Applied Evidence

The evidence for herbal and botanical remedies, Part 1

J Fam Pract. 2018 January;67(1):10-16

Herbals (1 of 2)

References

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15. Diener HC, Rahlfs VW, Danesch U. The first placebo-controlled trial of a special butterbur root extract for the prevention of migraine: reanalysis of efficacy criteria. Eur Neurol. 2004;51:89-97.

16. Lipton RB, Göbel H, Einhäupl KM, et al. Petasites hybridus root (butterbur) is an effective preventive treatment for migraine. Neurology. 2004;63:2240-2244.

17. Pothmann R, Danesch U. Migraine prevention in children and adolescents: results of an open study with a special butterbur root extract. Headache. 2005;45:196-203.

18. Holland S, Silberstein SD, Freitag F, et al; Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society. Evidence-based guideline update: NSAIDs and other complementary treatments for episodic migraine prevention in adults: report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society. Neurology. 2012;78:1346-1353.

19. American Academy of Neurology. Evidence-based guideline update: NSAIDs and other complementary treatments for episodic migraine prevention in adults: [RETIRED]. Sept 16, 2015. Available at: http://n.neurology.org/content/78/17/1346. Accessed December 14, 2017.

20. Man LX. Complementary and alternative medicine for allergic rhinitis. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2009;17:226-231.

21. Guo R, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Herbal medicines for the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a systematic review. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2007;99:483-495.

22. Daniel O, Mauskop A. Nutraceuticals in acute and prophylactic treatment of migraine. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2016;18:14.

23. Chacko SM, Thambi PT, Kuttan R, et al. Beneficial effects of green tea: a literature review. Chin Med. 2010;6:13.

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25. Okello EJ, McDougall GJ, Kumar S, et al. In vitro protective effects of colon-available extract of Camellia sinensis (tea) against hydrogen peroxide and beta-amyloid (Aβ((1-42))) induced cytotoxicity in differentiated PC12 cells. Phytomedicine. 2011;15;18:691-696.

26. Schmidt A, Hammann F, Wölnerhanssen B, et al. Green tea extract enhances parieto-frontal connectivity during working memory processing. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2014;231:3879-3888.

27. Tomata Y, Sugiyama K, Kaiho Y, et al. Green tea consumption and the risk of incident dementia in elderly japanese: The Ohsaki Cohort 2006 Study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;24:881-889.

28. Takechi R, Alfonso H, Hiramatsu N, et al. Elevated plasma and urinary concentrations of green tea catechins associated with improved plasma lipid profile in healthy Japanese women. Nutr Res. 2016;36:220-226.

29. Kim A, Chiu A, Barone MK, et al. Green tea catechins decrease total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011;111:1720-1729.

30. Zhang C, Qin YY, Wei X, et al. Tea consumption and risk of cardiovascular outcomes and total mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective observational studies. Eur J Epidemiol. 2015;30:103-113.

31. Imai K, Suga K, Nakachi K. Cancer-preventive effects of drinking green tea among a Japanese population. Prev Med. 1997;26:769-775.

32. Yuan JM. Cancer prevention by green tea: evidence from epidemiologic studies. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013;98(6 Suppl):1676S-1681S.

33. Kurahashi N, Sasazuki S, Iwasaki M, et al. Green tea consumption and prostate cancer risk in Japanese men: a prospective study. Am J Epidemiol. 2008;167:71-77.

34. Iso H, Date C, Wakai K, et al. The relationship between green tea and total caffeine intake and risk for self-reported type 2 diabetes among Japanese adults. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144:554-562.

35. Kim HM, Kim J. The effects of green tea on obesity and type 2 diabetes. Diab Metabol J. 2013;37:173-175.

36. Yang J, Mao Q, Xu H, et al. Tea consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis update. BMJ Open. 2014;4:e005632.

37. Liu K, Zhou R, Wang B, et al. Effect of green tea on glucose control and insulin sensitivity: a meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013;98:340-348.

38. Isomura T, Suzuki S, Origasa H, et al. Liver-related safety assessment of green tea extracts in humans: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2016;70:1340.

39. Tillisch K. Complementary and alternative medicine for gastrointestinal disorders. Clin Med (Lond). 2007;7:224-227.

40. Knowlton WM, McKemy DD. TRPM8: from cold to cancer, peppermint to pain. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2011;12:68-77.

41. Ford AC, Moayyedi P, Lacy BE, et al. Task Force on the Management of Functional Bowel Disorders. American College of Gastroenterology monograph on the management of irritable bowel syndrome and chronic idiopathic constipation. Am J Gastroenterol. 2014;109(Suppl 1):S2-S26;quiz S27.

42. Ruepert L, Quartero AO, de Wit NJ, et al. Bulking agents, antispasmodics and antidepressants for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(8):CD003460.

43. Khanna R, MacDonald JK, Levesque BG. Peppermint oil for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2014;48:505-512.

44. Cash BD, Epstein MS, Shah SM. A novel delivery system of peppermint oil is an effective therapy for irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Digest Dis Sci. 2016;61:560-571.

45. Holtmann G, Haag S, Adam B, et al. Effects of a fixed combination of peppermint oil and caraway oil on symptoms and quality of life in patients suffering from functional dyspepsia. Phytomedicine. 2003;10(suppl 4):56-57.

46. Madisch A, Heydenreich CJ, Wieland V, et al. Treatment of functional dyspepsia with a fixed peppermint oil and caraway oil combination preparation as compared to cisapride. A multicenter, reference-controlled double-blind equivalence study. Arzneimittelforschung. 1999;49:925-932.

47. Asao T, Kuwano H, Ide M, et al. Spasmolytic effect of peppermint oil in barium during double-contrast barium enema compared with Buscopan. Clin Radiol. 2003;58:301-305.

48. Sparks MJ, O’Sullivan P, Herrington AA, et al. Does peppermint oil relieve spasm during barium enema? Br J Radiol. 1995;68:841-843.

49. Akhavan Amjadi M, Mojab F, Kamranpour SB. The effect of peppermint oil on symptomatic treatment of pruritus in pregnant women. Iranian J Pharm Res. 2012;11:1073-1077.

50. St Cyr A, Chen A, Bradley KC, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of STOPAIN for a migraine attack. Front Neurol. 2015;6:11.

51. Borhani Haghighi A, Motazedian S, Rezaii R, et al. Cutaneous application of menthol 10% solution as an abortive treatment of migraine without aura: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossed-over study. Int J Clin Pract. 2010;64:451-456.

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54. Johar P, Grover V, Topp R, et al. A comparison of topical menthol to ice on pain, evoked tetanic and voluntary force during delayed onset muscle soreness. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2012;7:314-322.

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Butterbur

Overview

Petasites hybridus, also known as butterbur, is a member of the daisy family, Asteraceae, and is a perennial plant found throughout Europe and Asia.¹³ It was used as a remedy for ulcers, wounds, and inflammation in ancient Greece. Its calcium channel-blocking effects may counteract vasoconstriction and play a role in preventing hyper-excitation of neurons.¹⁴ Sesquiterpenes, the pharmacologically active compounds in butterbur, have strong anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory effects through lipoxygenase and leukotriene inhibition.¹⁴

Migraine headache. Butterbur appears to be effective in migraine prophylaxis. Several studies have shown butterbur to significantly reduce the number of migraine attacks per month when compared with placebo. In a small, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study on the efficacy and tolerability of a special butterbur root extract (Petadolex) for the prevention of migraine, response rate was 45% in the butterbur group vs 15% in the placebo group. Butterbur was well tolerated.¹⁵ Similar results were found in another RCT in which Petasites (butterbur) 75 mg bid significantly reduced migraine attack frequency by 48%, compared with 26% for the placebo group.¹⁶ Petadolex was well tolerated in this study, too, and no serious adverse events occurred. Findings suggest that 75 mg bid may be a good option for migraine prevention given the agent's safety profile.

Butterbur appears to be effective in migraine prophylaxis, but there are serious concerns about liver toxicity.

Petadolex may also be a good option in pediatric migraine. A 2005 study in children and adolescents found that 77% of patients experienced a reduction in attacks by at least 50% with butterbur. Patients were treated with 50 mg to 150 mg over 4 months.¹⁷

In their guidelines for migraine prevention, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and American Headache Society gave butterbur a Level A recommendation and concluded that butterbur should be offered to patients with migraine to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.¹⁸However, the AAN has since changed its position, stating that “The 2012 AAN guideline, ‘Evidence-based guideline update: NSAIDS and other complementary treatments for episodic migraine prevention in adults’ has been retired by the AAN Board of Directors on September 16, 2015, due to serious safety concerns with a preventative treatment, butterbur, recommended by this guideline. The recommendations and conclusions in all retired guidelines are considered no longer valid and no longer supported by the AAN.”¹⁹

Allergic rhinitis. Although the data is not convincing, some studies have shown that butterbur may be beneficial for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.^20,21

Adverse effects

While the butterbur plant itself contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), which are hepatotoxic and carcinogenic, extracts of butterbur root that are almost completely free from these alkaloids are available. (Patients who choose to use butterbur should be advised to use only products that are certified and labeled pyrrolizidine alkaloids free.)

Petadolex, the medication used in migraine studies, was initially approved by the German health regulatory authority, but approval was later withdrawn due to concerns about liver toxicity.²² In 2012, the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency withdrew all butterbur products from the market due to associated cases of liver toxicity.²² Petasites (butterbur) products are still available in the US market, and the risks and benefits should be discussed with all patients considering this treatment. Liver function monitoring is recommended for all patients using butterbur.²²

The herb can also cause dyspepsia, headache, itchy eyes, gastrointestinal symptoms, asthma, fatigue, and drowsiness. Additionally, people who are allergic to ragweed and daisies may have allergic reactions to butterbur. Eructation (belching) occurred in 7% of patients in a pediatric study.¹⁷

The bottom line

Butterbur appears to be efficacious for migraine prophylaxis, but long-term safety is unknown and serious concerns exist for liver toxicity.