I am sorry but new & great successes reported by someone who never posted before are always somewhat supicious. Where is the proof that this tea affects TGF beta?

Wolfgang
PS: your consistent misspelling of Dupuytren's doesn't seem to indicate that you are very familiar with this disease.

Dear Larry and Wach:
Seeveral points to consider
- Spelling is not everything
- Google is not the font of all wisdom
- I agree that my post is an extrapolation from my success
- My intent is only to help other similarly affected
- It is a topical treatment with more basis for rationale than the DMSO gels and other things I read about here
- If you wish an FDA-approved therapy, refer to Xiaflex which was tested on only 374 Dupetryn's patients in pivotal studies

Seek out the following (articles too big to attach)
Lu, Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2010; 33(3): 310–315 for a mechanistic study of a Chuanxiong ingredient on TGFb. It is not on Dupuytren's but in another fibrotic disease and is in the rat since rarely are MoA studies conducted in man.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on CCl4-induced fibrosis
in rats and the possible roles of leptin, TGFbeta1, Smad3, and Smad7 in this process. Liver fibrosis in rats was
induced by the subcutaneous injection of 60% CCl4 (0.3 mL /100 g body weight, biweekly ) for 12 weeks.
Rats in TMP prevention and treatment groups were given TMP (10 mg /100 g body weight, daily) by gavage
from days 1 and 31 after the start of CCl4 injection, respectively. The mRNA expression of leptin, OB-Rb,
TGFbeta1, and TGFbeta-RII in the liver were detected by RT-PCR, whereas Smad3 and Smad7 protein were determined
by Western blot. The results showed that hepatic cirrhosis was obviously alleviated in both TMP
prevention and treatment groups. The mRNA expression of leptin, OB-Rb, TGFbeta;1 and TGFbeta-RII, and Smad3
protein were higher in the cirrhotic models. In TMP prevention and treatment groups, these markers of
expression were higher, compared with that of the normal control, but were lower when compared with
that of the cirrhotic model group. Smad7 protein expression was lower in the cirrhotic model group than
in the normal control. Smad7 expression in TMP prevention and treatment groups was higher, compared
with that in the cirrhotic model group. Liver collagen in the TMP prevention group was the lowest among
all CCl4 injection groups. In conclusion, TMP can prevent and alleviate the development of liver fibrosis in
rats. The possible mechanism could involve the downregulation of leptin, Ob-Rb, TGF-β1, TGF-βRII, and
Samd3, and upregulation of Smad7.

For a case study in man with another TGFb inhibitor, refer to (although the dose is certainly too high)
Dominguez-Malagon, Cancer 1992; 692478-2483.
The proliferating cells in fibromatoses are myofibroblasts that produce abundant stromal collagen and contain
intracellular native and widely spaced collagen fibers. To assess the clinical and cellular effects of colchicine
in such tumors, this drug was administered to three patients, one with musculoaponeurotic desmoid fibromatosis,
one with Dupuytren’s palmar fibromatosis, and one with Peyronie’s disease. All three patients had an
excellent clinical response, with reduction of tumor size and improvement of contracture. Two cases were studied
ultrastructurally; the main cellular changes detected were collapse of the rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae,
reduction of myofilaments, and disappearance of intracellular widely spaced collagen. The findings from
this study indicate another probable application for colchicine and support the concept that collagen fibers can
be formed intracellularly.

Case 2: A firm nodule in the center of the right palm of a 21-year-old woman increased in size over a 2-year period until it was 7 X 7 cm, progressively limiting movement of the fingers because of severe contracture. The clinical diagnosis of palmar
fibromatosis (Dupuytren’s contracture) was confirmed by biopsy. Treatment with 3 mg/d of colchicine was initiated.
By the seventh day, there was subjective reduction in the size of the tumor, and 1 week later movement of the fingers
was improved considerably. Two weeks after this, opposition of the thumb was possible without discomfort. Treatment
was continued with 1 mg/d of colchicine. Three months later, there was only a mild residual functional deficit, and the nodule
measured 2 X 2 cm. The tumor was excised for histologic and ultrastructural study. A 1 mg/d maintenance dose of colchicine
was instituted. Two years later, the patient is in clinical remission with no detectable tumor.

Attachment

HWolfe Dupuytren\'s to date.pdf (22x) Mime-Type: application/pdf, 153 kB

Dear Wach
The progress which I have seen in my case is not readily seen in the pictures and I expect it will take 4-6 months, not the 4 weeks that have thus far passed. Here are some comments to clarify: There is swelling to the left and right of the major leasion near my fingers in both photos. In December, it was solid and bulging, now I can best describe it as an "empty tent" suspended by the central portion of the lesion which is smaller and softer, but not gone. The central cord was broad stiff, contracting and painful. Now it is not painful, about half as broad, half as high, soft and pliable. In the December photo, I could only approximate my palm surface to ~1 inch from a table surface, now I can easily press it flat without assistance from my left hand and can even flex my ring finger upward while the hand is flat. Great progress for something I thought would only cripple me and jeopardize my job in the coming years.

The tamoxifen effects on TGFbeta are part of the reason I mentioned the other approved comment in my post for which there is one case report of success.

All the best
Hwolfe8883

I don't know anything about the extract and am cautious about using a product with little or no quality control

If the root is authentic (i.e. from a Chinese apothecary store), I feel more confident about what I am using

I believe (but have not conducted an experiment to verify this) that hot water extracts primarily tetramethylpyrazine which is very water soluble, used in the US as a food flavoring and is on the FDA's Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) list.

However, Chinese literature (Bengcao Gungmu - Materia Medica) uses a wine extract of Liugusticum root for treatment of migraines and other "disorders or the head" as opposed to an aqueous decostion (tea) for other disorders. Ligusticum root also contains an ingredient known as Senkyunolide(s) which have central nervous system activity, are ethanol soluble and would be more soluble in boiling water than hot tap water. I am simply trying to minimize exposure to senkyunolide(s) since I feel a little fuzzy if I gulp a tea made with boiling water, but do't feel that way if I soak the root in hot tap water.

Guidance:
Tap water - anywhere from room temp to hot and steep until the water is tan colored
I sip an 8 ounce cup of this tea over a period of 3-4 hours (just leave it on my desk at work)
With this approach, I have no side effects

You might note that tamoxifen, though effective in lab experiment on TGFbeta, so far has not been effective as treatment for Dupuytren's. Further to your own case, an initial swelling and later reduction of swelling is fairly typical for Dupuytren's without treatment.

Wolfgang

Hwolfe:

---

...
The tamoxifen effects on TGFbeta are part of the reason I mentioned the other approved comment in my post for which there is one case report of success.

All the best
Hwolfe8883

Edited 01/09/12 08:39