re: Butterbur: who has tried this??

Jayme, it would be more in the UK because it has to be shipped over. Your prices do seem a lot better than yours.
I will stick with the Swansons for now, but if I went for Petadolex I think I would do better to get them on Amazon.com than from an English store....

Regardless of what brands we use, it sounds good.

Perhaps we could post again on both brands and others might benefit.

That is what I was thinking. Once I receive mine (Swanson) I'll let everyone know if there is any effect. From what I've read it could take a while before we'll know though.

Seems it is getting to be a bit more known.

http://www.naturalnews.com/028866_butterbur_migraines.html

Thanks very much for posting Pen. Very positive!

Thanks for the reviews and the links guys. I tried Butterbur at the suggestion of my neurologist. It was just one part of a plan of attack for me. The only way I could find it locally was mixed with other things in one product. I tried it for awhile, but I had horrendous heartburn. I think I'll see about ordering a bottle of the Petadolex and see if that works better for me.

I saw one product that also had Feverfew in it. I decided to go for the butterbur ingredient only. If I am going to have side effects I want to know exactly what is the cause. With just the one ingredient (butterbur) there will be no guessing! Good luck.

Hi!

I say take it! I am so excited about how much it has helped me. It is awsome. I take the Petadolex. Have been on it since April 10th. Usually I have 27 mig. a month. and run out of my imitrex... I was on shots of toridal to keep me out of e.r. haven't had a shot in about a month now. (was using 5 per month) this month as of the 26th, I have had 10 migraines, and they have only lasted less than a day. The generic Imitrex is all I need.

I have had no side affects at all. I can't say enough good about it. I am so excited. I have had migraines for over 15 years, with the last 5 being so, so bad! I have wasted so much money on all kinds of stuff, was so hesitant to try yet one more thing. Boy am I glad I tried it. I feel like I have a life back.

Hope this encourages someone out there!!!! Just do it!

Sherri b!

I am so, so happy for you!! I can tell by your post that your are ecstatic! Mine should be arriving (mail) soon. I will post as to how it goes. Again, great news for you! Gail

I began butterbur to-day. I will keep posting as to how it goes. Progress etc. Gail

You are my guinipig pig Gailgigi. Keep me posted.

Milo, if you are still around in this thread,..... where do you get yours and what brand and how many mg a day?

Angela

Gee, you scared me. I saw the the "pig" and then my name. I thought someone was sending me a nasty post! (: Ok, I'll be the test subject. I'm crossing my fingers! You'll be hearing from me. G.

Sorry Gailgigi!!!. I realized I have pig in there twice. Blame it on the disease or drugs. Nothing against you, I love ya!

I hope the butterburr burr works.

Angela

Gailgigi,

I hope it works as good for you as it is for me. What brand did you buy?

I am still so excited,, worked 2 days in a row with no migraine, haven't had to use any medication since Monday morning at 6 a.m.

Blessings to you!

Sherri, I think Gail has the Swansons one same as me.
Following reassurance from the company and finding it is the same as the other one, then we are off and running.

If we get on okay, then you might like to try saving a few dollars as well.,

Either way, crossing everything.

So glad it is doing such good for you.

Pen

Yes, as Pen said I am using the Swanson Butterbur. 75mg capsules. 2xdaily.

You didn't say what dosage you are taking? Let me know please.

gailgigi wrote:You didn't say what dosage you are taking? Let me know please.

I too have 75mg twice a day Gail.
150mg a day is the recommended dose here.
It is said the 75mg twice came out better than the 50mg three times....I have no idea why that would be...

Mine is from Swansons and I take 75mg twice a day.

NO side effects (and I have the same sensitive stomach as most migrainers)

I was first on peta, then started the Swansons and have seen NO difference (same great effects).

Good luck with yours. It is a wonderful supplement.

Thanks Milo. Good to hear you don't find the Swansons any less effective or unpleasant.
How long have you been on them now please?
Do you find it necessary to take them with food?

Quite a group of us forming here.
We should be getting commission at this rate...

For everyone's interest.
A leaflet from UK. I hope it is of help.

BUTTERBUR (Petasites hybridus)
Butterbur is of the asteraceae family and is a
fleshy, extensively creeping plant, with a short
root, growing somewhat slanted on the ground.
Historically, extracts from the leaves and roots
have been used since the time of the ancient
Greeks, as an anti-inflammatory, a smooth
muscle relaxant (anti-spasmodic) and pain
reliever (analgesic), modern science has verified
these facts.
Of the two varieties of Butterbur only Butterbur
Petasin is known to have any medicinal
application. Butterbur Petasin's main active
ingredients are petasin and isopetasin, with the
highest concentrations occurring in the root.
Its effects are:
1. Spasmolytic: reducing spontaneous activities
and spasms in smooth muscle, including
vascular walls.
2. Ant i - inf lammatory: act ing on the
arachnidonic acid cycle by inhibiting
inflammatory leukotriene synthesis.
CLINICAL TRIAL
In May 2000 the results of a study looking at the
effectiveness of a Butterbur Petasin extract for
the prophylactic treatment of migraine was
published in the International Journal of Clinical
Pharmacology. The study was a randomised,
parallel group, placebo-controlled, double blind
clinical study that was carried out using 50 mg of
a special extract from the root of Butterbur
Petasin (Petasites hybridus) standardised to 15%
petasin and isopetasin (7.5 mg per capsule),
twice daily for twelve weeks.
It was found that on average the mean number
of attacks decreased from 3.3 to 1.3 at the end
of eight weeks (a reduction of 60%),
interestingly though, individuals with the
greater number of attacks before treatment
benefited most from the Butterbur Petasin
extract. It was also found that along with the
reduction in the frequency of attacks, the
intensity of the pain diminished and the average
duration of the attack was less.
The authors concluded that migraine sufferers
could benefit from prophylactic treatment with
standardised But terbur extract . The
combination of high efficacy and excellent
tolerance emphasizes its value.
HOW TO USE BUTTERBUR PETASIN
This indicates that if 50 mg of standardised
Butterbur extract (7.5mg petasin and isopetasin)
is used three times daily for one month and then
twice daily for a further three to five months
migraine symptoms and frequency can be
substantially relieved.
The Butterbur can then be stopped after this
initial cycle and the benefits will be maintained
and only needs to be re-administered for
another 4-6 months cycle when the migraines
return or increase in frequency.
There are no known drug interactions with the
Butterbur Petasin extract, which has been used
in Europe for centuries, normal acute
medication can be used alongside it.
WHICH BUTTERBUR BRAND TO USE
There are in fact two kinds of Butterbur plant,
both of which look identical yet so far as the
migraine sufferer is concerned are very
different. The plant that the migraine sufferer
should use 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. To the best of our
knowledge there is no evidence, that
sesquiterpene lactones have any effect on
migraine.
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are alkaloids found
naturally in Butterbur and have been suggested
to have a carcinogenic activity. It is therefore
important to ensure that any Butterbur extract
you use is free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
Migraine Action wish to thank Linpharma Herbal
Products, who produce Butterbur Petasin, for their
help in producing this leaflet.
A GUIDE TO THE USE OF BUTTERBUR IN
THE PREVENTION OF MIGRAINE

Hi,

I just wanted to check something if you don't mind.

Reading through this post it looks like the brand to use is Swansons, unfortunately I did not buy Swansons but Petadolex by a company called WEBER WEBER, is this an inferior brand and would I be best to get Swansons? I want to start with a good make rather than swoop half way I just want to give Butterbur a fair chance.

I woke with a mild M this morning but took my first Petadolex, I got the 50mg not 75mg so it will be 3 a day for me. I will let you know how it goes.

Peter

Hi Peter,

On the contrary in America Petadolex is the "promoted" brand.
They seem to prefer it and it is well endorsed.

However in UK, it has only just become available and is expensive.
There used to be Linpharma, but Weber took them over I think.
I searched around and found Swansons......as did others....because of the cost.

Swansons say its the same, and Migraine Action here only say to make sure the Butterbur you use has no toxins.
As per the article I posted.
Petadolex and Swansons are both toxin clear.,

So you pays your money basically.
Just go ahead and start the Petadolex, and if it helps you, maybe save some money next time and get Swansons.
It is totally up to you. More importantly than that, is lets hope it helps.

Does this put your mind at rest Peter? Hope so.

Good luck.

Pen

Hi All,

I am on the 50 mg. 3 times a day. I just purchased 3 more bottles (cheaper by the 3's) but I was on the Swansons web site last night, and I will probably try them next time. The petadolex is alot more expensive.

sherri b!

Hi Sherri,

I think you are our role model here.
We are all watching you, we feel your enthusiasm.

As far as we all can tell the Swansons is just fine, and will save some pennies.
But whatever brand we use, it is such good news.

I understand from the article I posted (it is from our migraine support in UK) that you can stop after a few months,
and go back on when and if. Sounds good.

Keep us posted leader...

thanks for all this Pen. I didn't realize 75mg per day was better then 50mg per day. Odd. Glad I began this way!