Is warfarin really all that un-natural?
Although warfarin is made in a laboratory, it was actually first discovered in nature. In the 1950s, some ranchers in Wisconsin were troubled by the fact that their cattle were bleeding to death. The ranchers sought help at the University of Wisconsin. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin discovered that the cattle were bleeding to death as a result of eating spoiled sweet clover. The researchers at the University of Wisconsin were able to identify and isolate the substance in the spoiled sweet clover that was causing the excessive bleeding. This substance was a derivative warfarin. Thus warfarin is a substance that was identified in nature but has been modified and standardized in a laboratory to make it safe for use by individuals who want to take advantage of its benefits. When managed appropriately, warfarin is very effective at preventing blood clots and the bleeding risk is low.
