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This red Vinca is a cousin of the rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), native only to the tropical forests of Madagascar. This pretty plant gives us two very important cancer-fighting medicines: vinblastine and vincristine.
Vinblastine has helped increase the chance of surviving childhood leukemia from 10% to 95%.
Vincristine is used to treat Hodgkins' Lymphoma.
Traditional Madagascan healers used the rosy periwinkle for treating diabetes. This led to its study by western scientists who then discovered its anti-cancer properties.
The Madagascan harvest of this plant from the rain forests produces more than $150 million dollars of income for one of the worlds poorest countries.
Oklahoma is OK to visit, but it is great to be home again and posting among my friends. Many thanks for all the well wishes. -- don
Thank´s for posting!