A Special Extract from Petasites Hybrid Root
Is Effective As a Preventative Treatment for Migraine
 (Headache, Headache 2002; 42:406)

Extracts from Petasites plants have been used as traditional remedies for centuries. Now researchers have assessed the effectiveness of standardized extract from Petasites root for headache prevention in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 245 adults who had experienced at least 3 migraine attacks per month for the 3 months prior to the study. The investigators monitored the subjects for a 4-week baseline preliminary phase, allowing only those who suffered at least 2 attacks during this time to participate in the 16-week treatment period, during which the participants were given either 50 mg or 75 mg of the extract daily or a placebo. The scientists report that a 75 mg daily dose of the Petasites root extract significantly reduced the occurrence of migraine headaches.