Ancient Chinese medicine could fight aging
Found on New Scientist on Sunday, 12 February 2012
The roots of the blue evergreen hydrangea (Dichroa febrifuga) have been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to treat malaria. Now Tracy Keller and colleagues at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston have found that halofuginone – a chemical based on the roots' active ingredient – blocks immune reactions that can cause disease.
Animals that receive only just adequate nutrition are known to live longer, partly because diseases which involve inflammation are prevented.
Or people could just, well, not eat too much.