Butterbur is as effective as cetirizine for hay fever

A randomised controlled trial in 125 patients with hay fever has found no difference in effect between butterbur extract and the antihistamine cetirizine after two weeks' treatment (Schapowal and colleagues, p 144). Butterbur was well tolerated and did not produce the sedating effects commonly associated with antihistamines. It could therefore be a suitable treatment for patients with hay fever.