Chinese Herbal Plant May be An Effective Cure for Chronic Pain

A certain Chinese herbal plant is giving hope to patients who are suffering from chronic pains, according to Business Standard.

Recent research revealed that a flowering plant called Corydalis used for centuries as a pain reliever in Chinese medicine also has the ability to fight against inflammatory and neuropathic pain. The plant's key pain-relieving ingredient is a compound known as dehydrocorybulbine (DHCB) found in the actual roots of the plant which is a member of the poppy family.

"Our study reports the discovery of a new natural product that can relieve pain," said Oliver Civelli of the University of California. "This analgesic acts in animal assays against three types of pain that afflict humans, including acute, inflammatory, and neuropathic or chronic pain." The Corydalis plants used in the study were mainly grown in central eastern China, where underground tubers are also harvested, ground and boiled into hot vinegar. Such concoctions are often prescribed to treat all types of pain, including toothache and back pains.

Researchers involved in the study looked for specific compounds in the plant that appeared likely to act in a manner that is very much similar to morphine. Not only does the plant promise to provide relief against all types of pain, Corydalis also promises to provide cure for patients who are suffering from persistent, low-level chronic pain. The results of the study published in the Cell Press journal Current Biology claims that this herbal treatment will not lose effectiveness over time in the way that other traditional opiate drugs does.