The New wonder Drug, and old enemy

[Monkey]

There was a great program on the TV last night about Thalidomide. Those on the older side will remember this drug from the Sixties, it caused severe birth defects in around 8000 children worldwide, one of its many prescriptions was for morning sickness.


It was banned. Then some years later it was used in the treatment of leprosy, with good effect. It is now being used to treat some cancers (it is not a cure but it offers remarkable improvements) and other diseases.

The packages carry strict warnings about mnnot getting pregnant!

ANyway just wanted to share this info, never know might help someone....


Monkey

[bob_stra]

In the 1960's, ethnobotanists observed Jamaican medicine men using the plant periwinkle to treat diabetes. Under laboratory observation, it proved entirely useless.

In the 1970's, periwinkle was tested again. It proved remarkably effective at combating Hodgkin's disease and leukemia. The synthesized compound is now worth over $100 million dollar annually. (according to the text "Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice: An Ethnobotanist Searches for New Medicines" by Plotkin)