What is butterbur?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

October 13, 2003

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Butterbur (Petasites hybridus (L.) P. Gaertner, B. Meyer & Scherbius) is a member of the Asteraceae, native to Eurasia. John Gerard wrote in The Herbal, "Of Butter-burre...the leaves are very great like to a round cap or hat, called in Latine Petasus, of such a widenesse...it is big and large enough to keepe a mans head from raine, and from the heate of the Sunne....This groweth in moist places neere unto rivers sides, and upon the brinks and banks of lakes and ponds."

Butterbur had a practical and common use. In summer,
the huge leaves served as a wrapping for butter
as it was taken from the churn.
Butterbur Giclee Print
C.f. Newall
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Gerard mentioned that "in high-Dutch" the plant was called Pestilentzwurts (pestilencewort). "The roots of Butter-burr stamped with ale, and given to drinke in pestilent and burning Fevers, mightily cooleth and abateth the heate thereof.

"The roots dried and beaten to pouder, and drunke in wine, is a soveraigne medicine against the plague and pestilent fevers, because it provoketh sweat, and driveth from the heart all venome and ill heate: it killeth wormes, and is of great force against the suffocation of the mother (aid breathing during labor?). (The Herbal, John Gerard, 1633 edition)

Besides its medicinal use, butterbur was used in divination. An unmarried woman could see her future husband if she took the seeds and went to a "lonesome place". A half hour before sunrise on a Friday, she had to scatter the seeds while repeating, "I sow, I sow! Then, my own dear, come here, come here, and mow and mow!" If there was a husband in her future, she would see a vision of him with a scythe mowing grass. (A Modern Herbal, Mrs. Grieve, reprinted 1996, Barnes and Noble Books)

Butterbur had a practical and common use. In summer, the huge leaves served as a wrapping for butter as it was taken from the churn.

Erik Godfredsen, Liber Herbarum II, has posted an illustration of Petasites hybridus by C.M.A. Linnemand. To view the illustration, click on the link:

http://www.liberherbarum.com/Pn0322nf.htm

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