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Can Rosehips bring a Rosier Future to Arthritics?
Rosehips (Rosa Canina L.) - Photo: 27 August 2005 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
Perhaps, before we enter the cold rheumaticy days of a discontented winter, the rose’s autumnal bounty made glorious by the bright orange-red jewels of rosehips set against russetting glossy-green leaves1 will not only please the eye but act as a benefactor bringing comfort to painful joints. In recent time research has already found Rosehips to provide useful remedies to treat osteoarthritis (See Herbsphere: The Wild Rose is Hip for Osteoarthritis); also winning the accolade: ‘Value of complementary medicine exemplified by rose-hips’.2 However, rosehips beneficence doesn’t stop there, more recently German and Danish researchers declared at the 8th Annual European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Congress in Barcelona, Spain, 17th June 2007, that rosehips could offer a cheap and effective way of treating debilitating rheumatoid arthritis.3 There is unsurprising interest in this development because with about 400,000 British rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, not only did the rosehip herbal medicine ease the agony of this difficult and painful condition, it could save the NHS (National Health Service) millions of pounds. For example, treatment over the period of a year using the latest TNF Alpha inhibitor prohibitively expensive drugs can cost up to £10,000 per person,4 about which there have already been complaints of “postcode lottery” access,5 compared with ‘LitoZn’ costing £240.00 per annum.6 The researchers believe that ‘LitoZin’, the rosehip remedy made from the Dog Rose’s (Rosa canina L.) ground-up seeds and shells (dried outer flesh of the rosehip fruit), which is available from most high street chemists as well as good Health Food shops, would greatly benefit patients and the NHS economy. With the regard to the study, co-lead researcher Professor Stefan Willich of the Charité University Medical Centre in Berlin, reportedly said: “Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most difficult medical conditions I’m aware of. It’s a tough disease, which makes it all the more remarkable to find such beneficial effects from this natural remedy.”7 The pilot study, which testers had an average age of 57 years-old who were seriously affected by rheumatoid arthritis and had suffered for more than 18 years,8 demonstrated that after taking rose-hip powder capsules for six months patients who had been treated with conventional drugs reported significant improvement in their condition, better quality of life and less pain. In fact, people taking the supplement instead of the dummy pill experienced improvement in activity levels by 20%-25%.9 They also reported the number of joints causing them pain and discomfort fell by 40% and tenderness overall was also significantly reduced.10 What’s new about Rosehip? Roses and their hips have moved on along with science since the days of Pliny the Elder, who recorded 32 different medicinal uses of roses in the first century AD, when they were chiefly grown in medieval gardens for medicine and food rather than for their beauty and perfume.11 Various varieties of Roses have been used medicinally from Rosa rugosa for the prevention of scurvy, through R. Gallica and R. Officinalis for a number of ailments, to their hips’ high vitamin C content in WWII in the last century. Now it’s the Dog Rose days turn to shine. Although researchers are as yet unclear as to why exactly rosehip has such good effects, the supplement appears to have both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. One of the key active ingredients in LitoZin is a galactolipid12 compound, a type of sugary fatty acid called GOPO™, which compound and its anti-inflammatory use is patented in both North America and Europe,13 was acclaimed by scientists involved in the research as a plant version of fish oil. It has been suggested by Professor Kaj Winther, who led the Danish portion of the study, that the supplement could be used as an interim treatment to postpone the patient’s need to move on to the more expensive drugs.14 However, importantly, in contrast to NSAID’s15 and aspirin ‘LitoZin’ does not interfere with the body’s blood clotting mechanism, which is vital for those taking medications for cardiovascular conditions of which many also suffer from arthritis. It has also been shown to lower C-reactive protein16 levels, an inflammatory marker associated with cardiovascular risk, and it is said to be virtually free of all ‘side effects’ that are commonly associated with conventional pain medications.17 It may be early days and larger studies need to be done over a longer period of time but with GOPO’s many promising properties it looks like the medical establishment are really going to go for it, which is encouraging. But what else do we know about this amazing compound? How was GOPO® (glucoside of mono and diglycerol) Discovered? It is on record that in the early 1980’s a Danish osteoarthritis sufferer named Erik ‘Farmer’ Hansen, who was dissatisfied with prescribed painkillers, was recommended to try rosehip marmalade. Being extremely impressed with the preserve’s pain-killing effects, Hansen began small scale production and distribution of dried rosehip powder. As a result of his innovative efforts ‘letters of appreciation’ from thousands of satisfied customers began to arrive. Following this success, in 1995 Hansen’s son was able to deliver some 5,000 letters of recommendation to Dr Kaj Winther. Doctor Winther, an inflammation specialist, instigated clinical trials. ‘In vitro’ studies brought remarkable results and clinical trials confirmed the extraordinary effectiveness of the rosehip remedy. 18 (For further information and graphs on GOPO and how it works visit: http://www.gopo.co.uk ) The rest, as they say, is history, or to be more precise is history in the making. Having come thus far, it is to be hoped that the medical establishment will give its outright backing for this remarkable remedy to aid arthritis to be on general prescription, for as with many other good and/or promising natural efficacious remedies often the very people who need them most cannot afford to buy them OTC.19 The question has been asked of the PSNC (Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee): “I have received an FP10 Prescription for ‘Litozin Capsules’. Can I dispense this product?” The reply was: “Yes. Litozin capsules are a medicinal health supplement derived from Rose Hip for joint care. This product is not listed in Part XVIIIA of the Drug Tariff (the ‘blacklist’) so can therefore be prescribed on an FP1020 Prescription. “21 For further information regarding prescriptions for this supplement to any patient, the writer suggests that you apply directly to your GP who will be able to supply current information on the status quo of what he/she via their individual Trust’s are at liberty to prescribe. References:
Rossnagel K, Willich SN. Institut fur Sozialmedizin und Epidemiologie, Universitatsklinikum Charite, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin. Gesundheitswesen 2001 Jun; 63(6):412-6.
‘Rosehip Offers New Hope for Millions of Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers. Press Release,
Sunday 17th June 2007 7.01pm
Barcelona, Spain, June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- ...
Glycolipids are carbohydrate-attached lipids. Their role is to provide energy and also serve as markers for cellular recognition. Galactose (Gal) (also called Brain Sugar) is a type of sugar which is less sweet than glucose and not very water-soluble. It is considered a nutritive sweetener because it has food energy. E.g. Cerebrose: Any of various lipid compounds containing glucose or galactose and glucose, and found in the brain and other nerve tissue. Lipid: can be broadly defined as any fat-soluble (hydrophobic: hydrophobe or hydrophobicity from the combining form of water in Attic Greek hydro- and for fear phobos that in chemistry refers to the physical property of a molecule that is repelled form a mass of water) naturally-occurring molecules.
(See also www.EuroPharmaUSA.com )
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