A filtration system based on a medicinal herb can quickly and easily remove “fluoride” from drinking water, say researchers in India. The technology uses parts of the plant Tridax procumbens as a biocarbon filter for the ion.

The medicinal herb Tridax procumbens moves to water filtration // Source: google.com

A filtration system based on a medicinal herb can quickly and easily remove “fluoride” from drinking water, say researchers in India. The technology described in the March issue of the International International Journal of Environmental Engineering uses parts of the plant Tridax procumbens as a biocarbon filter for the ion.

Drinking water can contain natural fluoride or fluoride might be added as a protective agent for teeth by water companies. Its presence, however, is not without controversy while in some natural drinking water levels may be above those considered safe by the World Health Organization (WHO). An Inderscience release reports that chemist Malairajan Singanan of the Presidency College (Autonomous), in Chennai, points out that the WHO guidelines suggest that a safe level of fluoride is 1.5 milligrams per liter. He adds that various techniques to reduce fluoride content have been tried including coagulation, adsorption, precipitation, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and electrodialysis. However, metal ions with an affinity for fluoride in a biocarbon matrix represent a promising new approach.

Continue reading at:  http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20130306-using-plants-for...

Now I looked up Tridax Procumbens and found something very interesting, it is listed in the U.S. as a noxious weed, and is regulated under the Federal Noxious Weed Act. 

Source of this information is:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tridax_procumbens

Excerpt:   Tridax procumbens is known for several potential therapeutic activities like antiviral, anti oxidant antibiotic efficacies, wound healing activity, insecticidal and anti-inflammatory activity.^[2] Some reports from tribal areas in India state that the leaf juice can be used to cure fresh wounds, to stop bleeding, as a hair tonic. Despite these known benefits, it is still listed in the United States as a Noxious Weed and regulated under the Federal Noxious Weed Act.

Now I looked up the Federal Noxious Weed Act to see just what it was and how it worked, this is what I found on it:

The United States Secretary of Agriculture was given the authority to declare plants "Noxious Weeds", and limit the interstate spread of such plants without a permit. The Secretary has the authority to inspect, seize, and destroy products, and quarantine areas, if necessary to contain, or limit the spread of such weeds.

I took the liberty of bolding and italicizing words I thought you should pay attention to.

Now below is the status of Tridax Precumbens according to United States Secretary of Agriculture:  http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=trpr5

Now these are links to the uses of this plant that is considered a noxious weed: 

Tridax procumbens (Daisy) to convert grey hair into black naturally

Found at:  http://www.astrogle.com/ayurveda/tridax-procumbens-daisy-to-convert...

and  Tridax procumbens

http://ayurvedicmedicinalplants.com/index.php?option=com_zoom&I...

and:  http://sphinxsai.com/s_v2_n2/PT_V.2No.2/phamtech_vol2no.2_pdf/PT=65...