How The Humble Hydrangea Shrub Could Hold The Key To Curing MS, Diabetes and Arthritis

June 04, 2009

[Steelfish]

How the humble hydrangea shrub could hold the key to curing MS, diabetes and arthritis

By FIONA MACRAE 05th June 2009

It's bright and beautiful flowers bring a splash of colour to gardens all over Britain.

But it seems the hydrangea is more than just a pretty bloom.

A drug made from its roots could be used to treat a raft of common diseases, researchers say.

The colourful shrub - a staple of Chinese medicine - has the power to 'revolutionise' the treatment of multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and some forms of diabetes and arthritis, scientists claimed yesterday.

Hydrangea: The common shrub could hold the key to combatting common autoimmune diseases

These diseases occur when the immune system attacks the body.

Existing treatments are expensive, have to be injected, and do not address the biological cause of the problem.

Powerful drugs which suppress the immune system can be used as a last resort but leave patients at risk of infections and other serious side-effects.

Now it appears that a medicine derived from the hydrangea's root could offer an alternative.

Experiments found that it blocked the formation of a type of white blood cell involved in autoimmune disease.

Crucially, the drug does not seem to affect other kinds of cell vital to the body's defences - meaning it does not otherwise inhibit the immune system.

Mice with a multiple sclerosis-like disease were far less severely affected when given low doses of the hydrangea-based drug, which is called halofuginone, the journal Science reported.

Halofuginone is already used to treat a rare autoimmune disease which affects the skin and internal organs.

[pandoraou812]

Very interesting.

[thecodont]

[rintense]

I love mine. I got the Nikko Blue variety but the color is determined by the acidity of the soil. Mine faded and then turned the most gorgeous dark red/purple. It looked like a glass of merlot. Can’t wait to see how they bloom this year.

[MamaDearest]

Fascinating news, and all the better to make me feel good about the five hydrangea plants I bought this past week. I already have six others that are just about ready to bloom any day now. They are utterly gorgeous (and grew phenomenally in the past three years).

[rintense]

I read they grow twice as fast if you don’t trim them back in the fall. Since learning that, mine have exploded in growth and blooms.

[TigersEye]

Good find.

[IM2MAD]

What’s the source for this article. I’d like to pass it along but hesitate to do so without a source.

[pandoraou812]

interesting

[Royal Wulff]

What’s humble about a hydrangea?

[nutmeg]

The most gorgeous hydrangeas I've ever seen were in Normandy, France. They were all over the area. Some of them were literally the size of basketballs! Must be the perfect soil/sun/rain whatever combination there for hydrangeas...

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl

[pandoraou812]

They are beautiful. My mom used to grow them but I have no luck with them sadly.

[goat granny]

Except for the variety that come out a couple of years ago, growing them in Michigan was kinda hard as they only flower on last years stems and most in colder climates die back to the ground. A couple of years I covered mine with Styrofoam rose covers for winter and they flowers somewhat the following year...As some stems stayed alive by being protected...those stems flower, the new growth of the year will not flower....Even my new ever blooming one is not doing to good, I didn't cover it...

[GOP Poet]

Oh man. I LOVE both of those colors. One of my most favorite flowers.

[BuffaloJack]

Read Later

[Nailbiter]

Hydrangea ping

[Molly Pitcher]

Do you trim them in the spring then? I had 3 of the ever blooming variety planted last fall. they are getting ready to bloom now.

Snarlin....fyi

[IamConservative]

There are many different varieties, so you have to read the label when you buy to know how to care for yours.

We have many of the “Endless Summer” variety. They get cut back to the ground each year. In neutral soil, the bloom are pink. If you use an acidic fertilizer, the bloom will turn blue. If you use different fertilizer on each side of the plant, you will have both colors. Pretty amazing and easy to grow plant. Great for patios where you sit and can enjoy the blossoms.

[AmericaUnite]

Bump

[SnarlinCubBear]

ping thanks.

[ladyjane]

Source, please.

[rintense]

I don’t trim them at all. New growth happens on the seemingly ‘dead’ branches. Surprised me, really.

[Molly Pitcher]

Oh! Thanks...Endless summer is the name. I’m looking forward to the first blooms so much!

[pandoraou812]

My mom had a green thumb. She could grow anything. She would put it in the ground & it would grow & bloom. I can’t recall her doing anything special with hers. I sure wish I had her luck. My plants do well but not like her flowers etc.

[Steelfish]

Beautiful pic post! Thanks

[sionnsar]

Hydrangea ping

[goat granny]

Its almost like a talent the way plants grow for some people..I guess God hit them in the head with a “you can grow plants” stick before they were born...:O)

[pandoraou812]

My mom used to plant garlic by roses, toss coffee grounds around them & she had the most beautiful roses. When I was a child she had an English garden. Bleeding Hearts were my favorite...I used to hid there & read books for hours. I often wonder if the new owners destroyed her garden. I hope not. I think that is why I never showed my children that house. I don’t want to lose that memory of her beloved garden.

[goat granny]

I sure understand your not wanted to see the place without your mom's garden...I drove by the farm I use to have and was sad at how it wasn't given the loving care it needed..

I think gardens draw in new buyers but they don't realize gardens take work...

[pandoraou812]

I think you are correct. I just wish my mom had made some plant clippings & taken her bulbs etc. We moved in winter so she didn't. Some of her flowers came off my grandparent's farm.

[Hattie]

They have to have mostly shade in hot climates, lots of water and trim them only after they bloom. If you prune them in the fall or winter, you will cut off all next year’s blossoms.

[PGalt]

Interesting. Links? (thanks for posting)

[pandoraou812]

Thank you for the info. I may try to grow one again someday in memory of my mother.

[Steelfish]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1190889/How-humble-hydrangea-plant-hold-key-curing-MS-diabetes-arthritis.html

[Steelfish]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1190889/How-humble-hydrangea-plant-hold-key-curing-MS-diabetes-arthritis.html

[Steelfish]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1190889/How-humble-hydrangea-plant-hold-key-curing-MS-diabetes-arthritis.html

[kalee]

One of my favorite flowers. I have about 20 in my garden.

[kalee]

There are new reblooming varieties that are pruned differently.

[bmwcyle]

ping

[neverdem]

Science has 3 halofuginone articles from June 5, 2009. You can only access one summary and one abtract.

FReepmail me if you want on or off the diabetes ping list.

[Squantos]

Bookmarked !!! Thanks.

[hoosiermama]

DO you have more information on the everblooming plant....Have been wanting to add the everybloomers but wasn’t sure which was the bettter plants etc.

[GOPJ]

If you use different fertilizer on each side of the plant, you will have both colors. Pretty amazing and easy to grow plant.

bump to the top

[metmom]

It never ceases to amaze me how much the natural medicine people have contributed to modern medicine and how much modern medicine has blown them off as quacks.

[trisham]

I have a “limelight” hydrangea that I do absolutely nothing to and it is taking over one of my gardens. It's a beautiful plant, about seven feet tall and almost as wide, with gorgeous blooms that make excellent cut flowers. I live in Massachusetts where we can have temps of -20 in winter. I highly recommend this variety of hydrangea.

[trisham]

Very interesting article. Thanks!

[tajgirvan]

Thank you for a most interesting Thread. I will sent it to my Conservative, Christian and Republican Mom in California. She spends a small for fortune on natural medicine every month. It must be working, she is 78 going on 79 and still smokes like a chimney with diabetes and all! She keeps me on my knees to God, I tell ya! Dear Pandoraou812, You have given me an idea for my Mother's Birthday! Thank you! You will have FReep mail in about 5 minutes!

[Molly Pitcher]

Do a google search on Endless Summer hydrangeas, and you’ll probably find some things...reviews, etc. I don’t have any info...first summer with them! So far so good! LOL

[goat granny]

Sounds like a great plant...Your weather is much like Michigan, but I don’t have much luck with them..The plants are always nice and green, healthy looking but no flowers..They are planted in 2 different area’s but there must be something I am not doing right...Last couple of years too lazy to cover them so for 2 years great plant, no pretty blooms