BUTTERBUR MAY BE AN EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT FOR HAYFEVER.

A recent double-blind, parallel group comparison study conducted by lead author Andreas Schapowal, MD, from the Allergy Clinic (and other participating clinics) in Landquart, Switzerland found that extract of butterbur (Petasites hybridus), an herbal drug, is as effective as fexofenadine in the treatment of intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR). Both butterbur and fexofenadine were significantly better than placebo in improving IAR symptoms with no significant differences between the two active treatments. Butterbur extract inhibits production of leukotrienes involved in the inflammatory response to allergens, while stimulating production of prostaglandins that reduce inflammation. Another benefit of the butterbur extract was that it did not cause drowsiness. The authors note that butterbur has now been subjected to a series of well-controlled trials and should be considered as an alternative treatment of IAR. (Laurie Barclay, MD, Charles Vega, MD, FAAFP, “Butterbur May be an Effective Alternative Treatment of Intermittent Allergic Rhinitis,” Medscape from WebMD, August 23, 2005, <http://www.medscape.com /viewarticle/511262?src=nldne> (August 29, 2005)).