Regarding the butterbur product for migraine, Petadolex, it is a German
product processed to contain insignificant amounts of toxic pyrrolizidine
alkaloids that make the crude herbal preparation dangerous.

I first heard of this product this year when the American Botanical Council
HerbClips published as report about it, and of it's efficacy for migraine
for children ( youngest was 6 yrs old).

From ABC website: "Note: the standardized butterbur root extract used in
this trial (Petadolex®) was purified to remove all naturally occurring
pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) according to the quality control requirements
of the German government."

So yes, the Nursing Mother's Herbal gives the crude form of the herbal an E
for avoid. But this particular product is accepted and registered for use in
Germany - this provides me fairly strong reassurance regarding it's use by
bf moms. 

From Andy Weil's website: "If you decide to try butterbur for migraines or
hay fever, be very careful about the products you chose. The crude herb
contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that are toxic to the liver. PA-free
butterbur extracts are available; only use such products."

Would certainly closely scrutinize ANY other butterbur product before use.
Sheila

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