TROPICAL WEED

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1928, Page 3

TROPICAL WEED

ALLEGED CURE FOR diabetes.

SYDNEY, Aug. 9

Medical men throughout. Australia and Non- Zealand will he interested in a report from Cairns (Queensland) that a case of acute diabetes has been relieved, and possibly cured, by a tropical weed commonly known as “Hilly Stinker.'' This weed, the Vinca Rosea or Cape Periwinkle thrives along the Queensland coast from Moreten Bay to Thursday Island. Unconfirmed reports <>l its efficacy in treating diabetes so stirred the Queensland Government recently that for months it has been under test in the State pharmaceutical laboratory. So promising has that been that experiment is now being made upon further test supplies of the weed from Government reserves and botanical gardens. Queensland medical men hope that the humble Billy Stinker may hide a long-sought diabetic specific.'

Writing to the Sydney “Guardian” from Cairns. Mr lames Marshland describes a self-conducted experiment with the weed which further .substantiates the claims made as to the value of the weed. Pronounced an acute diabetic - by a doctor, Air Marshland took the opportunity afforded by lus medical rfdviwFs absence to tfleati himself with a. concoction from A inea Rosea, which, he .says, is “as old as the hills and has been prescribed by the local medical fraternity for some considerable time. For six weeks Mr Marshland drank after every meal a cup of tlie “vile concoction” (Ins own words) made from 21 leaves of the Vinca Rosea stewed in 3.1 cups <» water. At the end of that time all his distressing symptoms had disappeared, lie claimed. Air Marshland .persevered with tlie treatment for another month and now says that lie is enjoying health such as lie has never had for years. He declares that self-treatment was popular locally and that the identical preparation from the Billy Stinker was being sold as a proprietary medicine in South Africa. . . . When approached on the subject Svilney doctors expressed great m eiert in the claims that were -Mt made for the weed, but said that claim that it “was a cure for diabetes needed very careful investigation It wars, however, quite possible that an important discovery had been made. .