Science

Honey is more effective than antibiotics

For centuries, honey has been used to fight infections. Few people realize what a powerful antimicrobial it is. In addition to its antimicrobial properties, honey also appears to stimulate lymphocytic and phagocytic activity. These are key body immune responses in the battle against infection. Countless studies prove that honey is even more powerful than antibiotics for fighting off superbugs.

Researchers conducted at New York’s Waili Foundation for Science tested five types of honey against a variety of multi-drug resistant bacteria and fungi. Research proves the honeys were antimicrobial the most against Aspergillus nidulans, Salmonella typhimurum and Staphylococcus epidermidis among others. All five of the honeys were significantly antimicrobial against these and other bacteria and fungi.

Manuka honey has exceptionally high antibacterial activity, with about half of this type of honey having high levels of non-peroxide activity. They also found that one of manuka’s antibacterial compounds was methylglyoxal, the active ingredient primarily responsible for the antibacterial action of Manuka honey.

This research is likely to increase the clinical use of manuka honey as doctors are faced with the threat of “diminishingly effective” antimicrobial options. One researcher concluded, “The use of a topical agent to eradicate bacteria from wounds is potentially cheaper and may well improve antibiotic therapy in the future. This will help reduce the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from colonised wounds to susceptible patients”.