Published in February 3rd, 2012
Advertisements
Migraine equals pain, the kind that we are not going to have a break from once it strikes. It accounts for a significant fraction of emergency room visits, often getting in the way of work. In fact, studies say that more often than not migraine sufferers do not feel fit to work every time they go through an attack, let alone get the job done. It is for this reason why it has given rise to significant concerns at the workplace. Apart from its role in one’s decline in productivity and its consequent economic impact, migraine is just unbearable and its onset signals sufferers to seek immediate relief in ready analgesics and herbal remedies, including the much talked-about butterbur extract.
Petasites and Historical Uses
Petasites are a group of rhizomatous plants more commonly known as butterbur. The first known medicinal use of butterbur can be traced back to the ancient times when Greek physicians, most notable Dioscurides, applied the extracts to body surfaces to treat skin sores and other types of ulcers. In the Middle Ages, the plant proved to be of great help against infections especially during the outbreak of bubonic plague and the following years when the infamous Black Death wreaked havoc across Europe. Also, it has been a spiritual healing practice of American Indians to make use of butterbur, its roots to be exact, as a remedy for open wounds, sores, and headache, and up to now reported to have positive effects against nausea, migraine, and inflammatory diseases.
Petasin and Isopetasin
Today butterbur is often referred to as anti-inflammatory, and is associated with aiding allergies as well as migraines. The extracts of the plant contains two active anti-inflammatory agents: petasin and isopetasin. Both of these compounds have properties against allergic reactions and muscle spasms, acting on vascular smooth muscle cells in blood vessels. A lot of ongoing researches related to petasin and isopetasin point to their activities at a molecular level that includes interfering in the synthesis of chemical compounds in the body, particularly prostaglandins and leukotrienes, two families of signaling molecules that supervise the inflammation process, with an added emphasis on butterbur extracts’ role against prostaglandin, the pain chemical.
Butterbur Extract and Pain Chemicals
Molecules in the human body called eicosanoids are important in sending messages to organs of all systems and creating network of communication among body tissues in these organs. Two eicosanoid groups called prostaglandins and luekotrienes are responsible for initiating inflammation, including allergic reactions. Prostaglandins control the widening of the muscles in the region where inflammation occurs and signal neutrophils to enter the region and put an end to the inflammation process by fighting off harmful molecules. In the process of ridding your body with unwanted chemicals, prostaglandins sensitize the region to pain, including the severe throbbing of the head when migraine attacks. Petasin and isopetasin in butterbur extract ought to inhibit the pain prostaglandin causes.
Look for quality butterbur at your local or internet vitamin store. Always choose name brands of butterbur like Source Naturals, Solaray, and Planetary Formulas to ensure quality and purity of the product you purchase for better health.
Give butterbur extract a try risk free at VitaNet®, LLC Vitamin Store. http://vitanetonline.com/searchs/Feverfew/Feverfew/
Related posts:
- Chronic Migraines Can Be Treated People who have migraine headaches for 15 days or more out of each month, for 3 consecutive months, are classified as suffering from chronic migraines. The disorder is also known as transformed migraine, and is thought to be caused in part, by enlarged blood vessels in the head. Due to the frequency with which these [...]...
- Migraines: Not Just A Bad Headache A migraine is a complaint that is quite often suffered by other family members, all of which have probably been experiencing them from a young age. Often these attacks can last for days where the victim must seek bed rest; however, if it is treated, they can end in a matter of hours. These attacks [...]...
- Natural Migraine Treatment For Migraine Relief Migraines are due mainly to the dilation or swelling of blood vessels in the head. The effects can be excruciating, and while medication can provide relief, it does not do so for everyone. In addition, the body can be over-medicated if drugs are taken as often as migraines can occur. As a result, more and [...]...
- You And Your Migraines: How To Exercise Without Pain Exercising when you have chronic headaches is always a challenge. Many times a migraine is made worse by even light activity and most migraineurs want to just lie down and be still as any movement makes the pounding pain increase. So how do you get exercise if you are having regular headaches? One of the [...]...
- Facts About Olive Leaf Extract and Anti Aging Supplements Here are some facts about olive leaf extract that you may be unaware of. Supplement companies often make broad non-specific claims, without providing links to supportive research. One of the best supplement companies has done the research and makes that information readily available on their website by providing links to PubMed. PubMed is the best [...]...
- The Difference Between Ephedra Extract and Ephedra Alkaloids Ephedra extracts and ephedra alkaloids—is there any difference? It is not surprising to see a lot of people who are getting confused when they see weight loss supplements that contain either one of them. Today, it is time to spell the difference and perhaps similarities for both. Ephedra When you speak of ephedra extract, you [...]...
- Learn Faster, Think More Clearly With Bacopa Extract You’re ready to leave the house, you’re already running late and you can’t remember where you put the keys. You try retracing your steps, check all of your coat pockets and start to panic. You can’t remember where you put them or where you last saw them. Does this sound familiar? Do you have trouble [...]...
- Oyster Extract: The Whole Food Supplement The market! The food supplement business is booming, No where is this more evident than on the internet where thousands of companies compete to offer the latest cure all’s and at the best discounted prices. Americans will spend $30 billion this year alone on anti-oxidants. Europe is catching up fast with growth in the bio [...]...
- Control Your Sugar Cravings With Gymnema Leaf Extract Gymnema has been used for centuries throughout the world for medical purposes. Only recently has it gained popularity in the Western world. The herb grows naturally in Africa and India. It is traded all over the world. Generally, the leaves are the part used. However, the root seems to supply some medicinal properties as well. [...]...
- Olive Leaf Extract Information on the Latest Research There are not many reliable sources for olive leaf extract information. Most of the info is provided by supplement companies that do not provide links to the research they quote. They focus only on the attributes of the supplement, but spend little time talking about the unknowns or the health consequences for people with ongoing [...]...
Previous post:
«
Did You Know That Stevia is Safe For Diabetes?Next post: Did You Know That Guggul Herb Can Help With Cholesterol? »