ISLAMABAD, July 25 (online): A new study shows that a compound in pickled capers activates channels that are important for the activity of the heart and brain. The findings could potentially lead to the design of new drugs for epilepsy and arrhythmia. People have practiced traditional or folk medicine  which the Western world generally considers alternative medicine  for centuries, and it remains the mainstay of healthcare in many countries. Much traditional medicine relies on the use of plants, which have been the basis of medical treatments for thousands of years. Sometimes, researchers examine this traditional knowledge, interpret it in modern scientific terms, and then translate it into Western medicine. Aspirin, for example, comes from willow plants and has played a role in medicine since ancient Egyptian times, long before people understood its mechanism of action. Cigarette packets with Senate monograms surfaced A new study shows a similar story for capers, which people around the world consume and also use in traditional medicine. The study finds that a compound in pickled capers activates potassium channels that regulate the activity of the heart and brain. Findings in soil deposits in Syria and late Stone Age cave dwellings in modern day Greece and … Continue reading Compound in pickled capers could benefit the heart and brain: Research