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Have you ever noticed that honey does not "go bad”? It doesn’t grow mold or become "infected" with bacteria like most foods after they are opened.
This is because honey is a natural antibiotic!
Did YOU know that?
Honey is a natural antibiotic.
Who knew?
It seems that humans have known about this antibiotic activity of honey for thousands of years. Only recently have we found scientific evidence to help understand honey’s antibiotic activity.
We now know that honey inhibits or helps to kill many types of bacteria. There are even honey-containing wound gels that help eliminate the dreaded MRSA (see Manuka Medical in resources, below).
Cool.
Chronic infections are now understood to be the result of bacterial "biofilms."
Biofilms are collections of bacteria within a matrix that they secrete. When bacteria are in biofilms, they are resistant to both antibiotics and to our immune systems. Well, honey has been shown to be effective in killing drug-resistant, biofilm-forming bacteria that are implicated in chronic rhinosinusitis, including MRSA and pseudomonas.
Very cool !!
So, why is honey such a great antibiotic?
4 Reasons:
1. Osmotic effect – due to the high concentration of 2 different monosaccharides (sugars), and low water content – draws water out of bacteria (dehydrates them), making it extremely difficult for them to grow in the presence of honey.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide: an enzyme in honey (glucose oxidase) causes the slow generation of hydrogen peroxide from the sugars. Hydrogen peroxide is toxic to bacteria.
3. The acid – the low pH (acidity) of honey naturally prevents growth of bacteria.
4. Honey MGO (call it "mogo"): the methylglyoxal, or MGO, in honey has antibacterial activity.
What does this mean for you?
In my clinical practice (Pediatric Ear, Nose & Throat), I recommend Manuka honey for children who never seem to completely recover from their sinusitis. The addition of honey (along with some other tricks) has proven to be beneficial for these kids.
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You can add Manuka honey to the home recipe for nasal saline rinse. Alternatively, simply add some honey (same proportions as recipe in blog post) to your store-bought saline solution. Either way, this may be just the ticket to eliminating the bacterial biofilm that is causing your (or your child's) chronic sinusitis problem.
Honey is being used now in a variety of wound-care products for difficult-to-heal wounds. Search online for the latest applications in wound care.
Not all honey is created equal:
In fact, the Manuka honey from New Zealand, and Sidr honey from Yemen, seem to have antimicrobial properties above and beyond your average honey. Medicinal-grade Manuka has more mojo, and is reported to have other (as yet unidentified) micronutrient agents that act to enhance its antibiotic activity.
Exotic:
Note that these specialty, medicinal honeys can get very pricey. They can be difficult to find locally. The explosion in alternative and natural remedies (like those reviewed on this blog) has increased demand for Manuka honey in the past year.
Local:
Try your local farmer’s market for more reasonably priced varieties collected close to home. It is also suggested, though not proven, that eating raw local honey can help build immune tolerance to local allergens. Though not as potent as Manuka, they will still have antibiotic activity, like all honey does for the reasons outlined above. Also, you will be helping your local economy, and helping an apiarist (the term for a beekeeper; beekeeping = apiculture) to stay in business. We won't go into the difficulties that honeybees are having right now, but support them in any way possible.
Summary:
This article does not even touch on the many, many other uses for Manuka honey that are being discovered, or re-discovered. Check some of the resources below for more.
Note that “pasteurizing” honey by heating it kills the hydrogen peroxide and any other active enzymes in it. Therefore, whether using Manuka or locally grown honey, use it raw.
NOTE: when adding Manuka honey to saline sinus rinse, warm gently to dissolve - over-heating will kill useful enzymes and proteins.
CAUTION: do not give honey to infants less than 12 months of age.
Resources:
http://www.manukamed.com/
http://woundcentral.com/Medihoney.html
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/48330.php
Russell A. Faust, PhD, MD, FAAP is Chief of Pediatric Otolaryngology at St. John /Providence Craniofacial Institute / Neuroscience Institute, Providence Park Hospital, Novi MI. He can be reached at: russellfaust@gmail.com |
