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HerbalEGram: Volume 6, Number 7, July 2009
2009 Sebastian Kneipp Award Recipients Named
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Swiss pharmacognosist Uwe Koetter, PhD, is one of the co-recipients of the Sebastian Kneipp Award from the Sebastian Kneipp Foundation in Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany. He received this award due to his clinical research on valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and hops (Humulus lupulus) and their synergistic actions—research he initiated, coordinated and evaluated across various research groups around the world.1 Dr. Koetter is a member of the American Botanical Council’s advisory board and some of his research on this subject was reviewed in HerbalGram 67.2 Previous recipients of the Kneipp award include Edzard Ernst, MD, PhD, Gerhard Franz, MD, and Veronika Butterweck, PhD.
Dr. Koetter, principal and founder of Dr. Koetter Consulting Services in Switzerland, is a former director of new product research at GlaxoSmithKline and former head of research and development and chief development officer at Max Zeller Söhne AG in Switzerland, a manufacturer of clinically tested phytomedicines. He received his PhD in Pharmaceutical Biology from Freie Universität in Berlin, Germany, under the mentorship of Prof. Heinz Schilcher, PhD, another previous recipient of the Sebastian Kneipp award as well as vice-president of the German Commission E for many years.
Dr. Koetter received this award during a ceremony at Kneipp’s company auditorium in Bad Wörishofen, Germany on May 15, 2009 where he spoke in reception of the award. “The key message of the talk was that with advancing science the questions of mode of action and efficacy can be solved for herbs as shown here with valerian and hops as examples,” said Koetter (e-mail, June 24, 2009). Koetter added that if it appears this cannot be solved, it is from a lack of proper methodology and not a lack of efficacy.
An endowment of €10,000 (approximately $16,271.70 US dollars) was split between the recipients. Koetter said he’s using part of his award to take his 3 children on vacation, and another part for research purposes. He also celebrated when he was informed of his being chosen for the award: “I invited my family to a splendid dinner to share the joy with them—that 10 years of research on valerian and hops were honored,” said Dr. Koetter.
The co-recipient of the award, Matthias Laschke, MD, was also recognized for examining the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a key constituent of green tea (Camellia sinensis), on endometriosis, which has promising results as a treatment for the condition.1
Dr. Laschke is the deputy chief of the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, at the University of Saarland in Homburg/Saar, Germany. He also earned his MD from the University of Saarland.
Upon the reception of the award, Dr. Laschke presented on the most significant findings of the study on green tea and endometriosis: “Our novel findings indicate that the green tea extract epigallocatechin-gallate may be a potential drug to treat endometriosis by inhibiting the development of new blood vessels,” said Dr. Laschke (e-mail, June 26, 2009).
“I feel that it is very important that companies such as the Kneipp Foundation support research and scientific progress. In fact, without research the development of novel improved drugs would not be possible,” said Dr. Laschke. “Therefore, I would like to thank Kneipp for their 2009 award. This award motivates me to establish novel treatment strategies for diseases such as endometriosis in order to help many patients in the future.”
Father Sebastian Kneipp (1821–1897) is generally recognized to be the founder of the natural healing practice now known as naturopathy. In 1891, Kneipp gave pharmacist Leonhard Oberhäußer permission to distribute pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and dietary supplements in his name. The Kneipp company is now present in 30 countries and sells the Kneipp® brand globally.
—Kelly Saxton Lindner
References
1. Sebastian Kneipp Foundation Awards Again Two Scientists with the Kneipp Award [press release]. Bad Woerishofen, Germany: Sebastian Kneipp Foundation. May 15, 2009.
2. Oliff H. Study on Valerian/Hops Combination Sheds Light on Mechanism of Action in Promoting Sleep. HerbalGram.2005;67:32. Available at http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/issue67/article2852.html. Accessed June 1, 2009. |
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