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healthbriefsWhy Folk Remedies RockWhat do white tea, witch hazel and rose extract—long used as natural aids for preserving youth andwell-being—have in common? They all possess potentialhealth and beauty properties that could be simply toogood to ignore, say scientists from London’s KingstonUniversity. The researchers, working in collaborationwith British beauty brand Neal’s Yard Remedies, tested21 plant extracts and discovered that their naturallyoccurring substances may offer new treatments toblock the progression of inflammation. The findings arepromising as potential treatments for aging skin, as well asmore serious illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis,neurodegenerative conditions and cardiovascular and pulmonary problems.Using human cells as their model, the researchers applied three differentconcentrations of white tea (freeze-dried powder), witch hazel (dried herb) androse extract (in a medicinal tincture) to see what effect the mixtures might have onsuppressing the rogue enzymes and oxidants that play key roles in cellular inflammationand aging. All three remedies were remarkably effective in keeping inflammationin check.Whenever inflammation starts—whether as a simple cut to a finger, exposureto the sun, chemicals or pollutants, or irritation due to an arthritic joint—thebody begins to produce a protein compound called interleukin 8 that exacerbatesthe process. The three substances tested appear to successfully interfere with this.White tea displayed the most marked results.Elderberry Elixir:Backyard Medicine ChestNew research is turning up another natural remedy to mend what ails us.Native to both North America and Europe and historically appreciated byHippocrates as “nature’s medicine chest,” elderberries are especially rich inantioxidants, putting them near the top of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’soxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) list. Both the flowers and fruit areused to make tea, juice, wine, preserves and nutraceutical products to treat avariety of ills.International herbalist James Duke, Ph.D., author of The Green Pharmacy,recognizes the elderberry’s age-old reputation as a remedy for viral infections andfor treating cough, flu and tonsillitis. It’s even being studied for itsactivity against HIV and for regulating blood sugar.Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia areexamining its potential for preventing strokes and prostatecancer, reducing inflammation and boosting resistanceto infectious diseases. They’re set to host the first InternationalSymposium on the Elderberry, from June 9 to14, 2013.Terry Durham, a farmer and conservationist inAshland, Missouri, describes elderberries—whichare typically harvested in late August through earlySeptember—as “the superfruit in our own backyard.”Dried PlumsKeep BonesHealthyWhen it comes to improving bonehealth in postmenopausalwomen—and people of all ages, forthat matter—eating dried plums isa simple, proactive solution to helpprevent fractures and osteoporosis,reports a Florida State Universityresearcher. “During my career, I havetested numerous fruits, includingfigs, dates, strawberries and raisins,and none of them come anywhereclose to having the effect on bonedensity that dried plums, or prunes,have,” says Bahram H. Arjmandi, TheFlorida State University’s MargaretA. Sitton Professor and chair of theDepartment of Nutrition, Food andExercise Sciences.Arjmandi and his colleaguestested two groups of postmenopausalwomen over a 12-month period. Thefirst group of 55 women consumed100 grams of dried plums (about 10prunes) each day, while the second,control group of 45 women ate 100grams of dried apples. All participantsalso received daily doses ofcalcium (500 milligrams) and vitaminD (400 international units).The group that consumed driedplums had significantly higher bonemineral density in the ulna (one oftwo long bones in the forearm) andspine, compared with the groupthat ate dried apples. According toArjmandi, this was due in part tothe ability of dried plums to suppressthe rate of bone resorption, orbreakdown, which tends to exceedthe rate of new bone growth aspeople age.18 Rhode Island Edition RINaturalAwakenings.com