Kitchen spices such as turmeric and black pepper could revolutionise wound dressings

[Judi Lynn]

Published: Monday 3 June 2024

Nano-fibres made from every day kitchen spices are being spun in the biomedical and tissue engineering laboratory at the University of Bradford to create advanced wound dressings. The fibres, which are finer than spider silk, are being made from turmeric, black pepper, curry leaf, cinnamon and cloves, among others spices.

Tissue engineer Dr Behruz Khaghani, from the Faculty of Engineering and Digital Technologies, mixes molecules extracted from plants with a bio-resorbable polymer (that dissolves harmlessly into the body) to create a jelly-like liquid.
This is then squeezed into an electro-spinning machine, which requires up to 20,000 volts to create a mesh of nano-fibres. It is hoped that because the fibres are plant-based, they will have little or no side effects compared to chemical-based drugs.

Dr Khaghani said: “The fibres create a mesh (scaffolding) which can then be applied to wound dressings to treat a range of conditions but in particular, diabetic ulcers that are otherwise hard to heal.

“The plant extracts we are using have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and during tests they have the same effect on the wound site as conventional drugs - the main difference is, these all come directly from plants. One great advantage is these compounds appear to have similar effects to some chemical-based drugs but without side-effects.

More:
https://www.bradford.ac.uk/news/archive/2024/kitchen-spices-such-as-turmeric-and-black-pepper-could-revolutionise-wound-dressings.php

[Hermit-The-Prog]

1. Yeah, that's what they want you to believe instead of -- spices and soylent green!

[TexasTowelie]

2. II don't know if it would have helped me,

but considering that I had my right leg amputated I would have been willing to give it a try.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

3. The lack of drug side effects is very promising

Are you still having to fight to get up to your place?

[TexasTowelie]

5. Yes, I am.

Medicaid decided that it wasn't medical necessary to receive a prothesis. That decision probably contributed to the abscess on my butt that required an operation in February. I'm still moving gingerly to avoid the pressure sores.

[OldBaldy1701E]

7. I am so sorry to hear about this.

I hope you are doing better.

I suspect that, now that I am a Type II, something like this might come up. My husband already knows my opinion on this topic. He does not agree with me, but I am not one to... adjust to something like that.

Hopefully it will never come up, but that is delusional, since diabetes is impossible to treat with our modern available diet. (Unless you are wealthy or own a farm, they have you by the balls over this. The store owners know you have to have good food, which means they can charge something stupid for 'fresh' food while offering canned crap for way less. Yet, if one lives in the city, one will find it very difficult to grow your own food, which is part of the plan. (Most HOAs will not allow 'food gardens' that can produce anything of merit, so you are left with little choice.)

[Hermit-The-Prog]

9. I remember being shocked when you posted about this before

Maybe Medicare instead of Medicaid?

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/does-medicare-cover-prosthetics
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/prosthetic-devices

Or maybe argue with Medicaid again
https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/providers/programs-and-services/medical/orthotic-and-prosthetic-devices

Orthotic and Prosthetic devices are purchased for customers when prescribed by the treating physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner, and medical necessity is documented. An item is medically necessary if it is needed to maintain or improve a beneficiary’s medical, physical or functional level. Orthotic and prosthetic devices purchased by Medicaid become the property of the Medicaid beneficiary.

It looks to me like the highlighted portion above makes your case completely.

[TexasTowelie]

11. I'm only 59 so I'm not on Medicare.

After running into a six-month delay caused by United Healthcare (my Medicaid Plan provider), I was put on the correct path to start the process. I had all the medical reports and referrals necessary, including that I lived in a second-floor apartment and appealed every decision.

It's been nearly four years since the amputation and my right leg is now set at a "negative" angle so that when I stand my bad leg would fall about one-foot behind my good leg when standing. Including anemia and muscle atrophy in the mix, and I doubt that I could even get the referral from a doctor anymore because of the fall risk. I also looked into other organizations, but I was still going to put a significant amount of money into the project and I wasn't even assured that United Healthcare would pay for any of the physical therapy that I would need.

I've received minimal aid from the system other than taking care of the ER, scans, and hospitalization. Catholic Charities provided the wheelchair, walker, and bath chair. I did turn down help for psychological service since that would only require me to attend more appointments which won't solve any problems and provide little benefit.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

15. It sounds to me like you need a lawyer willing to take on United Healthcare.

[TexasTowelie]

19. The problem is that a lawyer would have to take on the case pro bono.

Since there isn't any financial settlement involved, the numbers don't add up for a lawyer to handle the case on a contingency basis. The estimate I was given for a prosthetic leg was nearly $10K. Besides, the legal challenge would be against the state agency that made the ruling in denied the appeals rather than United Healthcare so that also makes it more difficult.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

20. From what you posted above, I'd say you've been injured by that bad denial

A law firm with deep pockets and a reputation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_%26_Morgan

[TexasTowelie]

21. I live in a very conservative county in Texas.

I was the tort reform statistician with the Department of Insurance so in that area I'm knowledgeable. I also doubt that I could get a doctor to agree that the abscess was related to the denial for a prostheses and since I have no actual economic loss I would be relying on the sympathy of a jury for an award. In this red county, jurors are more likely to think that they are already paying for Medicaid and disability--why do they need more money?

In the meantime, I don't want to have lawyers and doctors probing into my medical records or personal life since I doubt that a case would hold up since the state would apply the sovereign immunity argument. I also don't want to deal with Indigent Care again since I had to contact them last year about a two-year-old bill related the amputation that they dropped the ball and failed to pay--at least they finally paid after hassling with them for three months. Finally, I don't want to get my hopes up again only to get them dashed--I've been on that roller coaster too many times.

[AllaN01Bear]

14. did u appeal it?

[TexasTowelie]

17. Yes, I did to the top level with the state agency that was making the decision. nt

[lonely bird]

13. I think more research is needed

The prospects look good. That being said if you have blood issues as I do (factor 5 Leiden and factor2) turmeric acts as an NSAID so care should be taken.

[Fla Dem]

10. I had not read about you needing to have your leg amputated. I am so sorry for you.

What a traumatizing experience, I cannot imagine. I'm also sorry you're having an issue with Medicare supporting your efforts to get a prothesis. To me that's an essential part of your recovery and staying healthy.

I wish you all the best.

[sl8]

4. Related: "How one man fought a patent war over turmeric"

https://www.npr.org/2023/09/01/1197321273/turmeric-india-biopiracy-patent-tkdl
( Planet Money, 25 min. audio )

How one man fought a patent war over turmeric

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 6:18 PM ET
By Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi, Erika Beras, Molly Messick, Willa Rubin

Back in the 1990s, Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar was in his office in New Delhi when he came across a puzzling story in the newspaper. Some university scientists in the U.S. had apparently filed a patent for using turmeric to help heal wounds. Mashelkar was shocked, because he knew that using turmeric that way was a well known remedy in traditional Indian medicine. And he knew that patents are for brand new inventions. So, he decided to do something about it – to go to battle against the turmeric patent.

But as he would soon discover, turmeric wasn't the only piece of traditional or indigenous knowledge that had been claimed in Western patent offices. The practice even had its own menacing nickname - biopiracy.

And what started out as a plan to rescue one Indian remedy from the clutches of the U.S. patent office, eventually turned into a much bigger mission – to build a new kind of digital fortress, strong enough to keep even the most rapacious of bio-pirates at bay.

This episode was produced by Willa Rubin with help from James Sneed and Emma Peaslee. It was edited by Molly Messick. It was fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. Our engineers were Josh Newell and James Willetts. Planet Money's executive producer is Alex Goldmark.

[OldBaldy1701E]

8. You mean the US was claiming that it 'invented' tumeric?

And, was trying to claim that they should be paid for even mentioning the word?

Color me shocked.

[Tesha]

6. This is amazing news, and I might not have read it

Except that last night hubby prepared...

Turmeric-Black Pepper Chicken with Asparagus

[bucolic_frolic]

12. Cadfael.

Plant, herb, spice medicine has been around in various cultures for centuries. But they couldn't mass 20,000 volts with it.

[Canoe52]

16. My wife's a nurse and keeps turmeric in her emergency medical kit because

of its ability to aid in coagulation.

[sl8]

22. Coagulant or anticoagulant?

It's a known anticoagulant, internally. Does it also act as a coagulnt when applied topically?

[k55f5r]

23. I'm type 2

A couple of months ago my toes were so numb they felt like blocks of wood on the end of my feet I was worried I was going to have to get them amputated here shortly, but I want to see an acupuncturist. Three visits later I can curl my toes they don't feel weird at all. At the same time my arthritis has reversed its march on my body. I can now touch my toes and turn my head and see traffic behind me.
My acupuncturist is a miracle worker.