Western Scientists Look To Chinese Medicine For Fresh Leads

"In the quest for new treatments, U.S. researchers are looking to traditional Chinese medicines, some of the oldest remedies in the world."

"A recent discovery resulted in a better treatment for a type of leukemia that strikes about 1 in 250,000 people in the U.S. Another study found a potential new painkiller in China's medicine chest. Other researchers are studying a traditional medicinal plant called "thunder god vine" for its anti-cancer properties."

"The approach has already had some success. The Chinese herbal medicine artemisinin, for instance, has gone on to become the most potent anti-malarial drug available."