Medicine that works a better way - up your nose
Medicine that works a better way - up your
nose
Researchers at Texas A&M University are participating in developing a medicine that is worth sneezing about: a treatment for influenza that forms a jelly when sprayed into the nose.
Even though trial treatments are being used to treat bird flu in humans, technically termed the H5N1 virus, the vaccine has the potential for numerous other uses, such as for the common flu shot, says Dr. Ian Tizard
“We take Aloe vera leaves and put them through a series of complex extraction steps to produce a chemically pure powder, and then we combine the flu vaccine with it,” he explains.
“When this powder vaccine is puffed into the nose, it forms a jelly-like substance that clings to the inside of the nose and is absorbed into the body much more effectively. It stays longer and it has more time to do its work.”
Tizard, who has conducted research using Aloe vera plants for many years, says the special carbohydrate in Aloe vera leaves is perfect for forming the gel-like substance needed to act as a carrier for the vaccine.
One more example of products in nature serving more uses than we ever imagined. The potential for delivering medication this way makes all kinds of sense. Especially for people who freak over needles.
Posted: Mon - October 1, 2007 at 06:11 AM