Manuka honey and MRSA Staph biofilms
Honey has been used for thousands of years as a natural remedy for many ailments. Manuka honey is such a great remedy because it’s safe, inexpensive and easy to use. It also has a wide range of different uses with virtually no side effects. And now scientific research is revealing how Manuka honey can help control recurring Staph & MRSA infections related to biofilms.
New research
For the last several years, Dr. Rose Cooper of the University of Wales Institute has been studying the use of honey for wound and infection treatment. Dr. Cooper’s latest research has been with Manuka honey, a honey with potent therapeutic properties.
Her research shows that if processed correctly to a medicinal grade, Manuka honey is an effective treatment for stubborn, infected wounds. The honey helps prevent bacteria from attaching to tissues, which promotes healing and helps reduce biofilm formation, which can contribute to the recurring infection cycle. Honey may also starve bacteria of water and lower the pH inside a wound, making an environment inhospitable to bacteria.
Manuka honey also appears to make resistant bacteria like MRSA more vulnerable and less resistant to some antibiotic treatments. This shows that certain antibiotics might be more effective when used along with Manuka honey. Research also demonstrates that bacteria are not likely to develop resistance to Manuka honey as they do to antibiotic drugs. As the problem of antibiotic resistance continues to grow, Manuka honey may help antibiotic therapies work better, faster and more often for Staph treatment.
Many uses
Manuka honey can be used in many different ways. It can be applied to the skin, to bandages, in salves and ointments, and as an ingredient in tonics and food recipes. It’s also been shown supportive of sinus infections and internal infections. Manuka honey is especially useful because it is relatively mild when used on sensitive skin areas, such as the groin, underarms and around the nose.
As with any natural remedy, the quality and potency of Manuka honey varies widely. As such, not all brands will be equally effective or suitable as a natural remedy.
To your best health,
Michelle Moore
Microbiologist and Natural Health Advocate
Author of the best selling Natural Staph and MRSA Treatment and Prevention Guidebook. Sourcing and using Manuka honey is covered in detail in Chapter 6 of MRSA Secrets Revealed.
References:
Scand J Infect Dis. 2009; 41(5):341-7; Bacteria, biofilm and honey: a study of the effects of honey on ‘planktonic’ and biofilm-embedded chronic wound bacteria; Merckoll P, Jonassen TØ, Vad ME, Jeansson SL, Melby KK.
Society for General Microbiology (SGM) Media Release 13 April 2011. https://www.sgm.ac.uk/news/releases/HIC11_RC.cfm
