Flowers…uncut

Posted by: Adarsh – Search engine battler on June 26th, 2008

Flowers and plants not only help us communicate our feelings, but they also fulfill important human needs such as providing a rich source of chemicals high in medicinal values. One of the foremost examples of this is the Hoodia plant, a cactus like plant grown in the Kalahari desert, which has grown in prominence recently thanks to the presence of the obesity fighting molecule P 57. Apparently this miracle molecule tricks the nerve cells in your brain into believing that you are full. The UK drug company Phytopharm, which develops Hoodia based anti-obesity drugs, says that the P 57 molecule is found to reduce appetite by 30% to 40%.

The ugly, malodorous, spiky plant blooms in the extremely high desert temperatures of the African continent and takes years to mature. For centuries, the famed San Bushmen (remember the movie The Gods Must be Crazy!) have been using Hoodia plants to suppress their appetite during their long hunting trips. The San Bushmen are the native tribe of the Kalahari desert and are said to be direct descendants of the late stone age. That gives the Hoodia plant about 100, 000 years of clinical trials with the San still lean and fit!

Considering that the number of individuals who are clinically obese has hit epidemic proportions, the Hoodia plant’s medicinal attributes may be extremely valuable in tackling the illnesses and social stigma attached with obesity. With few known side effects, popping the wonder pill would mean fewer trips to your favourite fast food joint and a reduced waistline. In fact, when BBC 2’s correspondent Tom Mangold took the Hoodia test, he lost his appetite for nearly 24 hours. Sadly, like many other medicinal plants, Hoodia is listed as endangered and faces the risk of extinction if trade is not controlled, which explains why it trade is closely regulated.

Recently, BBC reported that 50 % of prescription drugs are obtained from chemicals first obtained in plants, emphasizing the importance of flowers and plants in shaping our healthy lives. Furthermore researchers believe that a majority of the arcane abilities of flowers and plants may remain undiscovered due to the risk of extinction, which means that cures for perilous diseases like cancer and HIV may never be found.

I’m afraid that here at Flowers HQ we don’t offer the rare spiky Hoodia plants to help curb your appetite.  Some of our popular varieties of flowers & plants, such as roses, lilies, chrysanthemums, which have medicinal properties but we don’t suggest you eat them!

Filed under: Flowers, General on June 26th, 2008

---

Did you like this post? Why not subscribe?

via email

via your newsreader Flowers…uncut RSS Feed