Hyraceum in Traditional South African Medicine
After it has been fossilized hyraceum has been used as a traditional folk medicine in South Africa for treating epilepsy. One clinical study of 14 samples of the material collected at various geographical locations in South Africa tested the material for its affinity for the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor, a neurologic receptor site that is effective in the treatment of seizures with benzodiazapines such as diazepam and lorazepam in western medicine. Four of the hyraceum samples assayed positive for having an affinity for the receptor sites, however extracts in water were inactive. The results of the study supported the potential use of hyraceum as a treatment for seizures.
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