Jennifer Mathews: Lisa Jacobson has tried a lapful of prescription medicines for migraines. Thirty-eight years of suffering, and nothing has worked.
Lisa Jacobson: You start to feel like a fuzzy feeling in your temple on one side, and it turns into a throbbing feeling on one side of your head very strong.
Jennifer Mathews: Now she has a new option, one that can be found at most pharmacies and health food stores. The herbal extract sold as Petadolex is made from the root of the butterbur plant.
Neurologist Richard Lipton: The butterbur plant is widely found in Europe and has been used as a folk remedy for migraines and other conditions for hundreds of years.
Jennifer Mathews: Dr. Lipton led an international team of researchers to see if the herb reduces migraines. The study found patients who took the herb twice a day had nearly half the amount of migraines.
Neurologist Richard Lipton: This agent may work through an anti-inflammatory mechanism, preventing pain by keeping the blood vessels in the head from becoming inflamed.
Jennifer Mathews: Butterbur's side effects were mild -- so mild it's even safe for kids. Good news for Lisa because her daughter also has migraines.
Lisa Jacobson: I would love to see her take something so easily like an herb.
Jennifer Mathews: Mother and daughter are ready to give it a try. They hope it's the "non-prescription" relief they've been looking for. This is Jennifer Mathews reporting.
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