Migraineurs would prefer not to have migraines at all.  If headache cannot be eliminated, reducing the number of migraine episodes they experience would certainly be an improvement.  It would be even better if it could be done without synthetic pharmacologicals.

Migraineurs, meet butterbur (Petasites hybridus).  Butterbur is a shrub native to southwestern Asia, Europe, and northern Africa.  It is not what’s above ground that makes it interesting though, it’s the root.  Several studies have shown that daily doses of extract of butterbur root reduced the frequency of migraine episodes by approximately 50% in almost 80% of the participants.

Butterbur is used in Europe and Asia, but only in the last decade have American doctors looked at it as a viable herbal preventative for migraineurs.  Double blind, placebo-controlled studies conducted in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 all confirmed the herb’s efficacy.

Migraine frequency reduction ranged from 37% – 62% among study participants, with almost no side effects.  The only side effect reported was minor gastrointestinal upset, and that was in a small portion of both the herb and placebo groups.  Butterbur is currently considered to be safe, as of this writing, to take with other migraine medications.  A healthcare professional should always be included in the decision to add herbal products to any treatment regimen.

Crude butterbur contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs).  These alkaloids are known to be toxic in humans, particularly to the liver.  When choosing butterbur, make sure the product is labeled PA-free.

The amount of alkaloids in butterbur root is minimal, less than 0.01% concentration.  Most butterbur treatment regimens recommend taking the supplement for a maximum of for to six months.  If migraine frequency increases, it is safe to take again for another 4-6 months, but at least a month needs to separate each course of treatment.

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Undoubtedly we are living in a world that is ever-changing and moving at a really fast pace. It is true that a lot of of these changes might help us in some ways but there also appears to be an increase in the number of people who are under a lot of stress and lacking in vitality. This is no doubt because of the fact that many things in life are uncertain such as having enough money and keeping a job. This can lead to relationship and health troubles that should be recognized before they become too serious. This article will discuss how learning to meditate can help us cope with stress every day.

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Meditation at one time seemed to be somewhat mysterious and we may have imagined that people went away into the mountains to cut themselves off from normal life. These days, you can find people all over the world who meditate daily. All you have to do is take some time to go someplace quiet and be there alone. Employing a specific technique is not required as long as you find something that works for you and you do it on a regular basis. Once you begin to meditate every day, you’ll get a general sense of being calm as you go about your daily activities. It might be that some of the small things that used to annoy you suddenly seem less important and you are able to take things more in your stride. Lots of meditation techniques underscore the importance of deep breathing which can help you to have less stress. In having to deal with stress, you may have allowed your breathing to become shallow and may have even had anxiety attacks. Meditation techniques of any kind can make a difference and help to counteract stress reactions. One other change that should likewise become evident is how much more energetic you feel as some of your natural vitality returns. With meditation, you will get a different sort of relaxation than the form you get after sleeping all night. Naturally, getting good sleep is important, and meditating will help to ensure you get the best sleep possible. Meditation could help to replace some of the hours of rest you have missed if you have had a restless night as well as making you feel more settled before the nights ahead. A lot of proponents of meditation observe that they are more creative immediately after they are done meditating. This is likely a result of the way that meditation stills the mind allowing the creative side to surface. If you’re looking for a solution for a challenging problem in your life, this can be a huge help. It is worth writing down anything that enters your head at that moment so that you capture them while they are fresh in your mind. Integrating meditation into your everyday life is easy to accomplish and will help you to feel less stressed while living a healthier life.

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