Butterbur is a relative of sunflower plant with beautiful pin-purple flowers. This plant contains petasin, acting as anti-histamine. Anti-histamines alleviate allergy symptoms. Use of butterbur for relief from allergy symptoms is doubtful and risky. There is no scientific evidence to support the use of butterbur for allergy. There are some risks as well. Butterbur may develop allergy in people allergic to ragweed. Moreover, it contains toxic alkaloids causing liver damage.