Den mest afgørende begivenhed i livets udvikling skete for 700 millioner år siden. Før den tid levede der kun encellede organismer i havene, men i løbet af de næste millioner år opstod de første komplekse dyr med mund, tarm, gat og sanseorganer.

Hvordan gik det til? En ny teori går ud på, at de første flercellede dyr opstod ud fra svampelarver, som har mange træk til fælles med mere avancerede dyr, skriver Nyhedsmagasinet Ingeniøren.

De tidligste dyr manglede skelet og efterlod ingen fossiler, så derfor har molekylærbiologer søgt at løse gåden om dyrenes oprindelse via genetiske slægtskabsanalyser mellem primitive dyr.

Havsvampelarver har noget

Her kommer havsvampene ud ved roden af udviklingstræet som den mest primitive dyregruppe, men det skaber et problem: De voksne svampe synes på ingen måde at være egnet som forfædre til højere dyr og mennesker. For svampe er kun en løst forbundet samling af celler omkring vandkanaler, og de har ingen af de væv og organer, som findes i højere dyr. Derfor placeres svampe ofte på udviklingstræet som en tidlig sidegren, der endte blindt.

»Genetiske analyser kan ikke stå alene; det svarer til at prøve på at forstå løvtræer ved kun at studere deres nøgne grene om vinteren. Et andet problem er, at mange molekylærbiologer dårligt nok kender dyrene og ikke tager højde for det vigtigste. Nemlig at forklare, hvordan de første flercellede dyr bar sig ad med at æde og formere sig«, siger professor emeritus Claus Nielsen fra Statens Naturhistoriske Museum ved Københavns Universitet.

»I modsætning til voksne svampe, der vokser på havbunden, så har fritsvømmende svampelarver mange af de træk, som må have kendetegnet de første højere dyr. Derfor mener jeg, at de højere dyr opstod ud fra svampelarver, som blev i stand til at æde og formere sig i vandet, så de kunne kvitte det normale voksenstadium«, siger Claus Nielsen til Ingeniøren.

Roden på dyrenes udviklingstræ

Ifølge den nye teori bestod det første evolutionære kvantespring i, at encellede organismer blev i stand til at udveksle næringsstoffer, så celler inde i kolonien kunne dele sig, mens cellerne på overfladen skaffede føden til hele organismen. En sådan arbejdsdeling karakteriserer alle flercellede dyr, og den banede vej for større og mere effektive organismer som havsvampene.

I svampe sker fordøjelsen inde i cellerne. Fordøjelse af større partikler kræver imidlertid et lukket hulrum mellem cellerne, hvor enzymer kan nedbryde føden uden at sive væk. Alle dyr fra polypdyr og opefter har en sådan tarm, men svampe kan ikke holde tæt.

Men larverne fra en bestemt svampegruppe, Homoseleromorpha, har større ligheder med de højere dyr.

Deres celler hæfter sig bedre sammen end de andre voksne svampes, og de laver indbugtninger i overfladen. Indbugtningerne kan have skabt et indre hulrum, som blev omsluttet af et tæt forseglet cellelag – en urtarm.

Farvel til voksenstadiet

Normalt lever svampelarverne kun nogle dage i vandet, mens de fortærer en blommemasse, hvorpå de sætter sig fast på havbunden. Men med urtarmen blev det muligt at indtage føde i larvestadiet, og så manglede larverne blot evnen til at formere sig, før de kunne kvitte det normale voksenstadium.

»Vi ved, at både voksne ribbegopler og deres nyklækkede larver er kønsmodne. Larverne danner nogle ganske få æg og sædceller, som gydes og befrugtes. Noget tilsvarende kan være sket for urtidens svampelarver«, siger Claus Nielsen.Selv om den nye teori underbygges af Kevin Petersons genetiske slægtskabstræer, er der dog endnu ikke tale om et endeligt bevis.

Description of the trials
Three oral herbal medications were tested in ten randomized controlled trials that included 1567 adults with non-specific acute or chronic low-back pain. Two oral herbal medications, Harpagophytum Procumbens (Devil’s Claw, Djævleklo) and Salix Alba (White Willow Bark, pilebark), were compared with placebo (fake pills) and with rofecoxib (Vioxx). Topical Capsicum frutescens (Cayenne, chili) was compared with placebo and a homeopathic gel.

Findings
Devil’s Claw, in a standardized daily dose of 50 mg or 100 mg harpagoside, seemed to reduce pain more than placebo; a standardized daily dose of 60 mg reduced pain about the same as a daily dose of 12.5 mg of Vioxx. While Willow Bark, in a standardized daily dose of 120 mg and 240 mg of salicin reduced pain more than placebo; a standardized daily dose of 240 mg reduced pain about the same as a daily dose of 12.5 mg of Vioxx. Cayenne was tested in plaster form and reduced pain more than placebo and about the same as the homeopathic gel Spiroflor SLR. Adverse effects were reported, but appeared to be primarily confined to mild, transient gastrointestinal complaints.

Limitations
Most of the trials were of moderate or high quality, but they only tested the effects of short term use (up to six weeks). The authors of half of the studies were judged to have a potential conflict of interest and two others did not discuss conflict of interest. Vioxx has been withdrawn from the market because of adverse effects, so all three substances should be compared with readily available pain medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen, to test for relative effectiveness and safety.

Conclusion
Although there are good results with three herbal medicines in short-term trials, with strong evidence for a particular form of one of the herbal medicines, there is no evidence yet that any of these substances are safe and useful for long term use.

Ötzi, som han blev fundet i Alperne

Ötzi’s Last Days: Glacier Man May Have Been Attacked Twice

— Another chapter in a murder case over 5000 years old. New investigations by an LMU research team working together with a Bolzano colleague reconstructed the chronology of the injuries that Ötzi, the glacier man preserved as a frozen mummy, received in his last days. It turns out, for example, that he did in fact only survive the arrow wound in his back for a very short time – a few minutes to a number of hours, but no more – and also definitely received a blow to the back with a blunt object only shortly before his death.

In contrast, the cut wound on his hand is some days older. “We are now able to make the first assertions as to the age and chronology of the injuries,” reports Professor Andreas Nerlich, who led the study. “It is now clear that Ötzi endured at least two injuring events in his last days, which may imply two separate attacks. Although the ice mummy has already been studied at great length, there are still new results to be gleaned. The crime surrounding Ötzi is as thrilling as ever!”

It is the oldest ice mummy ever found. Ötzi, the man from the Neolithic Age, is giving science critical information about life more than 5000 years ago, not least from his equipment. His copper axe, for example, reveals that metalworking was already much more advanced in that era than was previously assumed. Yet Ötzi’s body, too, gives us many details as to his diet, state of health – and not least to his murder.

“Some time ago, we detected a deep cut wound on Ötzi’s hand that he must have survived for at least a couple of days,” says Nerlich, head of the Institute of Pathology at Municipal Hospital Munich-Bogenhausen and member of the Medical Faculty of LMU. “Another team at about the same time found an arrow tip in Ötzi’s left armpit. The shaft of the arrow was missing, but there is an entry wound on the back.” It is probable, in that case, that the man died of internal bleeding because the arrow hit a main artery. What was unclear, however, was the age and exact chronology of the injuries.

Now, Nerlich has reconstructed the missing chronology while working together with LMU forensic scientist Dr. Oliver Peschel and Dr. Eduard Egarter-Vigl, head of the Institute for Pathology in Bolzano. According to the new information, Ötzi did in fact only survive the arrow wound for a very short period of time, of no more than a few hours. A few centimeters below the entry wound they detected an additional small discoloration of the skin, which was probably caused by a blow from a blunt object. In both cases, the researchers, using new immunohistochemical detection methods, managed to detect very briefly survived, yet unequivocally fatal bleeding.

Above the spine are more discolorations that are not associated with bleeding. They probably occurred after the man’s death, due to his interment, for example. “Ötzi had only shortly survived the arrow wound and the blow on the back,” Nerlich summarizes. “At least a couple of days before his death, however, he sustained a severe cut wound on his right hand. Over several days, then, Ötzi suffered at least two injuring events – which could point towards two separate attacks.”

Blomstrende artiskok

Insufficient evidence of artichoke leaf extract for cholesterol reduction in people with high cholesterol

Too much cholesterol in the blood can lead to cholesterol depositing on the walls of the arteries (major blood vessels). This blocks the arteries and can cause heart attacks and strokes.

High cholesterol can be lowered by quitting smoking, dietary changes and exercise. Some drugs such as statins are used, but these can have adverse effects.

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) leaf extract (ALE) is a herbal remedy marketed as an aid to lowering cholesterol. The review found that few studies have rigorously researched this topic in people with high cholesterol. ALE might be effective and relatively safe, but further research is needed.

Fra Cochrane Library

Kloge Sørens receptbog

Echinácea purpurea

Cultivation of Echinacea:

Echinacea plants prefer full sun, well-drained, limey soil, and regular watering. All species will give some germination in 2 to 3 weeks if planted shallowly in well-drained potting soil in a warm (not too hot!) greenhouse and watered gently. A period of cold, moist conditioning (stratification) will improve germination rate on most species. Natural outdoor stratification is much more successful than artificial (refrigerated) stratification. Sow the seed directly in the garden or field in the fall or early spring. Barely cover the seed and tamp in. Keep weeded and thin to between 6 inches to 1 foot apart (for the taprooted species), and 2 feet apart for Echinacea purpurea.

Dyrkning – generelle tips:

Medicinal herbs are at home in the wild. They grow best as cultivated plants when the gardener attunes to natural cycles. This means planting during the appropriate season—in most cases the same season when the seed would fall to the ground in nature. Temperature variation from winter to spring or from night to day, coupled with the influence of pure rainfall and the use of live soils teeming with beneficial bacteria and fungi are extremely significant factors in awakening these seeds. A true axiom of growing organically is that organic seeds do best when sown in organic soil.

When to Plant:

Sow in spring: Often annuals or other quick-germinating seeds do best when sown during the mellow temperatures of spring, making rapid growth during this most accommodating time of the year. Annuals seeded in this manner will likely mature by fall. Perennials seeded in this manner will often flower late in the fall, or at least become well-established before the onset of winter temperatures. The seed may be sown outdoors or, in order to extend the growing season, it may be sown in a solar greenhouse and subsequently hardened off and transplanted to the landscape, the garden, or the field.

Sow in summer: Heat-dependent germinators (e.g. Yerba Mansa, Stevia) and many tropical plants do best if sown in very warm soil. Sow in the garden after the soil has truly warmed up, or sow indoors in a sunny window or in a warm greenhouse. Slow-grow-ing perennials or biennials may also be sown in flats or pots in the summer, grown out for a few weeks, and transplanted to the garden or field in the fall. They will root in before winter, and come spring they will be among the most productive plants in the garden.

Sow in summer to germ* in spring: Certain seeds require a warm/cold/warm cycle for germination (e.g. Aconite, Black Cohosh). This is best accomplished by sowing the seed in pots, in flats, or in an outdoor nursery bed during the summer, whereupon germ may be expected to occur the following spring.

Sow in fall or early spring: The seed is sown in fall or early spring in outdoor pots, flats, or an outdoor nursery bed in order to take advantage of natural freezing and thawing, cold soil temperatures, and periodic precipitation to stimulate germination. Alternatively, a period of artificial cold-conditioning may prove effective (see “More On Seeds” below). Overwintering annuals are also sown in the fall, but they germinate almost immediately in cooling soils, overwinter as a small rosette, and flower the following spring or summer.

*germ = germinate/germination/spire/spiring

Where to Plant:

Direct seed: Sowing the seed directly in the garden or field can save labor. Prepare a seedbed by tilling or raking, make a furrow, sow shallowly and tamp the seed in. Mark your rows well. You will probably have to seed fairly heavily in order to overcome the challenges of a relatively coarse seedbed and natural forces of dispersion (wind, rain, snow runoff, birds, worms, moles, gophers, etc.) Once the plants are up, simply thin to the desired spacing, keep them watered and weeded, and step back!

Start indoors or in the greenhouse: When we recommend this, it is usually because the plant requires a long growing season or because the seed is very small or slow to germinate. Deep flats work best. Light-dependent germinators and very tiny seeds are sprinkled in a row on the soil surface and pressed in, while larger seeds are dropped in a tiny furrow and tamped in, then kept moist until germination. After the formation of the second set of leaves, the seedlings are thinned to two inches apart or pricked into pots and allowed to develop until they are strong enough to be hardened-off and moved to the garden or to the field. The unheated greenhouse can also be of assistance for starting seeds that require cold-conditioning. The seed is sown in pots or flats in the fall and kept moist throughout the winter. Oscillating temperatures (which stimulate seed germination) are accentuated as the greenhouse warms up in the day and returns to freezing temperatures at night. Expect germination in cold soil during the winter or in the spring as the soil warms up.

Start in pots: Gallon pots or larger are recommended in order to maintain soil moisture and give sufficient room for developing roots. Tiny seeds may be dropped onto the surface of the soil in the pot, worked around with the fingers, tamped down, and kept moist until germination. Large seeds are simply pushed in to their depth, tamped down, and kept moist until germination. The seedlings may be thinned to one or two vigorous plants and left in the pot (for container gardening) or transplanted to other containers or the garden. Large-seeded trees (e.g. Ginkgo, Yopo) and most woody perennials are best sown in pots and grown out for at least a year before transplanting to the landscape. Annuals that require a long growing season (e.g. Bitter Melon, Luffa) that also dislike bare-rooting at transplant do excellently when started in large pots.

Nursery bed technique: Optimally, the slow-growing seed of certain perennials (e.g. Yellow Gentian, Lavender) is planted in an outdoor nursery bed to take advantage of oscillating temperatures and natural rainfall. This technique may be used at any time of the year, depending on the seasonal recommendations for the particular species being sown. The bed is best located in a sheltered spot, with good sun and ready access to water. Double digging is recommended. Seeds are sown across the bed and securely tamped in, then a stake is driven in at the end of the row and labeled in order to keep track of the planting. Upon germination, the seedlings are thinned to two inches apart, kept watered and weeded, and allowed to grow until they are of acceptable size for transplanting. The seedlings will have healthy, spreading root systems that transplant smoothly without additional hardening off. This technique truly saves labor and world resources.

Start under lights or on heating pads or put in the refrigerator or freezer to attempt to match natural stratification cycles: Quite frankly, these technique are at the root of many of the complaints we get about non-germination of seeds. Although these techniqes are sometimes effective and useful, they often fail to match natural conditions and therefore create problems with seed germination. You’d think that adding more technology would help, but actually it can be a disfunctional mis-match.

More on Seeds:

Organic seed: Organically grown seeds have been selected for vigor when growing in organic conditions. Organic seeds demonstrate strong natural resistance against pests and pathogens, and they grow very nicely in soils amended with organic compost. Chemical fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides are not well tolerated and are best avoided.

Selecting for vigor: We select our parent plants for vigor, which is apparent as fast, healthy growth from an early seedling stage. This increases the overall health and therefore medicinality of the organic herb plant. Since all our seeds are open-pollinated, non-hybridized and root strains of heirloom or wild herbs, then you can continue to save seed from the plants that grow in your organic garden. We encourage you to continue to select for vigor, also. It is one of Richo’s main axioms that “A few plants grown well produce more medicine than many plants grown poorly.”

Cold-conditioning: What most people call “stratification” is a necessary prerequisite to germinating a large number of medicinals. The best way to cold-condition seeds is to plant them in flats, pots, or in a nursery bed outdoors during the fall, winter, or very early spring. If planting in flats outdoors, protect with screens on top to keep out cats and mice. Alternatively, the seeds may be placed in a moist medium (sand or potting soil) in a plastic bag and refrigerated for the requisite number of weeks or months prior to planting in a warm place.

Scarify: The seed has an impermeable seed coat, which must be scratched through before the seed can imbibe water. Small seeds (e.g. Goat’s Rue) may be rubbed between pieces of sandpaper or rubbed around on a piece of sandstone. Large seeds (e.g. Carob and Lotus) are individually ground on sandstone, on sandpaper, or with a file until a hole is made in the seed coat. The seed is then planted.

Light-dependent germinator: Light is required to stimulate germination. These are usually quite small (e.g. Wormwood and Saint John’s Wort) and are best pressed into the surface of the soil or barely covered. Water by misting from above or soaking from beneath, as the seeds must not be dislodged if they are to germinate properly.

Fire-dependent germinator: The seed is planted about 1/4 inch deep in a flat of sandy, moist potting soil. Wet down the sides of the flat so they do not burn. Place a pile of dry kindling (pine needles and cones work best) right on top of the soil in the flat. Light the flash fire and let it burn until the fuel is gone. Water the flat daily. The seedlings will emerge within a week or two, directly through the charcoal and ashes. Amazing!

Heat-dependent germinator: The seed requires high soil temperature in order to germi-nate (e.g. Yerba Mansa and Stevia). Sow the seed in the summer in the greenhouse, use bottom heat, or wait until the soil is very warm in the summer garden before planting.

Multicycle germinator: The seed must be planted and subjected to a number of seasonal cycles before it will germinate (e.g. Hawthorn and Siberian Ginseng). The outdoor nursery bed technique is the simplest way to provide the right conditions for these seeds.

Fresh seed: The seed does not tolerate dry storage and thus we have kept it fresh, moist, and refrigerated since harvest (e.g. Ginseng, Ginkgo, Goldenseal, and Trillium). Upon receipt, sow immediately. If the ground is frozen, sow the seed in a pot or in a flat.

Cold-stored seed: This refers to our practice of keeping certain seeds in the refrigerator and applies to fresh seed as well as those dried seeds that are quickly and adversely affected by warm storage (e.g. Dong-quai and Lovage). Upon receipt, keep these seeds under refrigeration and plant them as soon as possible.

Slow to germ: This applies to seed that is slow to germinate, even after it has been planted in the appropriate medium, at the right temperature, and at the right time of year. It just takes time before certain species can be coaxed into the vegetative stage (e.g. Agrimony and Angelica).

Ongoing germination: The seed does not germinate all at once; rather, an initial burst of germination is followed over the ensuing days and weeks by additional germination (e.g. Belladonna and Lavender).

Seed life span: Short-lived seeds (e.g. Chamomile and Valerian) usually remain viable for only one or two years. This may be contrasted with long-lived seeds (e.g. Lotus), which may remain viable for centuries. The majority of seeds in this catalog will remain viable for three years, but for best results we always recommend sowing within a few months of receipt. In any case, warm and humid storage will tend to spoil the seeds, while cool and dry storage will extend their life.

Life Cycles of Plants:

Annual: A plant that completes its life cycle in one year. The seed germinates in the spring and the plant grows, flowers, produces seed, and dies as the winter sets in (e.g. Basil, Calendula, and Moldavian Balm). Biennial: A plant that completes its life cycle in two years. Seeds are planted in the spring and the plant lives out the first year as a low-lying rosette, rising rapidly to flower during the spring or summer of the second year (e.g. Burdock and Foxglove). After flowering and making seed, the plant dies. The roots are harvested in the first year.

Perennial: A plant that lives for more than two years. Herbaceous perennials die down to the crown every fall, only to reawaken come spring and flower again (e.g. Elecampane and Marshmallow). Woody perennials maintain aerial parts with buds through the winter and regrow from these come spring (e.g. Garden Sage, Lavender, Rue, and Wormwood).

Seed storage tips, watering and shelterbelts:

Seed storage: We keep all seed in our climate-controlled seed room or under refrigeration. Upon receipt, keep dry seeds in their packaging, and protect from sunlight, heat and moisture until they can be planted. For extra protection or long storage, the packages may be sealed in a plastic bag and refrigerated until planting. Fresh (undried) seeds are best sown as soon as possible after receipt, but if necessary may be kept in their packaging and refrigerated until it is convenient to plant them.

Potting soil: Potting soil is good for starting seeds and for filling pots for transplants. It should be alive, just like soils in nature—not sterilized. A mixture of organic compost, coir (or peat moss), perlite, topsoil, and sand, along with a spare sprinkling of kelp and rock phosphate to provide micronutrients and minerals, may be mixed together and left to mellow in a pile for a few weeks or months before you need to use it. The percentages of these various ingredients may be varied according to the requirements of the plants being grown. For example, one would add greater quantities of compost for heavy feeders (e.g. Artichoke) or more sand for desert plants (e.g. Mormon Tea). The pH may be adjusted by the addition of decomposed pine needles or more peat moss (acid), or a sprinkling of limestone (alkaline). Pass the soil through a half-inch screen to fluff it up and remove any lumps before you use it to fill your flats or pots. For forest-dependent species, it makes sense to inoculate the mix with a little soil taken from the forest, to provide beneficial fungi to the developing plants.

Planting containers: Any container works, but good drainage is a necessity and the more soil it holds, the longer the seeds will stay moist between waterings. If the flat contains sufficient mass of soil, this also encourages a balance of live bacteria and fungi that feed your plants and protect them from disease. We use six-inch-deep flats, allowing the formation of large, naturally-shaped roots that transplant beautifully.

Watering: More seed is lost through overzealous watering or forgetting to water than through any other natural or unnatural cause. The soil must be kept moist, but not sodden. Water lightly once or twice a day, as needed. You are a gentle summer rain.

A garden for all beings: When planning your garden, it makes sense to create shelterbelts near the beds or the row-cropped section. These areas are planted with diverse perennial cover crops, plants, and trees. This helps retain soil moisture, provides wind protection, and benefits insects and wildlife. The shelterbelt brings butterflies, dragonflies, native pollinators, and birds into your life, and it gives potential pests such as gophers, rabbits, deer, and grasshoppers something else to eat besides your prized medicinals.

Alrune ifølge middelalderens overtro

plantemedicin, fytomedicin, midler med indhold af plantedele, planteekstrakter eller isolerede rene plantestoffer til sygdomsbehandling eller -forebyggelse. Handelsvarer med indhold af planter kan i Danmark kategoriseres som naturmedicineller kosttilskud.

Et af de nyeste eksempler på et lægemiddel med indhold af et plantestof er Taxotere®, som indeholder taxol fra barken af et californisk takstræ (Taxus brevifolia). Det anvendes ved kemoterapi af bryst- og lungekræft og virker ved at fastfryse tenstrukturen under celledeling, hvorved en kræftsvulsts vækst bremses.

Et andet nyt eksempel er Artesunat®, som fremstilles af den kinesiske bynke Artemisia annua, der i århundreder har været brugt inden for traditionel kinesisk medicin til behandling af malaria og andre febersygdomme. Det aktive stof opnås ved videresyntese af det naturligt forekommende artemisinin, der kemisk er en sesquiterpen. Stoffet er strukturelt forskelligt fra hidtil kendte malariamidler, og der er håb om, at malariaparasitten vanskeligere udvikler resistens mod dette stof end mod kinin og lignende malariamidler. Verdenssundhedsorganisationen, WHO, har anbefalet, at Artesunat ikke bruges til forebyggelse, men kun til behandling af patienter angrebet af resistente stammer af malaria for ikke at medvirke til udvikling af resistens. Kinin er et alkaloid udvundet af kinabark og er et af de tidligst renfremstillede lægemiddelstoffer fra planter.

Taxol blev opdaget ved massescreening af et stort antal planteekstrakter for deres virkning på kræftceller, mens artemisinin blev testet som malariamiddel på baggrund af stamplantens traditionelle anvendelse. De to eksempler repræsenterer to forskellige strategier i farmakognostisk forskning (se farmakognosi). Mange lægemiddelstoffer kan ikke fremstilles syntetisk i et rentabelt omfang, men kun på basis af plantestoffer. Dette gælder bl.a. lægemidler fremstillet af opium, fx kodein og morfin, og lægemidler fremstillet af planter fra natskyggefamilien, fx atropin og scopolamin. Steroider, der bruges til p-piller og kortisonpræparater, er fremstillet af fytosteroler udvundet fra sojaolie. Se også lægeplanter.

Generelt er plantestofferne af meget variabel kemisk struktur, og ofte så kompliceret, at det næppe havde været muligt at udtænke dem ad rationel vej. Derfor er planteverdenen en stadig kilde til nye stoffer for den farmaceutiske industri. Også i Danmark arbejdes der med udvikling af lægemidler fra planter, og der er håb om, at et nyt plantestof, en chalkon isoleret fra en kinesisk lakridsplante, Glycyrrhiza inflata, kan vise sig at blive et nyt malariamiddel. Midlet kan fremstilles syntetisk, og der er håb om, at nye lægemidler kan fremstilles på basis af molekylets grundstruktur.

En stor del af verdens befolkning er helt eller delvis afhængig af plantemedicin som eneste mulighed for behandling. Der udføres derfor i WHO-regi et stort arbejde for at sikre tilgængeligheden af disse planter og for at dokumentere deres effekt og uskadelighed. Dette kan skabe konflikt med industrielle interesser, hvor patentrettigheder er afgørende for investering i udviklingsarbejdet. Der har været afholdt flere internationale konferencer, hvis mål har været at sikre såvel planternes fortsatte eksistens som de oprindelige folks ret (intellectual property right) til udnyttelse af egne resurser. Bevaring af den traditionelt overleverede viden om planternes brug er lige så vigtig som bevaring af truede plantearter af medicinsk interesse.

»Han rejser mod helbredelsen«. »Kræftsyg fik livet tilbage«. »Lena helbredt for kræft i Kina«. »Blev rask for 1,2 mio.«. »Opgivet i Danmark: Søren helbredt for kræft i Kina«. »Rejsen til helbredelse«: Danske medier har de seneste måneder været fyldt med artikler om kræftpatienter, der angiveligt var opgivet af det danske sundhedsvæsen, men alligevel blev nærmest mirakuløst helbredt for deres kræftsygdom på kinesiske kræfthospitaler. Kombineret med grupper på Facebook med titler som ’Bliv helbredt for kræft i Kina’ og ’Hjælp kræftpatienter til helbredelse i udlandet’ har mediedækningen af kræftbehandling i Kina været med til at give mange kræftpatienter med langt fremskreden sygdom store forhåbninger om at kunne blive helbredt.

Men håbet om at opnå ’mirakuløs’ helbredelse ved at opsøge kræftbehandling i Kina er uden hold i virkeligheden, mener speciallæge Edith Raffn fra Kræftens Bekæmpelses patientstøtteafdeling.

»Ingen af de danske kræftpatienter, jeg har talt med efter deres hjemkomst, har sagt ’jeg er rask’. At de nu og her er symptomfri, er ikke det samme, som at de er sygdomsfri. De kinesiske kræftlæger lover heller ikke på nogen måde at kunne helbrede patienter med udbredt kræftsygdom. Vi er i Kræftens Bekæmpelse meget opmærksomme på, at vi ikke vil medvirke til at fremstille kræftbehandling i Kina som ren helbredelse,« siger Edith Raffn.

En anden kræftpatient, der i medierne er erklæret helbredt efter kræftbehandling i Kina, er 34-årige Søren Vesterskov fra Odense. Han omtales i en artikel i dagbladet B.T. som ’mirakuløst helbredt for kræft i Kina’, men i slutningen af samme artikel fremgår, at Søren Vesterskov fortsat er i behandling på Fuda Cancer Hospital i guangzhou, og at hans sygdom kræver livslang behandling.

»At nogle medier kan skrive, at min datter var helbredt og rask, skyldes i bedste fald uvidenhed, i værste fald uetisk propaganda, som alene har til formål at sælge aviser. Status for hendes kræftsygdom var, hvad der på engelsk kaldes ’no evidence for cure of disease’,« siger Ewa Leonard.

Echinacea angustifolium

Fra Cochrane Library (abstract fra Linde K, Barrett B, Bauer R, Melchart D, Woelkart K. Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD000530. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000530.pub2.):

Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold
Preparations of the plant Echinacea are widely used in some European countries and in North America for common colds. Echinacea preparations available on the market differ greatly as different types (species) and parts (herb, root, or both) of the plant are used, different manufacturing methods (drying, alcoholic extraction, or pressing out the juice from fresh plants) are used, and sometimes also other herbs are added. We reviewed 16 controlled clinical trials investigating the effectiveness of several different Echinacea preparations for preventing and treating common colds. Two trials investigated whether taking Echinacea preparations for 8 to 12 weeks prevents colds but found no clear effect. The majority of trials investigated whether taking Echinacea preparations after the onset of cold symptoms shortens the duration or decreases the severity of symptoms, compared with placebo. It seems that some preparations based on the herb of Echinacea purpurea might be effective for this purpose in adults, while there is no clear evidence that other preparations are effective or that children benefit. Side effects were infrequent but rashes were reported in one trial in children.

Her er Olympus SP-565UZ: