Traditional herb can ward off hunger for two months

London, Mar 6 (UNI) British experts are promoting a traditional herb which can ward off hunger for atleast two months.

Dr Brian Moffat, an expert on medieval remedies, said the tubers of the heath pea had the effect of making people forget to eat.

''If you ate one of these pea sized tubers you are meant to 'not eat, not want to eat and not miss eating for weeks and even in two months','' he said.

''They were actually used as a measure to ward off hunger in the medieval times, once crops had failed in the fields,'' he said.

The herb was also used by King Charles II to help his plump mistresses lose weight and could be the answer to obesity in the modern day world, Dr Moffat claimed.

Evidence of the herb's use was discovered during an archaeological dig.

Monks used the plant, also known as bitter vetch, to treat patients in the 14th century Soutra Aisle monastery near Edinburgh.

Dr Moffat said the commercial possibility these days would be to make a modern slimming pill with the herb.

Richard Swift, head of the project, said, ''The tubers could help boxers and other athletes train down to a weight as well as helping dieters exercise and lose weight.'' UNI XC SKB RN1714