my care2
make a difference

causes & news

news network

socially conscious news and video shared and rated by the community

Scientists Help Explain Effects of Ancient Chinese Herbal Formulas on Heart Health


Health & Wellness  (tags: Chinese herbal medicine, herbs, cardiovascular disease, DanShen, GuaLou )

Karen
- 113 days ago - eurekalert.org
New research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston suggests that ancient Chinese herbal formulas used primarily for cardiovascular indications including heart disease may produce large amounts of artery-widening nitric oxide.
Comments

Karen S. (96)
Wednesday August 19, 2009, 2:42 am
Findings of the preclinical study by scientists in the university's Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases (IMM) appear in the Sept. 15 print issue of the journal Free Radical Biology & Medicine.

Nitric oxide is crucial to the cardiovascular system because it signals the inner walls of blood vessels to relax, which facilitates the flow of blood through the heart and circulatory system. The messenger molecule also eliminates dangerous clots, lowers high blood pressure and reduces artery-clogging plaque formation.

The results from this study reveal that ancient Chinese herbal formulas "have profound nitric oxide bioactivity primarily through the enhancement of nitric oxide in the inner walls of blood vessels, but also through their ability to convert nitrite and nitrate into nitric oxide," said Nathan S. Bryan, Ph.D., the study's senior author and an IMM assistant professor.

Herbal formulas are a major component of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), which also include acupuncture and massage. "TCMs have provided leads to safe medications in cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes," said C. Thomas Caskey, M.D., IMM director and CEO. "The opportunity for Dr. Bryan's work is outstanding given that cardiac disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States."

Visit site for more....
 

Michelle M. (83)
Wednesday August 19, 2009, 3:43 am
Thanks Karen! This is good news!
 

Bee Hive Lady (320)
Wednesday August 19, 2009, 7:24 am
Yes, Karen, this was a most interesting article.
 

Kelly c. (100)
Wednesday August 19, 2009, 8:47 am
Excellent and life-saving article. Thanks for the share again Karen! :)
 

Tierney G. (311)
Wednesday August 19, 2009, 10:28 am
This is very encouraging news! I hope they can identify this soon.
Thanks Karen!
 

Chaz Gaily Berlusconi (260)
Thursday August 20, 2009, 10:03 am
Thannnx... always good to use a combination of natural products with own medicines....
 

Dee C. (518)
Thursday August 20, 2009, 1:13 pm
TCM was a part of my treatments..It helped greatly..I think it is important to incorporate both traditional/non traditional..whenever it is needed and or can be helpful..

Thanks Karen..
Noted..
 

Winefred M. (72)
Friday August 21, 2009, 9:58 am
Noted thanks Karen.
 
Or, log in with your
Facebook account:
Please add your comment: (plain text only please. Allowable HTML: <a>)
20
20 log in or sign up to start earning Butterfly Credits today!


Track Comments: Notify me with a personal message when other people comment on this story


Loading Noted By...Please Wait

 

 
Content and comments expressed here are the opinions of Care2 users and not necessarily that of Care2.com or its affiliates.
Copyright © 2009 Care2.com, inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved