What are the safety concerns of butterbur?
One major area of concern regarding safety is with pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are commonly found in the butterbur plant. These substances can cause hepatotoxicity, lung toxicity, carcinogenesis, and thrombosis. Fortunately, the commercial preparation process of butterbur typically removes these substances. A butterbur root extract may reduce the frequency of migraines in adults and children when taken orally. In 2012, the American Academy of Neurology recommended butterbur for preventing migraines. However, the Academy stopped recommending it in 2015 because of serious concerns about its safety.People take butterbur by mouth for pain, upset stomach, stomach ulcers, migraine and other headaches, ongoing cough, chills, anxiety, plague, fever, trouble sleeping (insomnia), whooping cough, asthma, a lung disease called chronic obstructive bronchitis, hay fever (allergic rhinitis), eczema, mental illnesses that .
Is it safe to take butterbur every day?
Several studies, including studies of children and adolescents, have reported that PA-free butterbur products seem to be safe when taken by mouth for up to 16 weeks. However, there have been rare cases of liver injury associated with products that were reported to be PA-free. They should be taken by mouth in the recommended doses for 12 to 16 weeks. However, it is not known if using butterbur for a long period of time could cause problems. Most people tolerate butterbur well, but it may cause side effects in some people. Side effects most often affect those who are allergic to plants.