine drug cetirizine.18 6 According to ratings by both doctors and patients, the two treatments proved about equally effective. Unfortunately, this study did not use a placebo group.
Two much smaller studies produced inconsistent results.27,35
The usual dosage of butterbur is 50-75 mg twice daily of a standardized extract that has been processed to remove potentially dangerous chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
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The exact effect of butterbur on allergic rhinitis is not clear. Butterbur may help by reducing the inflammation that leads to most of the problematic symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
A handful of studies support the use of butterbur extract as a potentially effective treatment for allergic rhinitis.
IIn a 2-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 186 people with intermittent allergic rhinitis, use of butterbur at a dose of three standardized tablets daily, or one tablet daily, reduced allergy symptoms as compared to placebo.4 Significantly greater benefits were seen in the higher dose group. Such "dose dependency" is taken as a confirming sign that a treatment really works.
In another double-blind study, 330 people were given either butterbur extract (one tablet three times daily), the antihistamine fexofenadine (Allegra), or placebo.5 The results showed that butterbur and fexofenadine were equally effective, and both were more effective than placebo.
A previous 2-week, double-blind study of 125 individuals with hay fever (technically, seasonal allergic rhinitis) compared a standardized butterbur extract against the antihistamine drug cetirizine.6 According to ratings by both doctors and patients, the two treatments proved about equally effective. Unfortunately, this study did not use a placebo group.
Butterbur is a plant that grows along rivers, ditches, and marshy areas in northern Asia, Europe, and parts of North America. It is also known as bog rhubarb, blatterdock, bogshorns, butter-dock, butterly dock, capdockin, flapperdock, and langwort. Butterbur has a long history of use as an anti-spasmodic, thought to be effective for such conditions as headaches, stomach cramps, whooping cough, and asthma. A handful of studies also suggest that butterbur extracts may be useful in treating allergic rhinitis.
The exact effect of butterbur on allergic rhinitis is not clear. Butterbur may help by reducing the inflammation that leads to most of the problematic symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
