Herbal remedy butterbur helps in allergic asthma; small study.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)

SAN FRANCISCO -- Butterbur, an herbal remedy, seems to have anti-inflammatory activity in patients with atopic asthma, according to a poster presented by Fiona M. Robb at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

She reported on a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover study of 16 patients with asthma. All of them were using inhaled corticosteroid therapy.

Butterbur, or Petasites hybridus, was associated with a reduction of bronchial hyperresponsiveness to adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and suppression of several surrogate markers of inflammation, said Ms. Robb of the University of Dundee (Scotland). …