By Christopher Hobbs

1/8 cup dried Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)

1/8 cup dried chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

1/8 cup dried linden (Tilia spp.)

1/8 cup dried passionflower (Passiflora incarnate)

Blend the herbs and store the mixture in an airtight jar in a dark place. When you’re ready to make the tea, steep 1 teaspoon of the blend per cup of hot water for 20 minutes. Strain and drink a cup two to three times daily.

New research, published in Neurology in December 2004, shows an extract of the herb butterbur (Petasites hybridus) helps prevent migraines.

In the study, 245 migraine sufferers took either a placebo or two 75 mg tablets of a proprietary butterbur extract called Petadolex. During the four-month trial, the butterbur group experienced a 48 % reduction in the occurrence of migraines; the placebo group had a 26 % reduction. The study participants ranged in age from 18 to 65 and met the International Headache Society’s criteria for migraine headaches. Each participant had experienced two to six migraines a month for at least three months prior to the study.

According to the American Botanical Council, previous research on butterbur shows it to be a safe herb with few side effects. In this trial, the most common side effects were gastrointestinal issues, such as burping.

The study’s lead researcher, Richard B. Lipton, M.D., vice chair and professor of neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, says, “Our study shows that butterbur really does reduce the frequency of migraine attacks, so it’s a welcome addition to the therapeutic arsenal we have available to combat migraine.”