Herbal relief for hay fever
23 Aug 2005
Researchers from Switzerland and Germany say a herb called butterbur may provide an effective alternative to fexofenadine (Allegra), an antihistamine commonly used to treat intermittent allergic rhinitis. An extract called petasites (formulated as Butterbur Ze 339) is a very good alternative to antihistamines on several measures of effectiveness, according to lead author Dr Andreas Schapowal, of the Allergy Clinic at Landquart, in Switzerland. The study findings are published in the online edition of Phytotherapy Research.