Migraine prevention with butterbur
Alternative Medicine Review: Migraine prevention in children and adolescents: results of an open study with a special butterbur root extract:
"OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of a special butterbur root extract for migraine prevention in children and adolescents with severe migraines.
BACKGROUND: Two randomized and placebo-controlled trials with a total of 289 migraine patients have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of a special butterbur root extract in the reduction of migraine attacks in adults.
DESIGN/METHODS: Patients were treated with 50 to 150 mg of the butterbur root extract depending on age for a period of 4 months. Treatment progression was recorded in migraine journals.
RESULTS: 77% of all patients reported a reduction in the frequency of migraine attacks of at least 50%. Attack frequency was reduced by 63%. 91% of patients felt substantially or at least slightly improved after 4 months of treatment. About 90% of each, doctors and patients, reported well-being or even improved well-being. No serious adverse events occurred.
CONCLUSIONS: The results and low rate of adverse events in this study are similar to the results of two multicenter placebo-controlled butterbur studies in adults. Butterbur root extract shows a potential as an effective and well-tolerated migraine prophylaxis.
My Take:
Great. Now, doc, give us the formula for the secret sauce. Butterbur -- is that in the dairy section? While encouraging, the problem with most herbal remedies is that the potency varies tremendously, so it is nearly impossible to know how much of the "active ingredient" you are, or should be, getting.
"OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of a special butterbur root extract for migraine prevention in children and adolescents with severe migraines.
BACKGROUND: Two randomized and placebo-controlled trials with a total of 289 migraine patients have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of a special butterbur root extract in the reduction of migraine attacks in adults.
DESIGN/METHODS: Patients were treated with 50 to 150 mg of the butterbur root extract depending on age for a period of 4 months. Treatment progression was recorded in migraine journals.
RESULTS: 77% of all patients reported a reduction in the frequency of migraine attacks of at least 50%. Attack frequency was reduced by 63%. 91% of patients felt substantially or at least slightly improved after 4 months of treatment. About 90% of each, doctors and patients, reported well-being or even improved well-being. No serious adverse events occurred.
CONCLUSIONS: The results and low rate of adverse events in this study are similar to the results of two multicenter placebo-controlled butterbur studies in adults. Butterbur root extract shows a potential as an effective and well-tolerated migraine prophylaxis.
My Take:
Great. Now, doc, give us the formula for the secret sauce. Butterbur -- is that in the dairy section? While encouraging, the problem with most herbal remedies is that the potency varies tremendously, so it is nearly impossible to know how much of the "active ingredient" you are, or should be, getting.
posted by Ron King at 9:53 PM
1 Comments:
If you'd like to try a natural formula, here's one that works for some people (not me, but I used it when I got cramps from my period and it worked every time): Astragalus, Valerian root; hops; feverfew. Here's what you do: use equal parts of each, but use 2x as much of the astragalus. Then, you boil water in a pot, not a teapot, on the stove. Add two to three true tbs (not just a soup spoon) of the herbs. Let it boil for 5 minutes. Then let it steep for 1 minute. Use a strainer to catch the herbs and pour the tea *through* the strainer with the herbs in it. Add honey, not sugar, until it's palatable. It's not too bad, but it's not real good either. Drink the tea in under 30 minutes. Save the herbs, because you can use them twice. You can use this for 6 days, but rest on the 7th. Good rule of thumb for herbal remedies in general. The valerian root is good to reduce pain; the astragalus is good for circulation; the feverfew is good for pain relief; the hops is a natural sedative, but not like a druggy feeling, jsut kind of gives you a mellow "take" on life. lol
Good luck! Oh, I should probably tell you that this is my own "secret" recipe (jk). I have my degree in nutrition and learned about herbs from a doctor in ancient Chinese Medicine and herbology. I hope it works for you. I guess you could add butterbur if you wanted to at the same dosage, one part, because it wouldn't counteract any of the other herbs that I mentioned in my recipe.
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