News tagged with folk medicine

Castor oil: Action mechanism of one of the oldest drugs known to man elucidated

Castor oil is known primarily as an effective laxative; however, it was also used in ancient times with pregnant women to induce labour. Only now have scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung ...

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created May 21, 2012 | popularity 3 / 5 (2) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

Scientists create natural Alzheimer's-fighting compound in lab

Scientists at Yale University have developed the first practical method to create a compound called huperzine A in the lab. The compound, which occurs naturally in a species of moss found in China, is an enzyme inhibitor ...

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Aug 25, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

Herbal remedies offer hope as the new antibiotics

Cancer treatments often have the side effect of impairing the patient's immune system. This can result in life-threatening secondary infections from bacteria and fungi, especially since bacteria, like Staphylococcus aureus, are be ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created May 20, 2011 | popularity 2.7 / 5 (3) | comments 1

Pumpkin skin may scare away germs

The skin of that pumpkin you carve into a Jack-o'-Lantern to scare away ghosts and goblins on Halloween contains a substance that could put a scare into microbes that cause millions of cases of yeast infections ...

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Oct 28, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

A synthetic derivative of the kudzu vine can reduce drinking and prevent relapse

Kudzu extracts have been used in Chinese folk medicine to treat alcoholism for about 1,000 years. Daidzin is an anti-drinking substance in kudzu. A synthetic form of daidzin, called CVT-10216, can successfully reduce drinking ...

Medicine & Health / Health

created Aug 11, 2009 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 4

India's 'holy powder' finally reveals its centuries-old secret

Scientists in Michigan are reporting discovery of the secret behind the fabled healing power of the main ingredient in turmeric — a spice revered in India as "holy powder." Their study on the ingredient, curcumin, ...

Chemistry / Analytical Chemistry

created Apr 20, 2009 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (31) | comments 3