New U of S Research Group to Study Heart-Healthy Benefits of Traditional Aboriginal Medicine

Posted June 21, 2004


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 21, 2004 2004-06-16-ME

New U of S Research Group to Study Heart-Healthy Benefits of Traditional
Aboriginal Medicine

A newly formed research group at the University of Saskatchewan is working
with two northern Saskatchewan Aboriginal communities to study traditional
First Nations medicine that may reduce hypertension and improve heart
health.

With start-up funding from the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation and
the U of S, the Cardiovascular Research Group has started to gather
information about 26 locally grown plants used by First Nations to combat
cardiovascular disease.

"This is a unique opportunity for the university community to engage the
Aboriginal community in building upon one of their great strengths -- the
historic and cultural tradition of using indigenous plant-based products for
healing," says U of S physiologist Rui Wang, who heads the group.

Wang, who is trained in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, says that a
research-based analysis of herbal medicine and healing practices will
identify plants that hold the greatest therapeutic promise, validating
anecdotal claims that plant medicine benefits heart health.

In time, the group may use the Canadian Light Source synchrotron
(www.lightsource.ca) to identify active compounds of the most heart-healthy
plants.

"The use of traditional herbal medicine is an important approach to
preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases, and can be significantly
enhanced by rigorous scientific research and documentation," he says.

Working with Aboriginal elders from the Lac La Ronge Band and English River
First Nation, the team will interview Aboriginal healers about the
effectiveness of specific plants in herbal medicine. They will find out
which parts of a plant are used, and how different medicines are prepared
and administered.

"The involvement of Aboriginal elders is essential for the success of the
study because of the major role they play in all aspects of community
cultural life, of which health is seen as but one component in a holistic
perspective," says Wang.

He notes that only a small, aging population of elders and healers knows the
most effective ways to use and prepare plants. Although that knowledge is
passed to younger generations through oral history, Wang hopes the study
will help preserve this first-hand expertise for the long-term benefit of
both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal societies.

"Using herbal medicine to address health concerns is not just a traditional
Aboriginal practice, it is part of the heritage of Aboriginal people and is
considered a great treasure," says Wang. "We want to help preserve this
traditional knowledge and strengthen community health care at the same
time."

Prof. Wang, nine members of the Cardiovascular Research Group and other
collaborators have applied for a Canadian Institutes of Health Research
grant to further the research.

A total of 22 researchers from the U of S colleges of medicine, pharmacy and
nutrition, nursing, and veterinary medicine make up the cardiovascular
group, along with more than 12 post-doctoral fellows and 15 graduate
students.

The Aboriginal herbal medicine study is only one of a number of projects the
group expects to undertake. The group will conduct both basic and clinical
research related to the normal functions of the cardiovascular system, as
well as diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and heart failure.

Recently, three trainees working in the group's labs were awarded grants
from the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Xuming Jia will receive $63,000 over
three years, while Yuan Huang and Xianfeng Sun will each receive $76,000
over two years for their research.

The cardiovascular research group is one of five new U of S human health
research groups established through a funding partnership between the
Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (www.shrf.ca) and Saskatchewan
universities. The funding program encourages health researchers from a
variety of disciplines to form research groups, thereby increasing U of S
research intensity.

For more about the Cardiovascular Research Group, go to
www.usask.ca/healthsci/cardiovascular

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For more information, contact:

Dr. Rui Wang
Department of Physiology
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-6592

Kristina Bergen
SPARK Writer
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-1425
www.usask.ca/research