Bog myrtle gets updated

By Merill Haseen

YOU'D�expect discoveries of ancient healing plants to come from the deepest Amazon or a mountain top in the Himalayas. Bog myrtle, however, which grows only in raised peaty wetlands in Wales and Scotland, may have many as yet undiscovered medicinal properties.

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Bog myrtle, a plant with a eucalyptus-like aroma, has been used since the Dark Ages to treat depression, because of its renowned ability to induce a good mood and to calm stress. Traditionally, it has also been used as a preservative in beer and in poultices to heal wounds.

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Now it seems that bog myrtle could have many modern uses. Next month, scientists in Wales will unveil test results that show that the chemical compounds in the plant could be turned into medicines, such as new antibiotics.

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However, they will probably steer away from bog myrtle's best-known historical use: elite Viking warriors, known as berserkers, took large quantities of bog myrtle to induce hallucinations and whip themselves into a frenzy for battle. (This is where we get the word 'berserk'.)

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A few other ancient remedies have some very modern uses:

• Taxol, one of the most effective anti-cancer drugs, comes from yew trees. These trees were once held sacred across northern Europe. The active ingredients in Taxol are so complex they cannot be synthesised.
• Scientists at Newcastle University hope to begin trials on gingko biloba. This is an extract from the Chinese maidenhair tree,�which has been used to improve circulation for thousands of years. It is thought that it may help prevent economy class syndrome (deep vein thrombosis, caused by sitting immobile for long periods of time).
• Two herbs recommended by Hippocrates, who was born around 460BC, are agnus castus fruit (or chasteberry) and St John's Wort. A recent study published in the British Medical Journal found that agnus castus could significantly alleviate symptoms of PMS, such as irritability, mood alteration, anger, headache and breast soreness. St John's Wort is now regarded the first choice for treatment for depression by many experts. The largest trial of the supplement, published in the British Medical Journal, showed it was as effective in boosting moods as a commonly used antidepressant.��