Honey

April 30, 2001

This bit isn't about aromatherapy but having prepared it for elsewhere I

thought I would post it here for those interested in possible future AT

ideas - the idea appeals to me but I like those little bugs that go buzz. I

post it as it went, here goes

Hi Angel, Jo and others,

I haven't really followed this thread until 'honey' caught my eye and

triggered my interest.

I do have some information about the questions on honey and healing wounds

which have come up recently but what follows is brief.

Initial research has found that if you chose your honey carefully this sweet

stuff fights an impressive line-up of microbes including E. coli, Salmonella

and Helicobacter, is effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

including MRSA, and unlike most other antibiotics the right honey actively

promotes wound healing. The effective honey is from New Zealand and

Australia and has only been made since the 19th century, when Europeans

introduced honeybees to the Antipodes. It seems the 'stars of the show' are

Manuka and Jelly Bush honey - the theory as to why these two are so

effective, and different to others, is postulated in an article in [1].

As far as wound healing goes the hydrogen peroxide created from glucose

levels of the chemical are around 1000 times lower than those traditionally

applied to wounds and consequently tissue damage is minimised.

Peter Molan describes why the potency of honey varies so much and discovered

that the key ones did not lose their antibacterial activity even after

boiling, and the honey of Manuka retains a whopping half of its

antibacterial activity even after being bombarded with catalase.

Angel, honey can contain the spores that cause botulism, and there is a risk

of introducing these into wounds if you use 'any old honey'. These spores

can be destroyed by steam sterilisation or gamma-radiation and it has been

found that the latter process still leaves the hydrogen peroxide and the

phytochemical activities intact (Voila). Many honeys processed for eating

have been pasteurised, which does NOT kill spores but DOES destroy glucose

oxidase - so it is 'no good honey ;0)'.

The article contains a wealth of additional information (I have just picked

up a few things that seem to have been discussed here) and also outlines

future plans. Some work is also being done at the respected Wound Healing

Research Unit, University of Wales College of Medicine in the UK.

Hope you find this useful .. Richard Ipswich/UK

[1] Andrea Lord 'Sweet Healing', New Scientist, 7th October 2000 No. 2259

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