Herbal ingredients and natural nutrients are often capable of
supporting different functions within the body, and current research is showing
that a certain kind of honey may be useful in fighting drug-resistant germs.
Honey has been used for thousands of years, but its
medicinal popularity fell when antibiotics became the go-to treatment. Raw, natural
honey contains a variety of antioxidants and enzymes, and also has
antibacterial properties, which can be effective both internally and
externally. Raw honey has historically been used on the skin because it
contains an antiseptic substance called inhibine which may prevent infection.
Manuka honey is a specific kind of honey cultivated from the Manuka tree (or
tea tree), which is native to New Zealand. Tea trees have long been revered for
their oil, which has anti-bacterial properties often used for skin conditions.
To learn more about natural remedies and detoxification techniques, visit my
website at www.dreliaz.org.
Microbiologist Rose Cooper of the University of Wales
Institute recently studied the effects of Manuka honey on drug-resistant germs.
The laboratory results showed that the honey fought off certain germs,
including drug-resistant Staph, commonly referred to as MRSA.
MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus,
is a highly resistant form of Staph. Staph (Staphylococcus aureus) is a common
germ found on the skin of most people and common surfaces. For those with
weakened immune systems, Staph can cause serious infections such as skin or
wound infections, pneumonia, or infections of the blood. The wide use of
antibiotics has helped create MRSA, which is now harder to kill.
Previous studies have shown that Manuka honey
decreases the surface pH of wounds (so germs can’t survive) and can help keep
bacteria out. While all honey does contain anti-bacterial properties,
commercial honey is usually pasteurized and processed, which decreases its
beneficial properties. Manuka honey is special because it produces a different
substance called methylglyoxal, which has unique antibacterial activity.
"The work in our lab has shown that honey can
make MRSA more sensitive to antibiotics such as oxacillin — effectively
reversing antibiotic resistance. This indicates that existing antibiotics may
be more effective against drug-resistant infections if used in combination with
Manuka honey," says Cooper, who hopes to use her research in clinical
trials and test other kinds of honey.
It’s so exciting to see research from around the
world validating the use of integrative medicine -- combining natural health
solutions, such as honey, with traditional treatment, such as antibiotics. Substantiating
a product's health claims is the foundation for creating effective natural
supplements. For more information about natural remedies, visit http://tinyurl.com/nathealing.
Dr. Isaac Eliaz is a respected author, lecturer, researcher, product
formulator, and clinical practitioner. He has been a pioneer in the
field of integrative medicine since the early 1980s. Dr. Eliaz is a frequent guest lecturer on integrative medical approaches
to health, immune enhancement, and cancer prevention and treatment.
