Herbal extracts better treatments for hay fever

According to a recent trial, extract of butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is as effective as conventional antihistamines in treating intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR), commonly known as hay fever. In the randomized, double-blind study of 330 patients, researchers found that butterbur was as effective at reducing IAR symptoms as Telfast 180, a commonly used antihistamine, without causing the drowsiness associated with antihistamines. It is thought that butterbur works by inhibiting the production of leukotrienes, compounds that are involved in the body’s inflammatory response to allergens.

Phytotherapy Research, August 2005