Ginseng
Researchers have observed that a heart medication, when taken in large doses, can accelerate burn healing.
A study by researchers at the University of Texas, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that administering high doses of the drug propranolol speeds up recovery from burns.
The researchers said they observed that the drug reduced muscle damage that typically accompanies severe burns.
This discovery could lead to the development of treatments for other types of injuries.
It is worth noting that the recovery period following burns is characterized by the body's tendency to break down protein, resulting in muscle atrophy and weakness after severe injuries or burns.
The research team, led by Dr. David Herndon, followed 25 children, half of whom received the drug propranolol. Muscle wasting was measured in the burn victims among them.
Side Effects
The researchers found that muscle protein levels decreased by 27 percent in the children who did not receive the drug, while they increased by 82 percent in the children who did.
The researchers say the findings will be beneficial for a wide range of patients, such as those with trauma and similar injuries, and those undergoing surgery. They are also useful in combating muscle weakness and fatigue.
However, the downside of this drug is that it can cause a sharp drop in blood pressure and a dangerous decrease in heart rate.
Dr. Robert Sheridan of Schneiders Burn Center in Boston, in his article in the same journal, emphasizes that the new treatment should be used cautiously and under close medical supervision, despite its positive aspects.