Foxgloves

Today's the day ...................for William Withering and the Purple Foxglove

'........In the year 1775, my opinion was asked concerning a family recipe for the cure of the dropsy. I was told that it had long been kept a secret by an old woman in Shropshire, who had sometimes made cures after the more regular practitioners had failed. I was informed also, that the effects produced were violent vomiting and purging; for the diuretic effects seemed to have been overlooked.

This medicine was composed of twenty or more different herbs; but it was not very difficult for one conversant in these subjects, to perceive, that the active herb could be no other than the Foxglove...........'

So began the Scottish physician, William Withering’s description of his clinical experience with the purple foxglove, which was published 200 years ago.  His was the first scientific investigation into the use of the plant and signalled the beginning of modern pharmacology and its move away from herbal medicine.

He discovered that the plant contained a powerful cardio-active agent, which slowed and strengthened the heart rate, and stimulated the kidneys to clear excess fluid from the body The therapeutic dose was however, very close to a lethal dose, and Withering recommended the use of repeated very small, carefully measured amounts until a therapeutic effect was attained.

The active agents in foxglove, known as digitoxin and digoxinare are still used in modern medicine to control heart rate ..................................