Confirmed: Bacteria From Bees Possible Alternative to AntibioticsHeather Callaghan While consumers of raw honey can tell you that it works wonders, researchers wanted to know exactly why? What have they been missing? What are the exact compounds that make raw honey natures antibiotic? How has it protected bee colonies forever (until recent obstacles set in)? Raw honey has been used against infections for millennia, before honey as we now know it was manufactured and sold in stores. So what is the key to its antimicrobial properties? Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have identified a unique group of 13 lactic acid bacteria found in fresh honey, from the honey stomach of bees. The bacteria produce a myriad of active antimicrobial compounds. These lactic acid bacteria have now been tested on severe human wound pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), among others. When the lactic acid bacteria were applied to the pathogens in the laboratory, it counteracted all of them. While the effect on human bacteria has only been tested in a lab environment thus far, the lactic acid bacteria has been applied directly to horses with persistent wounds. The LAB was mixed with honey and applied to ten horses; where the owners had tried several other methods to no avail. All of the horses wounds were healed by the mixture. The researchers believe the secret to the strong results lie in the broad spectrum of active substances involved. This is the benefit to using a whole substance, as complex natural compounds have only begun to be studied as a complete package. Tobias Olofsson explains: The next step is further studies to investigate wider clinical use against topical human infections as well as on animals. The findings have implications for developing countries, where fresh honey is easily available, but also for Western countries where antibiotic resistance is seriously increasing. There is a shocking difference between raw honey and pasteurized, grocery store teddy-bear honey which for all intents and purposes, is mostly fake. Raw honey will look more like butter, but there also benefits to consuming darker honeys. Not only have people seen results from applying raw honey to wounds and mild burns, but also in use for acne, sore throats and flues, allergies, better blood sugar regulation, cholesterol and more. Manuka honey, although expensive, provides extra immune and digestion support, plus other first aid benefits. Of course research like this would appear now, when were at the height of honey bee decline (especially when taking into account increased food production needs) and the height of food system deception. Those are just a few reasons why its more important than ever to love thy pollinator and realize that this liquid gold is your most cherishable non-perishable. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/iwj.12345/abstract Recent posts byHeather Callaghan: 