Butterbur with Feverfew: Targeted Neurological Support & Head Comfort
When occasional head tension strikes, it can disrupt your entire day. NOW® Butterbur with Feverfew pairs two of herbal medicine’s most thoroughly researched botanicals into a single, daily veg capsule designed to support healthy cranial blood vessel tone, calm neurological tissues, and maintain long-term head comfort.
The VitaNet® Quality Assurance Summary:
✓Standardized Potency: Delivers 75 mg of Butterbur root extract standardized to a minimum of 15% active Petasins.
✓Botanical Synergy: Includes 200 mg of whole Feverfew aerial parts (Tanacetum parthenium) for layered support.
✓100% PA-Free Guaranteed: Purified and analytically tested to ensure zero toxic Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs).
✓Backed by VitaNet®: Family-owned wellness retail since 1995 with an unconditional 100% money-back guarantee.
Butterbur: Promote Blood Flow In The Brain
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is a perennial shrub native to the marshy riverbanks of Europe and northern Asia. Used for centuries in traditional European herbalism, modern biochemical research has revealed exactly how it promotes neurological calm.
The primary bioactive compounds inside butterbur root are called petasins (specifically petasin, isopetasin, and neopetasin). These compounds help maintain brain wellness through two primary actions:
Relaxing Blood Vessel Walls (Spasm Relief): Think of cranial blood vessels like a garden hose. Sudden constriction narrows the flow, creating pressure and sensitivity. Petasins act as natural calcium channel modulators, gently signaling the smooth muscle lining your blood vessels to relax. This promotes steady, unhindered microcirculation and optimal oxygen delivery to sensitive brain tissues.
Calming Inflammatory Cascades: Petasins help inhibit the synthesis of leukotrienes (specifically peptide-leukotrienes) and inflammatory prostaglandins. By dialing down these biochemical alarm signals, butterbur supports neurological tissues before minor irritation turns into severe head discomfort.
Clinical Insight: Peer-reviewed clinical research published in Neurology (Lipton et al., 2004) demonstrated that a standardized butterbur root extract providing 75 mg twice daily reduced the frequency of recurring head discomfort episodes by up to 48% over a 16-week period compared to placebo.
The Synergistic Power of Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
While butterbur excels at blood vessel dilation and leukotriene control, Feverfew complements it by addressing a completely different biochemical trigger. That is why NOW® combines both herbs into one balanced formula.
Feverfew is a daisy-like medicinal plant containing a family of active sesquiterpene lactones, most notably parthenolide. Parthenolide works in harmony with butterbur by:
Regulating Serotonin Release: Platelets circulating in your blood store serotonin. During periods of physical stress or environmental sensitivity, these platelets can suddenly dump excess serotonin, triggering rapid blood vessel constriction. Parthenolide helps stabilize blood platelets, preventing sudden serotonin surges.
Inhibiting Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB): NF-κB is a master genetic switch for systemic inflammation. Research confirms that feverfew extracts inhibit NF-κB activation, reducing downstream inflammatory enzymes like cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).
Providing Seasonal Balance: Feverfew’s ability to soothe immune responses also helps individuals whose head tension is aggravated by seasonal environmental changes or histamine sensitivity.
A landmark double-blind trial published in The Lancet (Murphy et al., 1988) confirmed that daily supplementation with feverfew significantly decreased both the frequency and severity of episodic head discomfort while eliminating associated stomach nausea.
Why PA-Free Butterbur Is Essential for Liver Safety: In its raw, unpurified state, the wild butterbur plant contains naturally occurring chemical defenses called Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs), specifically senecionine and integerrimine. If consumed over time, PAs can cause hepatic veno-occlusive disease (severe liver damage) and toxic liver enzyme spikes.
Because raw butterbur carries this serious safety risk, both the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) strongly advise consumers to never consume uncertified or wild butterbur. Only verified, certified PA-free extracts should ever be ingested.
How NOW Foods Guarantees Pure, Safe Butterbur:
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accredited In-House Labs: NOW operates one of the most sophisticated private testing facilities in the nutritional industry, running over 19,000 distinct analytical tests every single month.
State-of-the-Art LC-MS/MS & HPLC Verification: Every single production batch of Petasites hybridus is subjected to High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to confirm undetectable PA levels down to parts-per-billion (ppb) limits, far exceeding European (BfR) and Health Canada safety standards.
Strict Heavy Metal Limits (ICP-MS): Utilizing Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, NOW screens every lot for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury to ensure strict compliance with USP monographs and California Proposition 65 limits.
Identity & Bio-Burden Screening: High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) confirms 100% genuine botanical species identity, while automated microbial screening guarantees zero salmonella, E. coli, yeast, or molds.
Complete Ingredient Listing & Supplement Facts
Formula details double-checked against the official manufacturer label for NOW Foods Item #4602 (UPC: 733739046024).
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Veg Capsule
Servings Per Container: 60
Butterbur Extract (Petasites hybridus) (Root) (Standardized to min. 15% Sesquiterpenes as Petasins)
Other Ingredients: Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Microcrystalline Cellulose, Stearic Acid (vegetable source), and Silicon Dioxide.
Allergen Free-From Statement: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut, or sesame ingredients. Produced in a certified Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
In nutritional medicine, few herbal combinations carry as much clinical backing for cranial vascular comfort as Butterbur and Feverfew:
The 3-Arm Multicenter Trial (Neurology, 2004): Led by Dr. Richard B. Lipton of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 245 patients were evaluated across clinical centers. Patients receiving 75 mg of standardized butterbur twice daily experienced a 48% reduction in attack frequency (p = 0.0012) compared to only 26% in the placebo group, with the greatest improvements recorded between weeks 8 and 16.
Reanalysis of Clinical Efficacy (European Neurology, 2004): Diener et al. confirmed that standardized petasins were well-tolerated and produced statistically significant reductions in both the number of headache days and overall symptom intensity.
American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Guidelines: In formal systematic reviews of non-pharmacological interventions, the Quality Standards Subcommittee recognized petasins as having strong Level A evidence for reducing head discomfort frequency, while stressing that consumers must only utilize certified PA-free formulations.
Safety Guidelines, Precautions & Drug Interactions
To ensure you achieve optimal benefits safely, please review the following precautions prior to use:
Liver Conditions: Individuals with pre-existing liver disease or elevated hepatic enzymes should consult a qualified healthcare physician prior to supplementing with any butterbur product.
Pregnancy & Nursing: Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Feverfew may stimulate uterine contractions, and safety during lactation has not been established.
Asteraceae / Daisy Allergy: Butterbur and feverfew both belong to the Asteraceae / Compositae botanical family. If you have known allergic sensitivities to ragweed, daisies, marigolds, or chrysanthemums, use caution or consult an allergist.
Blood Thinning Medications: Feverfew possesses mild anti-platelet aggregation properties. If you are taking prescription anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs (such as warfarin, aspirin, or clopidogrel), consult your doctor.
Surgery Precaution: Discontinue use at least two weeks prior to scheduled dental or surgical procedures due to feverfew’s mild circulatory effects.
FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
How to Take NOW Butterbur with Feverfew: Practical Guide
For the best outcomes, consistency is key. Unlike fast-acting rescue medications, botanical compounds work cumulatively to build vascular stability over several weeks:
Recommended Adult Dosage: Take 1 veg capsule twice daily with food and a glass of water. Taking with meals enhances botanical absorption and eliminates mild digestive burping.
Duration & Timeline: Allow 4 to 6 weeks of continuous daily use to notice beneficial results, with peak clinical benefits typically observed between weeks 8 and 16.
Storage: Store tightly sealed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Do not eat the enclosed freshness packet.
Why Buy From VitaNet®, LLC?
VitaNet®, LLC is an independent, family-owned American retailer based in Hartville, Ohio, providing scientifically backed supplements since 1995. We stock authentic, factory-sealed NOW Foods products at genuine discount pricing, backed by live telephone customer support and our unconditional 100% money-back guarantee—we even pay return shipping if you are not fully satisfied.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What does "PA-free" mean, and why is it important for Butterbur?
"PA-free" means the butterbur root extract has undergone specialized extraction and chromatographic testing to ensure it is free from Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs). Naturally present in wild butterbur plants, PAs can cause cumulative liver toxicity. NOW® Foods tests every production lot using sensitive LC-MS/MS and HPLC instruments to verify that PAs are undetectable, ensuring optimal safety for regular use.
2. How long does it take for Butterbur with Feverfew to work?
Butterbur with Feverfew is designed for daily neurological support rather than immediate, on-the-spot pain relief. Clinical studies indicate that active petasins and parthenolides build cumulative tissue concentrations over 4 to 6 weeks, with maximum cranial comfort and frequency reductions evident between 8 and 16 weeks of daily supplementation.
3. Why does NOW combine Butterbur with Feverfew?
Butterbur and feverfew work via complementary pathways. Butterbur targets vascular smooth muscle spasms and inhibits leukotrienes, relaxing tight cranial vessels. Feverfew works upstream by stabilizing platelets to prevent sudden serotonin surges and dampening NF-κB inflammation. Together, they offer a synergistic, multi-target defense against occasional head tension.
4. Are there any common side effects with this supplement?
NOW Butterbur with Feverfew is very well-tolerated. The most frequently reported mild side effect is minor herbal burping, mild stomach upset, or occasional loose stools. Taking the capsule with a meal substantially reduces digestive sensitivity. Individuals with allergies to plants in the daisy or ragweed family should monitor for allergic symptoms.
5. Can I take this product with prescription medications?
If you are currently taking prescription blood thinners (like warfarin), anti-hypertensive drugs, or medications metabolized by liver cytochrome P450 enzymes, consult your physician or pharmacist before starting. Feverfew exerts mild natural blood-thinning properties that may interact with anticoagulant drugs.
6. What is VitaNet’s return policy if this product doesn’t work for me?
VitaNet®, LLC provides a risk-free 100% money-back guarantee for 12 months from your purchase date. If you are unsatisfied for any reason, whether the bottle is opened or unopened, VitaNet refunds 100% of your purchase price and pays the return shipping costs.
Helpful Customer Reviews
Review of Butterbur with Feverfew - NOW Product N4602 Reviewed by Sandeep Parekh
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 Rating: 5/5
