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- Candace Sadler*
- Leah Vanderjagt, MLIS*
- Sunita Vohra, MD, MSc*
- *Complementary and Alternative Research and Education (CARE) Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. On behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics Provisional Section on Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Medicine
Introduction
Petasites hybridus, a perennial shrub that grows in Europe, Asia, and North America, is commonly referred to as butterbur because the leaves of the plant have been used to wrap butter during warm seasons. (1)(2). Historically, butterbur has been used for a wide range of conditions, such as “urinary tract spasms,” back pain, asthma, and topical wound healing. (3)(4) Generally, bitter-tasting compounds extracted from the root of the butterbur plant, known as petasins, are the active ingredient. (4)
Definition and Description
Butterbur is a member of the Asteraceae/Compositae family and has been used medicinally for more than 2,000 years. (2) Recent research has evaluated butterbur to prevent asthma attacks, allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches due to its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effects. (3)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)
Evidence of Efficacy in Pediatrics
Evidence for the use of butterbur in children is promising, although preliminary. Data are based primarily on open-label, cohort-controlled trials in adults and children and randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) in adults.
Asthma
A prospective nonrandomized, open trial evaluated the effects of butterbur treatment in adults (n=64) and children (n=16) ages 6 to 17 years who had mild-to-moderate asthma. (14) Over an 8-week period, adults received 50 g of butterbur extract three times daily; children received 50 to 150 mg per day, depending on age. All patients were permitted to continue all other asthma medications. By the end of the study, the number and duration of asthma attacks had decreased by 48% and 75% respectively; FEV1 improved by 70.6% and peak flow by 83.9%. After 16 weeks of follow-up, 42.9% of …
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