Do Bees Hold The Key To Treating Infections Naturally?

The CDC considers it to be “one of the world’s most pressing public health problems.” It refers to the over prescription of antibiotics, particularly in children and the elderly. However researchers at Lund University in Sweden may have identified a possible alternative, one that is a much more preferred option than antibiotic therapy. In fact, people all over the world have been using this healing substance for centuries, without regard to the fact there was no scientific proof that it worked.

Can raw honey really be used as a substitute for antibiotics? Many people believe that it can and consider raw honey to work wonders for a variety of afflictions. Intrigued, researchers decided to find out why. What are the exact elements that make raw honey essentially nature’s antibiotics? Where do the antimicrobial properties in raw honey come from?

While studying raw honey to determine the answers to these questions, Lund University researchers found a unique group of 13 lactic acids. Located in the honey stomach of the bee, the bacterium generates a wide assortment of active antimicrobial compounds.

This lactic acid bacteria were tested on multiple human wounds in the laboratory and it counteracted every one of them. These pathogens included vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as several others.

While lactic acid bacteria (LAB) has only been tested on humans in laboratories, it has already been applied to 10 horses with persistent wounds. The owners had tried numerous treatment methods without results and agreed to try a mixture of the LAB and honey on their horses. Every one of the horse’s wounds healed after the mixture was applied.

Researchers think that the broad spectrums of active substances contained in LAB are the cause for its phenomenal results.

Dr. Tobias C. Olofsson provided this explanation, “Antibiotics are mostly one active substance, effective against only a narrow spectrum of bacteria. When used alive, these 13 lactic acid bacteria produce the right kind of antimicrobial compounds as needed, depending on the threat. It seems to have worked well for millions of years of protecting bees’ health and honey against other harmful microorganisms.”

He continued by saying, “However, since store-bought honey doesn’t contain the living lactic acid bacteria, many of its unique properties have been lost in recent times.”

Further studies will explore a wider clinical use against a variety of topical human infections, as well as on different species of animals. The findings could be particularly valuable in developing counties that have limited access to antibiotics, but have fresh honey abundantly available. It is also beneficial for Western countries that are experiencing an increase in antibiotic resistance.

It’s important to note that the pasteurized honey found at your local grocery store is far different from raw honey. Raw honey has a butter-like appearance, while raw honey is darker. Dark honeys have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of high cholesterol, acne, allergies, sore throats, the flu, and mild burns. Manuka honey, a rather expensive type of honey, has been shown to provide digestion support and enhance immunity, as well as other first aid benefits.

The next time you run into a bee, don’t automatically rush for a spray to kill it. Keep in mind that the honey it produces may benefit you the next time you are sick.

by Abra Gordon

Source: The Mind Unleashed