BUTTERBUR PETASITES HYBRIDUS

BUTTERBUR (Petasites hybridus (L.) P. Gaertn. et al. and P. officinalis Moench) +

Synonym :
- Tussilago hybrida L.

Activities (Butterbur) :
- Analgesic (1; BIS; HH2; PH2; SHT); Antiinflammatory (1; IJI1; SHT); Antileukotriene (1; IJI1; PH2; SHT); Antilithic (2; KOM; SHT); Antimigraine (1; IJI1); Antispasmodic (2; KOM; PHR; PH2; SHT); Antiulcer (1; HH2); Aperitif (f; PH2); Aquaretic (f; SHT); Carcinogenic (1; PHR; PH2); Cardiotonic (f; GMH); Cytoprotective (f; PH2); Diaphoretic (f; MAD); Diuretic (f; GMH; MAD; PHR; PNC); Dysuria (2; KOM); Emmenagogue (f; MAD); Hepatotoxic (1; PHR; PH2); Mutagenic (1; PHR; PH2); Sedative (f; BIS); Stimulant (f; PNC); Teratogenic (1; PHR; PH2); Tonic (f; PNC); Vermifuge (f; MAD).

Indications (Butterbur):
- Adenopathy (f; JLH); Agitation (f; PH2); Anorexia (f; PHR; PH2); Asthma (f; MAD; PHR; PH2); Backache (f; GMH); Bladder Stone (2; PHR; PH2); Bronchosis (f; PHR; PH2); Cancer (f; JLH); Cholecystosis (f; PHR; PH2); Cold (f; GMH); Colic (f; PHR; PH2; SHT); Cough (f; MAD; PHR; PH2); Cramp (1; KOM; PHR; PH2; SHT); Dysmenorrhea (f; BIS); Dyspnea (f; GMH); Dysuria (f; GMH; MAD; SHT); Enterosis (f; BIS; PHR; PH2); Fever (f; GMH; MAD); Gastrosis (f; PHR; PH2); Headache (f; PHR; PH2); Hepatosis (f; PHR; PH2); Hoarseness (f; MAD); Inflammation (1; IJI1; SHT); Insomnia (f; BIS; PH2); Kidney Stone (2; PHR; PH2); Migraine (1; IJI1; PH2); Nervousness (f; BIS); Neuralgia (f; GMH); Pain (2; BIS; HH2; KOM; PHR; PH2; SHT); Pancreatosis (f; PHR; PH2); Pertussis (f; PHR; PH2); Plague (f; GMH); Psychasthenia (2; HH2); Respirosis (f; PH2); Sore (f; GMH; PHR; PH2); Sore Throat (f; MAD); Stone (2;
PHR; PH2; SHT); Stress (f; PH2); Ulcer (1; HH2); Uterosis (f; MAD); UTI (f; PHR; PH2; SHT); Water Retention (f; GMH; MAD; PHR; PNC); Worm (f; GMH; MAD); Wound (f; PHR; PH2).

Dosages (Butterbur):
- 4.5 - 7 g/day dry herb (KOM; PH2; SHT); 1.2 - 2 g powdered herb/cup water, 2 - 3 ×/day (HH2; PH2). Teas should not be used (PH2).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Butterbur):
- Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). Not recommended due to PAs and sesquiterpene lactones (PNC). Daily dose should not exceed 1 µg PAs; do not dose more than 4 - 6 weeks a year (SHT). Botanically similar to Tussilago farfara. Adequate data about PA content not available. PAs are toxic to humans, with liver damage with cirrhosis and ascites, or seneciosis, or veno-occlusive disease (VOD) reported
in almost all cases of severe or fatal intoxications, from intakes of 0.5 - 3.3 mg/kg (AEH). Commission
E reports all plant parts contain hepatotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic PAs. Contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation (AEH). Gruenwald (PHR) makes the following contradictory statements, back-to-back, first his template, No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages. Then, the conflicting statement, One should entirely forgo any administration of the drug, due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids with hepatotoxic and carcinogenic effects in the parts of the plant above ground, as even mere traces of the alkaloids present a danger (PHR).

Extracts (Butterbur):
- Ethanolic extract antispasmodic IC50 = 1.7 mg/ml (very weak cf atropine 1/1,000,000th of papaverine 1/1000th). LD50 dry drug 870 mg/kg ivn guinea pig, tincture 1250 mg/kg (HH2), LD50 root extract 2500 orl guinea pig (HH2), LD50 root extract 60 mg/kg ivn guinea pig (HH2).