A Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher is investigating a reliable method of improving blood flow to cold feet, a symptom of poor blood supply, which will also help treat foot ulcers and pains. PhD student Ms Sylvia McAra is testing a medication, glyceryl trinitrate, which has been used for 150 years to treat the heart disease angina. “It causes blood vessels to widen and allow more blood to reach the area where patches containing small doses of the medication are applied,” she said. Ms McAra is now seeking more participants from the Border region for her study, which requires 120 people for six months. “We already have 100 people, so we just need 20 or so more. Early results are promising and suggest this is a useful treatment in many cases. We need people who complain of cold feet in winter for the study, including diabetes sufferers. Each participant will have a review of medical history and provision of information to their doctor, and blood circulation is checked during each visit,” Ms McAra said. Participants will need to attend CSU’s new Community Engagement and Wellness Centre (CEW) once each month for six months starting in February. To find out more about the study or to book a visit, contact Lyn at the CEW on (02) 6051 9299.