Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2005; 10: 03
The aim of this study was to gather preliminary data on the effectiveness and tolerability of preparations from Petasites hybridus in the prophylaxis of migraine.
Published literature was gathered from Medline, Embase, Biosis, Cochrane, Cinahl, Amed and manually to identify RCTs investigating preparations from Petasites hybridus in the prophylaxis of migraine. Trials were selected and data extracted by two independent reviewers. External and internal methodological quality was assessed as described in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2004; 4: 13: A, eligibility criteria specified; B, randomisation appropriate; C, treatment allocation concealed; E, similarity at baseline; F, outcome measures and control interventions explicitly described; G, co-interventions comparable; H, outcome measures relevant; I, adverse events; J, dropouts fully described; K, sample size based on a priori power calculation; L, ITT analysis; N, point estimates and measures of variability presented for the primary outcome measure; O, appropriate timing [total score (TS) 13].
Only two of the 115 RCTs retrieved met the inclusion criteria. Both investigated the high-pressure carbon dioxide Petasites extract Petadolex and both were of high quality: TS 11 (Eur Neurol 2004; 51: 89–97) and TS 13 (Neurology 2004; 63: 2240–4). In both RCTs the frequency of migraine attacks decreased significantly after daily consumption of 100 or 150 mg of extract over 3 or 4 months, respectively.
There is evidence for the effectiveness of the proprietary Petasites extract Petadolex in the prophylaxis of migraine based on consistent findings from two high-quality studies. Further studies should confirm this result and long-term safe use of the extract.
