Old wives' tales may be right

Scientists have suggested there may be some wisdom in old wives' tales, as some remedies do work.

A collaboration between London's Kingston University and British beauty brand Neal's Yard Remedies found that some old treatments for illnesses and serious medical problems offer real potential health benefits.

The researchers found a number of naturally occurring substances have the ability to block the progression of inflammation, creating the potential for a range of new treatments.

White tea, witch hazel and roses were found to have particularly significant properties.

"For thousands of years people used natural remedies to try - and sometimes succeed - in curing their ailments," said Professor Declan Naughton, from the University's School of Life Sciences.

"Inflammation is a secret killer - helping arrest its development, or being able to stop it happening at all, would clearly be of benefit."

He added that inflammation is a key player in the initiation and development of cancer, diabetes and arthritis.

Posted by Fiona Griffiths