Posted on 06/04/2009 10:36:17 PM PDT by 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.
FReepmail me if you want on or off the diabetes ping list.
Bookmarked !!! Thanks.
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.
bump to the top
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.
Very interesting article. Thanks!
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
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
If it isn’t natural, it isn’t medicine.
Note how they like to call the natural substance a "drug."
Thanks for the article and the ping.
Reference,
‘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.’
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.