November 29, 2002 – Researchers1 recently “rediscovered” the antimicrobial properties of honey (unpasteurized) which is an effective natural remedy against antibiotic-resistant superbugs (streptococcus, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, enterococcus).
The research team from Cardiff (UK) and Waikato (New Zealand) universities believe that certain enzymes secreted by bees as well as chemicals that come from the plant on which the bee has collected its nectar may explain the antimicrobial and healing properties of honey.
The use of honey to treat infectious wounds is not new. According to a document from the Swiss Beekeeping Research Center in Bern, “folk medicine has used honey for thousands of years in many areas and Aristotle (350 BC) recommended it to relieve various ailments. ”
Some researchers therefore wanted to elucidate the mysteries of this amber syrup. This is the case of Peter Charles Molan, researcher at Honey Research Unit from Waitako University, which has studied the properties of honey for over fifteen years and has already published dozens of studies on the subject (including several in association with Rose Cooper of Cardiff University). Mr. Molan’s main interest was manuka honey, a variety from New Zealand. According to the results of this work2, honey is effective in the treatment of gastroenteritis, stomach ulcers and ringworm in humans as well as in the treatment of mastitis in cows. According to a recent study by his research team3, honey would also be effective in curing burns infected by strains of the bacillus Pseudomonas aeruginosa (which are resistant to antibiotics). In this case, a minimum concentration of 10% honey in a liquid solution gives excellent results.
Even with such results, even scientists admit, research will have to continue. However, honey is already used for wound healing in some French hospitals (in Limoges and Montpellier, among others). In addition, some companies (Medihoney, Comvita) have already marketed antiseptic products based on honey.
Stéphane Gagné – PasseportSanté.net
According to Le Devoir, November 26, 2002.
1. Cooper RA, Molan PC, Harding KG. The sensitivity to honey of Gram-positive cocci of clinical significance isolated from wounds. J Appl Microbiol 2002; 93 (5): 857-63. [consulté le 27 novembre 2002]
2. All medicinal applications of manuka honey and research on the subject are described in a document presented in July 2001 by M. Molan at the event Global Bioactives Summit. http://honey.bio.waikato.ac.nz/bioactives.shtml [consulté le 27 novembre 2002].
3. Cooper RA, Halas E, Molan PC. The efficacy of honey in inhibiting strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from infected burns. J Burn Care Rehabil 2002 Nov-Dec; 23 (6): 366-70. [consulté le 27 novembre 2002]