Benzylpiperazine (PEP) Pills Dangerous And Illegal

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned today that selling BZP pills, containing benzylpiperazine, is illegal and vendors may face prosecution.

Producers and sellers frequently claim that BZP is a “natural” product, describing it as a “pepper extract” or “legal or herbal high”. However, the drug is entirely synthetic, not occurring naturally in any plants.

BZP can result in agitation, vomiting, abdominal pain, seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, colic, diarrhoea, allergic reactions and fever. In rare cases, users may suffer from serotonin syndrome, which can result in death.

Experimental studies demonstrate that the abuse, dependence potential, pharmacology, and toxicology of BZP are similar to those of amphetamine.

Danny Lee-Frost, Head of Operations at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said:
“Producers and sellers must now stop marketing all products containing BENZYLPIPERAZINE and “PIPERAZINE BLEND” in the UK with immediate effect and must cancel all advertising and promotion including internet promotion and sales. People should not take these pills as there are considerable health risks.” There are piperazine containing medicines for human use which must be sold in pharmacies. Any other pills containing piperazine or its salts or derivatives would be classified as unlicensed as there are no safeguards in relation to the safety, quality or efficacy of the pills.

– Benzylpiperazine is marketed under various names depending on the country. These include: BZP, Pep, Pep Love, Pep Twisted, Pep Stoned, A2, Legal E/ Legal X Frenzy, Nemesis, ESP, Cosmic Kelly, Charlie, The Good Stuff, Exodus, Frenzy, Rapture, Charge, Blast and Euphoria.

– BZP pills can come in many shapes or forms. The pills are sometimes encountered as a red, blue, pink, white, off-white, purple, orange, tan, and mottled orange-brown pills. These tablets can bear imprints such as a housefly, crown, heart, butterfly, smiley face or bull’s head logo, and are often sold as “ecstasy”. BZP has also been found in powder or liquid form packaged in small convenient sizes sold on the Internet.

– The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe. No product is risk-free. Underpinning all our work lie robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits to patients and the public justify the risks. We keep watch over medicines and devices, and take any necessary action to protect the public promptly if there is a problem.

– If an individual is convicted of offences under the Medicines Act 1968, they can be sentenced to a maximum of two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Where appropriate the MHRA will use the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to determine whether or not benefits were accrued through criminal activity and will recoup illicit earnings if the individual is found guilty.

http://www.mhra.gov.uk

New Campaign Goes ‘Back To Basics’ To Beat Baby Blues

Monday 28th May: a national campaign launches today to bring back the humble coffee morning as a simple and effective way to provide support to new mothers at a time when they’re most susceptible to the baby blues.

Fronted by TV presenter and mother-of-two, Kaye Adams, and backed by the charity Cry-Sis and Colief Infant Drops, the ‘A Problem Shared’ campaign calls on today’s generation of mums to revive the coffee morning. The Campaign also hopes to get health visitors, who provide vital support to new mums, to champion the benefits of coffee mornings during their visits.

A recent survey* found that loneliness, lack of sleep and dealing with a crying baby are the hardest things to cope with for new mums, and that nearly half suffer due to a lack of adult interaction in the first few months following the birth of their child.

Often dismissed as idle chit-chat or time-wasting, the coffee morning is a vital source of support for new mums and an effective and natural alternative to resorting to modern-day medicines such as sleeping pills and anti-depressants.

Elsie Matthewman, Chair of Cry-sis, the charity for parents with excessively crying babies commented:

“Today, many women’s social networks are formed around work so maternity leave can be a barrier to established sources of support - many find themselves living miles away from family and friends because of their job so being part of a community is harder than ever before. A coffee morning provides an ideal opportunity to share problems, such as dealing with a crying baby, feeding difficulties or lack of sleep, and to help relieve tensions.”

Jane Terry, a Health Visitor added:

“Peer support has been found to be an effective way of helping families, this is why I felt it was important to contribute to the A Problem Shared Campaign leaflet ‘Your Baby’s First Weeks’.”

As with many practical and profound solutions, the idea itself is very simple. A Problem Shared campaign web site, www.problemshared.info, has been set up to help parents set up a coffee morning in their local area.

Mary Buckley, developer of Colief Infant Drops explains. “We wanted to support the campaign after receiving a large number of calls to our helpline from distressed new mothers asking for help and advice on areas from calming crying babies and expressing milk to finding other people to talk to locally.”

Bringing the Campaign to the Nation:

– We have case studies of women who found a way out of being frightened, alone and out-of-their-depth by setting up their own coffee mornings
– We can arrange for press/photography visits to see a coffee morning in action
– We have expert comment from Elsie Matthewman, chair of Cry-sis
– Coffee morning start-up kits and campaign information are available at www.problemshared.info
• A FREE expert ‘Guide To Your Baby’s First Weeks’ can also be ordered or downloaded from the site

The campaign is sponsored by Colief Infant Drops. When babies show symptoms of colic, ruling out milk sensitivity is one of the first recommended steps. Colief Infant Drops contain the naturally-occurring enzyme lactase, which when added to the babies ‘usual milk’ (whether breast fed or formula), breaks down most of the lactose and makes the feed more easily digestible.

General Osteopathic Council Refutes Statement That Spinal Manipulation Does Not Work

Spinal manipulation is but one potential element of the osteopathic treatment package, which also includes guidance on lifestyle, diet and exercise.

A large proportion of patients visit osteopaths for help with back pain including low back pain, neck pain and headaches. All recent scientific research suggests that back pain:

– is rarely a simple problem.
– is influenced by psychological and social factors.
– requires treatment tailored to the patient’s needs.

Research is a high priority within the osteopathic profession and new research is always welcomed by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). However, this is a review of research dating back to 2000 and provides no new findings itself. Further, the paper fails to draw on more recent studies. As such, the review is extremely limited, and certainly not helpful to patients or healthcare professionals when making generalisations about osteopathic practice.

Contrary to Professor Ernst’s statement that “� regulation serves as a substitute for research �” the National Council for Osteopathic Research (NCOR) was set up in 2003, following the establishment of the Statutory Register of Osteopaths in 2000. NCOR’s remit is to co-ordinate and develop the evidence-base for osteopathy.

A spokesperson for NCOR said, “A substantial amount of research has been carried out in the last few years, most notably a Medical Research Council (MRC) funded trial on spinal manipulation and exercise therapy for low back pain (UK BEAM trial 2004). This important study provides good evidence to support spinal manipulation for low back pain, particularly when combined with exercise guidance - typical osteopathic management. This suggests that Professor Ernst is out of date with this review.”

In summary, the research design/methodology is not a recognised systematic review, it is limited in terms of scientific value, and the data presented does not support the conclusions made.

This article is in response to:
‘Spinal Manipulation doesn’t work for any condition, new research finds’ Ernst E., Canter P. A systematic review of systematic reviews of spinal manipulation. J R Soc Med 2006;99:189-193

About Osteopathy

– Osteopathy uses many of the diagnostic procedures involved in conventional medical assessment and diagnosis. Its main strength lies in the unique way the patient is assessed holistically from a mechanical, functional and postural standpoint. Treatment is aimed at improving mobility and/or reducing inflammation by using gentle manual osteopathic techniques on joints, muscles and ligaments.

– Patients are given positive advice, related to their lifestyle, about how they use their body. Age is no barrier to osteopathy since each patient is assessed individually and treatment is gentle.

– Osteopaths treat a wide range of conditions, including changes to posture in pregnancy; babies with colic or sleeplessness, repetitive strain injury, postural problems caused by driving or work strain, glue ear in children, the pain of arthritis and sports injuries, amongst others.

8 Plants From South Africa May Hold Potential For Treating High Blood Pressure

Medicinal plants are an integral part of African culture, one of the oldest and most diverse in the world. In South Africa, 21st century drug therapy is used side-by-side with traditional African medicines to heal the sick. While plants have been used in African medicine to treat fever, asthma, constipation, esophageal cancer and hypertension, scientific analyses of the purported benefits of many plants is still scant. A team of researchers has now examined the effectiveness of 16 plants growing in the country’s Kwa-Zulu Natal region and concluded that eight plant extracts may hold value for treating high blood pressure (hypertension).

The study, entitled ACE Inhibitor Activity of Nutritive Plants in Kwa-Zulu Natal, was conducted by Irene Mackraj and S. Ramesar, both of the Department of Physiology and Physiological Chemistry; and H. Baijnath, Department of Biological and Conservation Sciences; University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa. Dr. Mackraj presented the team’s findings at the 120th annual meeting of the American Physiological Society (APS; http://www.the-aps.org/), held as part of the Experimental Biology (EB ‘07) conference. More than 12,000 scientific researchers attended the gathering held at the Washington, DC Convention Center.

Background and Methodology

Hypertension is treated with medication, including drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB). These drugs not only lower blood pressure but offer additional protection to the brain and heart. ACEI, in particular, provide beneficial properties to patients with type 1 diabetes.

In an effort to identify indigenous plants consumed by the local population in Kwa-Zulu Natal that hold potential antihypertensive properties, the researchers examined 16 plants to identify ACE inhibitor activity. The plants were:

* Amaranthus dubius, a flowering plant also known as spleen amaranth

* Amaranthus hybridus, commonly known as smooth pigweed or slim amaranth

* Amaranthus spinosus, also known as spiny amaranth

* Asystasia gangetica, an ornamental, ground cover known as Chinese violet. Also used in Nigerian folk medicine for the management of asthma.

* Centella asiatica, a small herbaceous annual plant commonly referred to as Asiatic pennywort

* Ceratotheca triloba, a tall annual plant that flowers in summer sometimes referred to as poppy sue

* Chenopodium album, also called lamb’s quarters, this is a weedy annual plant

* Emex australis, commonly known as southern three corner jack

* Galinsoga parviflora, commonly referred to as gallant soldier

* Justicia flava, also known as yellow justicia and taken for coughs and treatment of fevers

* Momordica balsamina, an African herbal traditional medicine also known as the balsam apple

* Oxygonum sinuatum, an invasive weed with no common name

* Physalis viscosa, known as starhair ground cherry

* Senna occidentalis, a very leafy tropical shrub whose seeds have been used in coffee; called septic weed

* Solanum nodiflorum, also known as white nightshade

* Tulbaghia violacea, a bulbous plant with hairless leaves often referred to as society or wild garlic

Dried leaves from the plants were ground and used to prepare organic and acqueous extracts. Ten grams of ground plant material was suspended in either a methanol or distilled water solution for 48 hours. Each solution was subsequently filtered and the filtrate was left to air dry resulting in the specific test compound. ACE activity was determined using a flourimetric method with Hip-His-Leu as a substrate. The fluorescence of the o-phthaldialdehyde was measured to determine the effect of the plant on ACE activity.

Plasma ACE activity was determined using rat plasma. The IC50 of the conventional ACEI, captopril was determined to test the sensitivity of the assay. At least three separate determinations were conducted for each test compound. A tannin test was only conducted on those plant extracts that exhibited over 50 percent ACE inhibition in the initial analysis. The data was subjected to GraphPad Instat (GraphPad Software Inc, San Diego, CA, USA). All values were expressed as mean ± SEM. A probability where p<0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Eight of Sixteen Plants Showed ACEI

Eight of the 16 plants demonstrated ACE inhibition activity. The plants were then subjected to a gelatin salt block test for tannins to eliminate any false positive results. None of the plants tested positive for tannins, hence eliminating any false positive results.

Ultimately, the eight plants that showed significant ACEI activity in both extract forms were: Amaranthus dubius, Amaranthus hybridus, Asystasia gangetica, Galinsoga parviflora, Justicia flava, Oxygonum sinuatum, Physalis viscosa, and Tulbaghia violacea.

The Stand Out “Wild Garlic” (Tulbaghia violacea) Plant

Only one plant — Tulbaghia violacea — showed more than 50 percent inhibition in both extract preparations. These findings are in keeping with those of another group (1999). Further testing has revealed that the plant has promising hypotensive affects. The plant is commonly associated with onions and garlic and highly concentrated in Southern Africa. It is best known as “wild garlic.”

Researchers have recorded (1962) that the plant was pounded into formulations and used by native South Africans to relieve stomach ailments, rheumatism and high fevers. Other researchers found (1966) that native South Africans rubbed the leaves of the plant on the head for sinus headaches and used plant infusions for colic and restlessness in young children. The most direct discovery is the 1993 finding that large doses of popular garlic preparations significantly decreased the diastolic blood pressure in human patients 5-14 hours after the dose with no significant side effects. In addition, wild and cultivated garlic preparations were shown to decrease systolic blood pressure in rats.

Conclusions

In this study Tulbaghia violacea has shown properties related to lowering blood pressure. Since the number of hypertensive individuals around the world is on the rise, it is worthwhile to pursue further studies involving this extract. Yesterday’s folk remedies may one day be just what the 21st century doctor orders.

Medicinal Herbs are a Popular Choice in WIC Clinics

Nearly half of the low income, nutritionally-vulnerable Latino children surveyed by Penn State researchers in WIC clinics were treated with herbs by their caregivers for common ills such as diaper rash, colic, teething symptoms, stomachaches, coughs and colds.

Although herb use was higher among the Latinos (48.4 percent), over one-third (31.4 percent) of the non-Latino WIC clients surveyed also used medicinal herbs for childhood illness. The herbs most commonly used were those with relatively low risk for adverse effects, including aloe vera, chamomile, garlic, peppermint, lavender, cranberry, ginger, Echinacea and lemon.

The study is the first to report on herbal use by participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). WIC helps low-income women, infants and children up to age five by providing vouchers to purchase food, education about healthful eating and referrals to health-care providers.

Dr. Barbara Lohse, associate professor of nutritional sciences who led the study, says, “Nutrition professionals and WIC educators have hesitated to talk about herbs for children because they feared that it would encourage acceptance and, perhaps, cause people to start using them. Our study has shown that more WIC clients than we thought are already using them, mostly in moderate and appropriate ways. However, because some herbal use has the potential to do harm, we urge herbal education in WIC clinics.”

The study is detailed in the current (February) issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in a paper, “Survey of Herbal Use by Kansas and Wisconsin WIC Participants Reveals Moderate, Appropriate Use and Identifies Herbal Education Needs.”

Lohse began the study when she was an associate professor of food and nutrition at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and continued it when she joined the faculty at Kansas State University. Her co-authors are Jodi L. Stotts, Penn State research assistant and former instructor at Kansas State, and Jennifer R. Priebe, a clinical dietitian with San Luis Medical and Rehabilitation, Green Bay, Wis. At the time of the study, Priebe was a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wis.

The researchers surveyed 2,562 caregivers with children living in Kansas and Wisconsin who were attending a WIC clinic. Child herbal use was reported for 1,363 of the children ranging in age from 1 week to 17 years. The majority of the children treated with herbs were younger than age 5.

The caregivers who participated in the survey consulted a variety of sources about the use of herbs to treat their children including family and friends, the news media, the Internet, medical doctors and other allied health professionals. However, family was, by far, the most popular source of information and was the only source for 46.9 percent of non-Latinos and 73.2 percent of Latinos.

The reasons cited by the caregivers for use of specific herbs varied. For example, aloe vera was used for burns, cuts, and rashes as well as gastrointestinal problems, asthma, colds, ear infections, fatigue and urinary symptoms.

Although most of the herbs that the participants reported giving to children were those with relatively low risk, the effects of long term use and interactions with prescription and over-the-counter medications are unknown. In addition, ten herbs with known safety issues, including St John’s wort, kava and red clover, were also given to children and taken by the caregivers themselves.

The researchers write, “Although it may be tempting to say that, ‘because little data exist on the safety of herbals during pregnancy, when breastfeeding, and in children, use of these products should be discouraged,’ the reality is that herbals are widely used in these populations. Likewise, recent findings such as the inefficacy and adverse reactions from Echinacea use illustrate the need to provide an educational venue and to conduct educational research to formalize herbal education within the WIC clinic culture.”

Spinal Manipulation Not Effective for Colic

Here’s an interesting article I ran across last year and saved because spinal manipulation is often claimed as a treatment for colic. Science has proven this to be absolutely false.

New Research Finds Spinal Manipulation Doesn’t Work For Any Condition

A study to be published in next month’s issue of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine has raised serious questions about the efficacy of spinal manipulation treatment.

Spinal manipulation is commonly practiced by chiropractors and osteopaths. It is a popular form of manual treatment for back and neck pain with an estimated 16,000 licensed chiropractors in the UK.

“There is little evidence that spinal manipulation is effective in the treatment of any medical condition,” said Professor Edzard Ernst of the Peninsula Medical School at Exeter.

“The findings are of concern because chiropractors and osteopaths are regulated by statute in the UK.

“Patients and the public at large perceive regulation as proof of the usefulness of treatment. Yet the findings presented here show a gap and contradiction between the effectiveness of intervention and the evidence.”

Professor Ernst’s paper examined all systematic reviews published on spinal manipulation between 2000 and May 2005. Sixteen papers were included in the research relating to the following condition: back pain, neck pain, primary and secondary dysmenorrhoea, infantile colic, asthma, allergy and cervicogenic dizziness.

“Collectively these data did not demonstrate that spinal manipulation is an effective intervention for any of these conditions, except for back pain where it is superior to sham manipulation but not better than conventional treatments,” write the authors.

“Considering the possibility of adverse effects, this review does not suggest that spinal manipulation is a recommendable treatment.”

The study also highlights the risk of spinal manipulation treatment.

“Spinal manipulation [SM] has been associated with frequent, mild adverse effects and with serious, probably rare implications,” write the authors.

“Therefore the risk-benefit balance does not favour SM over other treatment options such as therapeutic exercise. This statement is not in agreement with several national guidelines�but we suggest that these guidelines be reconsidered in the light of the best available data,” they conclude.

Professor Ernst said the findings confirm fears that in ‘alternative’ medicine regulation often serves as a substitute for research.

“Previous studies have shown that regulation of chiropractors was followed by a decrease in research activity,” said Professor Ernst.

“The evidence presented here should be seen as a wake-up call to the chiropractic profession.

“One way forward is more rigorous clinical trials to test the efficacy of spinal manipulation, after all, the treatment is not without risk and chiropractors must demonstrate why it should be a recommendable medical treatment option,” Professor Ernst said.

###

For more information about spinal manipulation and why you should not see a chiropractor for any condition — whether it is colic, back pain, neck pain or any other medical condition — be sure to read this excellent article by a former chiropractic patient entitled, Don’t I Need a Chiropractor?

A Mother’s Advice for Dealing With Colic

Here’s a great blog post I ran across just today by BreederX. She has some very good advice from someone who has been through it with her own kids.

Dealing with Colic or Colicky Babies

As a mother to three, I unfortunately dealt with two of my babies being extremely colicky. NOT a fun time for any mother! Lucky for me, God blessed me with a third and final little angel who is quite possibly the sweetest baby I have ever encountered. :0))

What you need to know about Colic is that it does eventually go away! Hurray! But in the meantime, you may be feeling helpless, alone, frustrated and depressed with your situation. There is nothing quite as difficult as having a colicky baby!

She then gives a very thorough and usefull list of advice that any mother could use. Here’s just a sample:

-First, see your physician to rule out any physical illness or condition that may be causing your baby pain.

-Make sure that after feedings your baby is well burped and try pumping his legs in towards his stomach to release any gas that your baby might be having.

-If you are bottle feeding, make sure that the base of the bottle is always full of milk(tip the bottle straight up), any access air that the baby sucks in will contribute to gasiness.

-The basics of rocking, swaying, cooing, soothing, and singing are always tried and true methods.

-Take your baby for a walk outside. Even if it’s cold, bundle him up and get him out in the fresh air. The vitamin D will cause drowsiness in such a little one and hopefully aide in getting him to sleep. The movement of a stroller or a walking motion is also soothing to most babies.

-Take your baby for a ride in the car. The motion and sounds of the car are also soothing to most babies and should put your baby to sleep. (This was something we did a LOT, lol, and it worked!)

-Use a swing (automatic or battery operated), you can find a used swing at any consignment shop for relatively cheap and they are great for the motion and constant swing sensation usually soothes a baby’s tummy.

And the list goes on from there. Here’s the link so you can read her entire article, Dealing with Colic.

And while you’re there, be sure to check out the rest of her blog.

Mark

St. John’s Wort In Pregnancy And Lactation

St. John’s wort (hypericum perforatum) is one of the five best-selling herbs in the United States. It is used by many to treat the symptoms of depression, and many prefer it to prescription medications such as Paxil® and Zoloft. However, the herb has been the subject of growing concern about its interaction with birth control pills, the blood thinner warfarin, and cyclosporin, a medication used with those who have received organ transplants. A new study examining its effect on pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding contributes to the evidence that the product should be used with caution.

A New Study

The new study, entitled “St. John’s Wort (hypericum perforatum): Is It Safe During Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and With Prescription Medications? A Systematic Review,” will soon be published in the Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. It is one in a series that systematically reviews the evidence relating to the safety of herbs commonly used during pregnancy and lactation.

The study was conducted by a team of Canadian researchers consisting of the principal investigator Jean Jacques Dugoua, ND, MSc (Cand.), University of Toronto, Sick Kids Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Truestar Health and Wellness Clinic, and the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Toronto, CN; and co-investigators Edward Mills, DPH, MSc., PhD (Cand.), Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Ontario, CN; Dan Perri, MD, BscPharm, FRCP(C), Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, CN; and Gideon Koren, MD, The Motherisk Program, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, CN.

Dr. Dugoua is presenting the team’s findings at the 21st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (http://www.Naturopathic.org), being held August 9-12, 2006 at the Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR.

Methodology

The aim of the study was to systematically review the literature for evidence on the use, safety, and pharmacology of St. John’s wort focusing on issues pertaining to pregnancy and lactation. The investigators searched seven databases for reports relating to the herb. The databases included AMED, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, Cochrane Library, MedLine, Natural Database, and Natural Standard. Each database was examined in duplicate for data from its inception. Unpublished research and bibliographies were also included. Data were compiled according to the grade of evidence found.

Results

The researchers found varying levels of scientific evidence on the efficacy of use for different conditions; low-level evidence of harm during pregnancy; and strong evidence of side effects during lactation. As St. John’s wort interacts with a number of medications due to its effect on cytochrome P450 enzymes, this may account for some of the findings.

Conclusions

The researchers concluded:

– Caution is warranted when using St. John’s wort during pregnancy and lactation.

– St. John’s wort may interact with medications prescribed during pregnancy.

– During pregnancy, a case study and some animal studies reported lower birth weights with use of St. John’s wort.

– Strong scientific evidence showed that St. John’s wort consumption during lactation did not affect maternal milk production nor affect infant weight, but may cause colic, drowsiness or lethargy.

– St. John’s wort showed strong scientific evidence of being an effective aid in combating mild to moderate depression and low-level evidence for other conditions.

Recommendations

The authors urge women not to assume that because herbs are labeled “natural” that they are safe. They recommend all pregnant and lactating women consult a licensed, health care professional before consuming any herb or medicine in general, and St. John’s wort in particular. Finally, they recommend that any woman experiencing depression let their physician know immediately.

Heat Halts Pain Inside The Body

The old wives’ tale that heat relieves abdominal pain, such as colic or menstrual pain, has been scientifically proven by a UCL (University College London) scientist, who presented the findings at the Physiological Society’s annual conference hosted by UCL.

Dr Brian King, of the UCL Department of Physiology, led the research that found the molecular basis for the long-standing theory that heat, such as that from a hot-water bottle applied to the skin, provides relief from internal pains, such as stomach aches, for up to an hour.

Dr King said: “The pain of colic, cystitis and period pain is caused by a temporary reduction in blood flow to or over-distension of hollow organs such as the bowel or uterus, causing local tissue damage and activating pain receptors.

“The heat doesn’t just provide comfort and have a placebo effect - it actually deactivates the pain at a molecular level in much the same way as pharmaceutical painkillers work. We have discovered how this molecular process works.”

If heat over 40 degrees Celsius is applied to the skin near to where internal pain is felt, it switches on heat receptors located at the site of injury. These heat receptors in turn block the effect of chemical messengers that cause pain to be detected by the body.

The team found that the heat receptor, known as TRPV1, can block P2X3 pain receptors. These pain receptors are activated by ATP, the body’s source of energy, when it is released from damaged and dying cells. By blocking the pain receptors, TRPV1 is able to stop the pain being sensed by the body.

Dr King added: “The problem with heat is that it can only provide temporary relief. The focus of future research will continue to be the discovery and development of pain relief drugs that will block P2X3 pain receptors. Our research adds to a body of work showing that P2X3 receptors are key to the development of drugs that will alleviate debilitating internal pain.”

Scientists made this discovery using recombinant DNA technology to make both heat and pain receptor proteins in the same host cell and watching the molecular interactions between the TRPV1 protein and the P2X3 protein, switched on by capsaicin, the active ingredient in chilli, and ATP, respectively.

Certain herbs and supplements can help tummy aches

As more parents choose home remedies for their children’s gastrointestinal complaints, the question arises, which ones really work?

Kathi J. Kemper, M.D., M.P.H., a pediatrics professor at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, and the author of “The Holistic Pediatrician,” has written the cover article for Contemporary Pediatrics magazine on which herbs and dietary supplements can help children with nausea, constipation and similar gastrointestinal (GI) problems.

“What we did was look at the original research, the studies, what people were out there doing, and came up with a guide for pediatricians,” Kemper said. “Historically, 50 years ago, people used home remedies. Then they began relying on prescriptions, and now there is a swing back toward using more natural health products.”

The article in the current issue cites chamomile as one of the most widely used and safest herbs for children with abdominal discomfort. It can be given in small amounts to treat colic in infants and can be combined with peppermint, star anise or fennel for stomach aches, gas, indigestion and bloating for school-age children, according to the article.

Ginger has been well documented as a remedy for nausea and dyspepsia. Probiotics, such as yogurt, have been used to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea, newborn colic, ulcerative colitis, and a variety of forms of diarrhea. On the other hand, the article says that star anise should be avoided for colicky infants.