Herb comparison
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) vs Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Both plants are listed as traditional remedies for 1 of the same condition, which is why they are easy to confuse. Their descriptions and full safety notes are below, free.
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is restricted
Preparation amounts are not shown for this herb. It is toxic, restricted, or otherwise unsafe to self-dose - the margin between a traditional dose and a harmful one is too small to publish as reference material. If you are considering it, that conversation belongs with a doctor or a qualified practitioner, not a website.
- About
- Butterbur (sometimes called Petasites) is known for large, rhubarb-like leaves and stems that often grow in damp, marshy areas or moist forest grounds. It contains the compounds petasin and isopetasin. NCCIH says a root extract may reduce how often migraines occur and a leaf extract may ease hay fever, but the American Academy of Neurology stopped recommending it for migraine in 2015 because of safety concerns.Lavender (Lavandula officinalis, also known as L. angustifolia) is a small, perennial shrub that can grow about 3 ft (1 m) high, characterized by its narrow, silver-green leaves and spiked violet-blue flowers. Renowned for its sweet aroma, lavender has a long history in traditional medicine for improving mood and sleep, and NCCIH says it is promoted today for calming anxiety and stress. NCCIH says studies suggest an oral lavender oil product might help anxiety, but more high-quality research is needed to reach reliable conclusions.
- Safety & precautions
- Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs): The raw plant contains PAs, compounds that NCCIH says can harm the liver and lungs and might cause cancer. NCCIH's advice is to consider only products processed to strip out PAs that carry a PA-free label or certification. Liver injury: NCCIH notes rare liver injury even with products reported to be PA-free, and LiverTox describes cases, two needing urgent liver transplant, with some commercial butterbur products, possibly from leftover PAs. Stop and ask for liver tests if you develop tiredness, nausea, belly pain or dark urine. Avoid butterbur if you have liver disease. Pregnancy: NCCIH says to avoid products containing PAs during pregnancy and breastfeeding; little is known about PA-free ones.Essential Oil (Internal Use): Avoid ingesting without professional guidance. Allergies or Skin Irritation: Possible when applied topically; discontinue if irritation occurs. Children: NCCIH notes a few reports of breast swelling in children who used lavender skin products, although it is unclear whether lavender was the cause. Pregnancy: NCCIH says little is known about whether lavender is safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so seek professional advice.
Safety text above is printed in full and is never abbreviated. For each plant’s complete precautions, drug and food interactions and preparation notes, open its own page - both are free.