RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS - THE WAYS OF THE HEALERS AND THEIR CLINICAL APPLICATIONS
Researchers at The New York Botanical Garden are continuing their evaluation of the traditional healing methods of Latino, Chinese, and African cultures for certain women's ailments, in a collaborative study with the Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research in Women's Health at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons. The current phase of the project focuses on uterine fibroids, a benign tumor composed of fibrous and muscular tissue in the uterine wall. The research is supported by grants from The National Geographic Society and Arum, Ltd.
Ten women diagnosed with this common women's health problem are undergoing the evaluation of 15 traditional healers Ë› 5 Dominican, 5 Chinese, 5 Nigerian Ë› selected on the basis of their reputations within their communities. The traditional healers will make their own evaluation and recommendation for herbal treatment without any knowledge of the previous diagnosis.
The study will develop cross-cultural and inter-cultural comparisons of the diagnoses and botanical treatments, and compare the results with available data on each ethnomedical system and current research on identified plants. The plants identified as likely to have relevant biological activity will be candidates for further study.
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Michael J. Balick,
Director and Philecology Curator,
Institute of Economic Botany
Public Relations:
Annick Sullivan
718-817-8815
Research Highlights is a series of glimpses into the botanical research of NYBG scientists. (11/97)
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