September 9, 2005 – Butterbur leaf extract was found to be as effective as an antihistamine in treating hay fever in a clinical trial in Switzerland and Germany.
For the purposes of the study, the researchers recruited 330 people who had suffered from chronic allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, for at least two years. One hundred and ten of them were treated with a standardized extract of butterbur (Ze 339, containing 8 mg of butterbur), at a rate of three tablets per day. A group of 113 subjects, meanwhile, received an antihistamine based on fexofenadine, at a rate of one tablet per day, according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. Serving as a control group, the other 107 people took a placebo tablet.
After two weeks of treatment, butterbur extract and antihistamine demonstrated similar efficacy. Moderate to complete improvement was observed in 69% of subjects who took Ze 339 extract, compared to 76% in those who used the antihistamine. In the control group, this proportion was only 33%.
Based on these results, the researchers believe that butterbur leaf extract is an alternative for people who want to avoid the sedative effect that often accompanies taking antihistamines. Especially since during the study, the daily cost for treatment with Ze 339 was 98 US cents, against 89 cents for the synthetic drug.
Butterbur is a plant that has been used since the Middle Ages for its therapeutic properties. It occurs naturally in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Allergic rhinitis affects around 20% of populations living in industrialized countries, according to the study’s authors.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
According to HealthDay.
1. Schapowal A, Petasites Study Group, Treating intermittent allergic rhinitis: a prospective, randomized, placebo and antihistamine-controlled study of Butterbur extract Ze 339. The summary of the study is available at: www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/111081574/ABSTRACT.
