Butterbur grows all over the UK predominantly on wet marshy land and looks like a giant rhubarb plant – but don’t dash off to make a Butterbur crumble to cure your migraine or hay fever symptoms as it is the root of the plant that contains the highest concentrate of active ingredients, Petasin and Isopetasin. The Butterbur Petasin root has to undergo a complex and lengthy extraction process in order to isolate the best quality and most effective extract and to ensure that all pyrrolizidine alkaloids are removed. Different kinds of Butterbur
There are in fact two kinds of Butterbur plant, both of which look identical yet so far as the migraine or hay fever sufferer is concerned are very different. The plant that should be used is called Butterbur Petasin. When choosing a brand of Butterbur ensure that it is Butterbur Petasin and that that the product you choose is standardised to at least 7.5mg of Petasin and Isopetasin. Products derived from the non-Petasin variety of Butterbur or from a mixture of the two are often standardised to sesquiterpene lactones. There is no evidence that sesquiterpene lactones have any effect on migraines or hay fever.
Summary Monograph information Petasites hybridus (butterbur) is a perennial shrub, found throughout Europe as well as parts of Asia and North America, that has been used medicinally for centuries. During the Middle Ages butterbur was used totreat plague and fever; in the 17th century its use was noted in treating cough, asthma, and skin wounds.1,2 The plant can grow to a height of three feet and is usually found in wet, marshy ground, in damp forests, and adjacent to rivers or streams. Its downy leaves can attain a diameter of three feet, making it the largest of all indigenous floras, and their unique characteristics are responsible for the plant’s botanical and common names. The genus name, Petasites, is derived from the Greek word petasos, which is the felt hat worn by shepherds.2 The common name of butterbur is attributed to the large leaves being used to wrap butter during warm weather.3 Other common names include pestwurz (German), blatterdock, bog rhubarb, and butter-dock.2 Currently, the primary therapeutic uses for butterbur are for prophylactic treatment of migraines1, and for treating Hayfever.
1. Eaton J. Butterbur, herbal help for migraine. Nat Pharm 1998;2:1,23-24.
2. Mauskop, A. Petasites hybridus: ancient medicinal plant is effective prophylactic treatment for migraine.
Townsend Lett 2000;202:104-106.
2000;202:104-106. 3. Grieve M. Butterbur. In: Leyel CF, ed. A Modern Herbal, electronic version. New York, NY: Dover Publications,Inc. 1971.
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What is Butterbur? 
