Winter Worms - Summer Grass

The title of this piece stems from research on the drug fingolimod for multiple sclerosis. Fingolimod derives from a natural product used in ancient Asian medicine known as “winter worm”. MS experts believe that lymphocytes cross the blood-brain barrier searching for infections. The lymphocytes mistakenly attack the spinal cord, destroying the myelin sheath protecting the central nervous system. Demyelination (destruction of the coating around the nerves) causes many of the symptoms of MS. Fingolimod may help MS patients by keeping lymphocytes inside the lymph and preventing them from crossing the blood-brain corridor.

• MS is a mercurial disease that leads patients to believe the alchemist is in control

• a fingolimod pill is lodged inside the mythical Trojan Horse

• the lymphocytes (bright blue spheres) are unaware of the pill’s presence

• red blood cells represent the health of the blood

• a fence (representing the blood brain barrier) keeps the lymphocytes contained

• the hawk carries a neutron whose protective sheath has been compromised

• the chemical structure of fingolimod is in the foreground represented in yellow

• the field baskets sit atop the ground as the winter worms emerge from the soil

• mythologically the sun signifies intuitive knowledge

Winter Worms, Summer Grass

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