Honey is one of the oldest folk remedies. In biblical times, it was considered de rigeur to use it to treat things like sores (as in the plague of boils) to diarrhea. However, the 20th century reliance on antibiotics has led to the diminished use of honey as a treatment aid.
Microbiologist Dr. Rose Cooper of the University of Wales Institute has been actively researching the scientific basis for honey treatments, and, in the mid-April Society for General Microbiology Meeting (Harrogate, UK), she and her diverse team presented four papers on the antimicrobial capabilities of Manuka (New Zealand tea tree) honey. (The scientific name for the Manuka tree is Leptospermum scoparium.) This honey was chosen for study because data proved it help wound drainage, decreased the surface pH of wounds, and precluded bacterial infestations.
(It is entirely possible that each type of honey has its own modality of action. Some honeys actually produce hydrogen peroxide (British honey does), which obviously provides its antimicrobial activities. The levels of hydrogen peroxide are only found upon dilution, because the catalase is inhibited when the honey is at full strength. Upon dilution, it converts the glucoses in honey to gluconic acid (aerobically). Manuka honey, on the other hand, actually has an additional antimicrobial compound, methylglyoxal, as a component. Honey’s activity is seen as bactericidal (killing of bacteria), and not bacteriostatic (growth inhibition). An extensive discussion of the antimicrobial affects of honey was done by Dr. Molan in 1992. [Molan PC (1992b) The antibacterial activity of honey. Bee World 73: 59–76] )
Please note that all of these studies are preliminary; some have only been performed on petri dishes. In some studies, the Manuka honey was the primary compound; in others, it was the adjuvant for existing antibiotics. The abstracts for all these papers can be found here.
Paper GM 24 described the results of using the honey as an adjuvant with concert with oxacilin, gentamycin, vancomycin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin, against MRSA-15 (Staphylococcus aureus). The honey-oxacilin mixture demonstrated the greatest change in results, with a smaller result honey-vancomycin change. β-Lactam antibiotics work by inhibiting cell wall synthesis by the bacterial organism and are the most widely used group of antibiotics; they have been among the most used antibiotics. Nowadays, many microbes have developed resistance to these drugs (due to their overuse and to the fact that individuals do not follow the full course of required treatment). The fact that honey amplifies their antimicrobial behavior means we may be able to use these drugs more widely again. The other drugs, vancomcin (a glycopeptide antibiotic), gentamycin (aminoglycoside antibiotic), tetracylcine (broad spectrum protein synthesis inhibitor), and Cipro (fluoroquinolone antibacterial product) have different modes of action and their results were not amplified by the Manuka honey.
The paper, HA15/07, examined the use of British (as opposed to Manuka) honey against MRSA. While these demonstrated some antimicrobial activity, their affect was much lower than the Manuka honey. As noted above, the British honey leads to the formation of hydrogen peroxide, but that did not augment the anti-MRSA behavior of the other drugs or compared to Manuka honey.
Another paper (CMM 29) described the ability of Manuka honey to alter the protein expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These alterations render the microbe less likely to survive.
A fourth paper, GM41, described the results of honey on the biofilm production by Streptococcus pyogenes. These biofilms are among the causative problem with traumatic wounds and skins grafts. The presence of the Manuka honey (10%) reduced the biomass accumulation by 50%,
The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a topical agent that could to eradicate bacteria from wounds. (Note: wound healing does NOT require sterile conditions for healing, but certain bacteria do create tremendous problems.) A topical drug is potentially cheaper than conventional drugs. It also may be used to preclude the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from colonized wounds to other susceptible patients (as currently occurs in many hospitals and clinics).
Okay, sorry but I didn’t get so many chemistry words there…chemistry just freaks me out. But honey, umm…. our end we treat cold, coughs, flu, with honey, we eat rotis with honey during winters, we harvest honey because that makes orchards “sweeter” and some tell me infertility is cured by honey…don’t know myth or reality. Even Ayurveda has a lot of honey based cure. I am supposed to have a teaspoon of honey every morning for a “long, healthy, cold-free” life. Well, making me cold free, that remains a challenge for honey!
Forget the “tech” words. One of the key facts to learn from this- NOT all honeys are the same. You will notice that British honey failed to register a change. It was only the Manuka variety that made a difference.
It’s like assuming all vitamins are the same. (First of all, most healthy people don’t need them.) Some processors put so many fillers in the tablet, that you get more junk than real. There is no definition as to quality. Some process the materials so much that the vitamin is attenuated or destroyed in the process. OK, you get the point.
And, we still say, “No honey for toddlers”. Wait until they are 2!
Roy
Interesting post, Roy! Some of the science went over my head a little bit but this certainly explains why my Mom and Dad were big “honey servers” when my sisters and I were little. So- is honey in tea a cure-all? 🙂
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Sorry about that Lauren. I thought I explained it. I will have to reexamine my thought process to make sure that happens.
Honey in tea has benefits- dependent upon which honey- and how it was processed.
Thanks for your comments- and drop in again- please and really.
roy
And I thought honey was just for putting in warm tea!! I didn’t know there were so many different kinds of honey or that they could do different things from a medical perspective. Thanks for sharing this information.
Tammy
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I cook with honey all the time. (Never with sugar.) What intrigued me was the wound therapy. It is among my research interests.
Note carefully, that NOT all honeys have these attributes. That’s the key factor with “natural” remedies. From where it comes, From when it comes are critical components.
Thanks for dropping in Tammy!
Roy
This is awesome. I have used honey for allergies and other cold remedies, but had no idea of it’s full reach.
Thank You for pointing out that it is not just any “honey”. We buy ours local, which helps with the whole allergy thing.
Had NO idea it could be antibacterial.
Tell me, does it have any healing power on burns? Just a thought…
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Hi, there, Brandy:
Welcome- and thanks for your comments.
The trick for using it on burns is to insure that the burn site is clean. Then, pour (without touching the site) the honey on the wound and wrap the whole site with clear plastic wrap (which lets gas transfer occur). the wrap should NOT touch the wound- only the honey!. Check after 36 to 48 hours. The charred skin ( or loose flesh) may be removed with tweezers (after soaking in hydrogen peroxide)- do NOT pull- make sure it is free. If not- leave it there, still. Let the wound air out for an hour or so. Reapply honey and repeat. Next time leave the wound open for 2 hours. Reapply honey and repeat.
A reference for the use of honey is here: http://bit.ly/lilxIT
Take care.
Roy
The comes a time in spring when I start to get a touch of hay fever. With such early warm weather this year I’ve been aware of this before it happens. Remembering an article from a couple fo years ago, I’m now experiementing with sweetening my tea and coffee with a spoonful of honey instead od a spoonful of sugar.
This also has a duel effect because I’ll likely trick my immune system into resisting the effects of hay fever too. Good article. Thanks.
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Hi, there, Marty:
Glad you dropped in and left a comment. Glad you enjoyed the article.
Please stop by again- and often.
Roy
Honey is used in skin care as well. It has wonderful anti-inflammatory properties. It prevents infections and has healing properties on the skin.
The anti-bacterial properties in honey mixed with brown sugar make an excellent body scrub!
You can make an awesome, hydrating mask by combining honey with coconut oil!
Thank you for adding these facts, Maxine!
And, I have never involved myself with “masks”- I have a hard enough time trying to figure out what people are trying to say, already 🙂
Roy
Roy,
I have to also admit that most of this went over my head but I get the basic meaning but I did not know that there were different kinds of honey either. I do know that my mom was adamant about having honey around all the time for it seemed like everything.
I’ve been hearing some about honey and cinnamon mixed together for a lot of things but I haven’t actually talked with anyone who has used the mixture.
Thanks for the great information.
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Sorry, Monna:
The next post will be must less technical. Glad you got the gist, though.
Please come back often- and commend.
Awesome data!
Honey is commonly used down here (Ecuador) as an aid against mild infections. I always thought it worked as a probiotic, favoring harmless bacteria and affecting the nasty ones by nutrients shortage. It never occurred to me that honey could produce peroxide when diluted.
Very interesting! I am so going to use it next time I face an infection.
Gustavo:
Thank you for your comment- and the affirmation of honey’s usage. Remember, that not all honeys are the same.
Thanks for dropping by!
Roy
Thank you for sharing this article! I have been researching and other herbal remedies for quite some time. My children sometimes call me the “witch doctor” because of the herbal teas and dried herbs I have started using in every day cooking. It is a given that everything we put in our mouths passes through our organs. Many people are amazed to find that they were diagnosed with cirrhosis and never drank a drop in their lives but were on different medications for different reasons. We need to research and be aware of what we are putting in our bodies and pay attention to our bodies. Just as with medications, you can have allergic reactions to herbs, and if you are on medications the herbs can react with or render your medication inactive. Thanks for sharing this!
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Thanks for dropping in, Regina, and for your comments.
Also note, that as was found in this article, not all “natural” products are the same. The Manuka honey worked; the other didn’t.
Take care.
Roy