Supports mental function, circulation & healthy mood*

• clinically tested ingredients*
• helps maintain tone of cerebral blood vessels*
• supports mental function, circulation and a healthy mood*

If you rarely have a headache, consider yourself lucky. Most Americans contend with headaches ranging from occasional and bothersome to chronic and debilitating. Each year, millions of Americans visit their doctors in search of treatments to get rid of or to prevent headache pain. Fortunately, more than 85% of headaches respond to proper treatment.

Primary Pain

In most cases headache pain is primary. That is, it is not related to a separate, underlying condition. Only 5% to 10% of headaches are secondary or the result of other factors such as head injury, sinuses, allergies or other more serious conditions.

How HeadMed Can Help

HeadMed contains Petasides Hybridus (butterbur) which is a perennial shrub found throughout Europe as well as parts of Asia and North America and that has been used medicinally for centuries. Currently, the primary therapeutic uses for Petasites Hybridus are for prophylactic treatment of migraines, and as an antispasmodic agent for chronic cough or asthma. It has also been used successfully in preventing gastric ulcers, and in treating patients with irritable bladder and urinary tract spasms. (1)

Active Constituents and Mechanism of Action

Extracts of Petasites Hybridus are prepared from the rhizomes, roots, and leaves. The main active constituents are petasin and isopetasin. Petasin is responsible for the anti-spasmodic properties of the plant by reducing spasms in smooth muscle and vascular walls, in addition to providing an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting leukotriene synthesis. Prostaglandins are important mediators in the inflammatory process and isopetasin's positive impact on prostaglandin metabolism contributes to the effectiveness of Petasites extracts.

The active constituents of Petasites Hybridus have an antispasmodic effect on vascular walls and appear to have an affinity for cerebral blood vessels. As a result, the ability of HeadMed™ to reduce smooth muscle spasm suggests it may be a useful therapeutic tool in terms of its anti-inflammatory properties.

Clinical Indications

Two clinical studies using 50 mg of a standardized Petasites Hybridus extract twice daily for 12 weeks demonstrated its effectiveness as a prophylactic treatment for migraines. Both studies were double-blind, placebo controlled, and involved a total of 128 patients. The results of the two studies showed a significant reduction (as much as 60%) in frequency of migraine attacks compared to placebo. Other improvements in the test group included a reduction in the number of days with migraines per month, a decrease in migraine-associated symptoms, and diminished duration and intensity of pain. No adverse reactions were reported in either study. Petasites Hybridus' high degree of efficacy and excellent tolerability accentuates its value in the prophylactic treatment of migraines. (2), (3)

References

(1) Mauskop, A. Petasites hybridus: ancient medicinal plant is effective prophylactic treatment for migraine. Townsend Lett 2000;202:104-106.
(2) Mauskop A, Grossmann WM, Schmidramsl H. Petasites hybridus (butterbur root) extract is effective in the prophylaxis of migraines. Results of a randomized, double-blind trial. J Head Face Pain 2000;40:4.
(3) Grossmann WM, Schmidramsl H. An extract of Petasites hybridus is effective in the prophylaxis of migraine. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000;38:430-435.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.