written by Allison Brooks
Healers in China have used herbs and other ancient remedies to cure disease and promote health and longevity for thousands of years. Many have trusted its use to treat a plethora of ailments and many doctors have promoted the use of certain practices to complement conventional therapies. Since a cancer baring a low life-expectancy rate relies on aggressive treatment options, a number of negative symptoms from the treatments are felt. This is why many patients with a cancer like pancreatic or mesothelioma, turn to procedures like acupuncture. Since the pancreatic and mesothelioma life expectancy may be a few as four months to as long as four years, any measure to promote comfort and survivability will be used.
But now scientists are looking into how certain herbs and methods physically heal the body. Researchers are beginning to take note of some of these ancient Chinese medical secrets as they may have uses in treating some today’s autoimmune diseases.
Chang shan, an extract of a hydrangea root found in Nepal and Tibet, long used by herbalists to treat Malaria, is now being more closely studied by researchers at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and their findings are encouraging. The secret to this ancient herbal remedy is the compound halofuginone. Halofuginone, or HF, has the ability to protect the body from harmful immune responses, such as the development of Th17 cells, which have been found to be the culprit behind several autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel, and Crohn’s disease, without hindering the production of other valuable immune cell production.
The secret appears to be in HF’s ability to switch on genes in the amino acid response pathway or AAR. The AAR lets cells know when to conserve their resources. It is triggered when there is a shortage of amino acids and blocks the immune response that would use up the limited supply. This reaction by the AAR is similar to how people respond to any kind of shortage. For instance if a person is on a strict financial budget, they reserve their limited funds for emergency use only. The body’s cells also have the ability to act as conservationists.
More specifically, HF inhibits the addition of the amino acid proline. Amino acids are the building blocks for proteins and proline is just one type of amino acid. Why the restriction of this particular amino acid deters Th17 cells is still a mystery, but it does appear to be clear that proline shortage does impact the immune system. When proline is added, HF does not continue to offer any benefit. No other amino acids produced this effect.
This discovery has opened up opportunities to create drugs that selectively target negative autoimmune responses while leaving the body’s immune system largely intact. Understanding how HF controls the AAR pathway will help researches appreciate its role in immune response.
Along with reducing harmful autoimmune responses, HF may also have a hand in scar reduction and possibly even help to fight cancer. These findings prove that further research into ancient herbal medicines can yield exciting results. Gaining a complete understanding of time-tested traditional remedies on a molecular level can help scientists to better understand the effect these herbs have on the body. This research can lead to the development of innovative treatments for many diseases today.
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