Honey Extract Used to Treat Gingivitis, Periodontitis

Using Camelyn in Stomatology
Georgian Med News, 2009 Jun;(171):24-7 [Article in Russian]

In article are presented results of clinical study treatment of inflammatory diseases of parodentium, (gingivitis and periodontitis) with medicine Camelyn. Camelyn is local product which was (received) produced from the special sort of honey and contains biological high active products. Camelyn possesses with immunostimulation, anti- inflammatory action, activates regeneration process, has analgesic effect. 56 patients with various forms of disease, with gingivitis 25 patient, with parodontitis 31 were under clinical observation. Estimation of anti-inflammatory action of Camelyn was based on dynamics of parameters of PMA index. Index was defined before beginning of research as well at the end of observation.

Had been concluded: (in case of gingivitis and periodontitis) It is more functional to use topical-application of Camelyn. 5% ointment was used independently - separately as well in combine with other medicine. Observation has shown reduction of PMA indexes parameter in average on 1,43-time, and reduction of treatment's term on 1-2 days in comparison with control group. The received results have confirmed clinical appropriateness to use Camelyn for gingivitis, parodontitis and periodontitis in combined treatment.

Video: Neighbors Seek Permission to Remove Bothersome Bees

Neighbors Battle Against Bee Hives in Bay Park
KFMB-TV. 7/8/2009

Bees are taking over a home in a Bay Park neighborhood. So far, neighbors haven't been able to do a thing about it, and they are not happy. They called News 8 about two hives on a property on Cecelia Terrace that they say are dangerous.

Neighbors in Bay Park say the bee infestation has gotten so bad that the postal carrier refuses to deliver mail to the affect house…

Apitherapist Uses Bee Stings to Treat MS, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Stinging Pain
By Kristen Fountain, Valley News (USA), 7/6/2009

A phone call in May from a friend in pain drew Reyah Carlson back to the Upper Valley. The next day she left her home in Connecticut and has not looked back.

Carlson's friend, Mary Gilbert of Bradford, Vt., suffers from lupus, a chronic immune system disorder. For several years, the joint inflammation caused by the disease would flare up for a few days and then go away. But by the time she called Carlson, that pattern had changed for the worse.

“I was in chronic flare,” said Gilbert, 45. “You get to a place with the pain where you just can't get on top of it.”

Since receiving a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis around seven years ago, Carlson, who is 51, has been using the stings of live honeybees to treat MS, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions. Her own health has improved dramatically, and she has seen high rates of success among the roughly 2,000 people who have sought her help in places where she previously lived in California, Missouri and Indiana, she said.

“Most people say they wish they had done it earlier,” Carlson said. “It's like a last ditch effort.”

Bee venom therapy, also called apitherapy, is considered an unproven, alternative treatment in the United States, though the practice has a long history in the folk medicines of Asia and Eastern Europe and is offered in medical settings in Korea, China, Russia and Ukraine.

Analyses of honeybee venom have shown it contains the chemicals melittin and apamine, both of which are known to have anti-inflammatory properties.

“There is certainly some biological mechanism behind it,” said Robert Zurier, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He authored a 1973 study that found that arthritis did not worsen in a group rats given skin injections of bee venom, while it did in a group treated with saline. The venom appears to act by stimulating the adrenal gland to increase the body's natural production of corticosteroids, he said…

Carlson first learned about apitherapy while living and keeping bees in Vershire in the late 1980s. A local man, who was being treated for MS by the late Middlebury, Vt., beekeeper and bee venom apostle Charles Mraz, asked her to help him set up a hive on his property.

Mraz, Carlson and other practitioners also promote other honeybee products including propolis, beeswax and royal jelly, which they say have healthful properties that can help fight infections or reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, to name just a few…

Another form of apitherapy, called hoshindo, removes stingers from the bees prior to treatment and applies them manually along the body's meridian lines according to traditional acupuncture…

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Honey and Maggots Used to Fight MRSA

Nursing Times, 7/7/2009

Honey and maggot larvae have been used by nurses at a Somerset hospital to help clean wounds and fight infections such as MRSA.

Staff at the Royal United Hospital in Bath have taken to using medical grade Manuka honey and the sterilised larvae of the common greenbottle fly to clean wounds without relying on modern day medicines.

The honey, derived from the Manuka plant in New Zealand, has an osmotic action that actively draws fluid from the wound helping the body dissolve and remove dead tissue while reducing wound odour…

Dorothy Yeo, from Bath, has been receiving treatment for an ulcer for the last three years and recently began using honey dressings.

She said: ‘After trying the honey dressings I’m optimistic about the future, I’m able to sleep without sleeping tablets and for the first time new skin is forming over my ulcer.’

Success is Sweet for the Honey that Spreads Good Health

By Sarah Freeman, Yorkshire Post, 7/7/2009

It sounds like just another old wives' tale.

But while eating carrots might not help you see in the dark, it seems a spoonful of honey not only helps the medicine go down, but it can ease sore throats, soothe digestive problems and, perhaps most impressively of all, fight off MRSA.

The healing properties of honey were well known to the Ancient Egyptians, the Romans and the Greeks, but over the centuries natural remedies have been replaced by antibiotic drugs and lotions.

However in recent months, manuka honey and the native New Zealand bee which produces it has suddenly found itself back in vogue. Produced for the first time this year in England, a single jar costs £55, but despite the hefty price tag, demand has soared. The first batch from the Tregothnan estate in Cornwall sold out within weeks and as word spread, online orders have gone through the roof.

"It has long been common wisdom in New Zealand that manuka honey is a superior treatment for wounds and infections," says Professor Peter Molan, a biochemist at the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato. "Ten years ago, I decided to see if there was any scientific foundation in the belief and ever since I have been trying to get to the bottom of what makes it so special…

Honey and Bee Sting Blend for Arthritis

July 06, 2009, (Sawf News) - New Zealand's Nelson Honey & Marketing is seeking EU approval to market Actiflex, a product containing honey with traces of bee venom that is claimed to ease pain in people with arthritis.

Actiflex is made by blending honey derived from the native Manuka tree with dried venom collected from the Apis mellifera honeybee using electrical milking machines that send impulses to stimulate worker bees to sting through a latex film onto a glass collector plate.

Actiflex has been in the New Zealand market for 13 years. The company has applied to UK's Food Standards Agency for an EU approval to launch its product in the market. The agency said it would be considering the application in the coming months.

Bee venom therapy for relieving arthritis pain is not a new concept. Traditionally it involved letting a bee sting a patient's arthritis affected area to reduce symptoms. The venom is believed to act as an analgesic for arthritis sufferers.

According to the product website, Bee venom is a complex mix of a variety of peptides and proteins, some of which have strong neurotoxin and immunogenic effects.

The venom's anti inflammatory effect is attributed to its major component, Melittin, which is claimed to stimulate the pituitary gland into releasing a hormone that causes the adrenal gland to produce cortisol, one of the body's major anti-inflammatory agents!

The anti-inflammatory properties of Melittin were also confirmed by a study conducted by researchers in South Korea. “The potency of Melittin in the inhibition of the inflammatory response may be of great benefit in degenerative and inflammatory diseases such as RA,” says Dr. Jin Tae Hong, M.D., Ph.D and one of the researchers from Korea.

“The extent of inhibitory effects of Melittin in most parameters determined in the present study is similar to or greater than bee venom itself, suggesting that Melittin may be a major causative component in the pharmacologic effects of bee venom.”…

Nursing Magazine Looks at Use of Honey for Wound Healing

Manuka Honey: Is There Any Truth That It Helps Wounds Heal?
By Barbara Swanson, PhD, RN, ADVANCE for LPNs, 7/2/2009

Anecdotal and preliminary evidence suggests honey - specifically topical manuka honey or antibacterial medical honey - reduces pain and chance of infection while promoting the healing of skin wounds, patient comfort and quality of life.1

A case report of three patients with venous, mixed or arterial chronic leg ulcers found Medihoney antibacterial wound gel (medical honey) reduced pain and improved healing of ulcers within 4-16 days.1

But what do we really know about manuka honey?

Mechanisms Of Action, Clinical Usage

Honey used for topical wound healing is typically produced by honeybees from the nectar of specific floral trees (Leptospermum scoparium). Manuka honey is often a blend of Australian and New Zealand honeys irradiated by gamma rays to inactivate potentially harmful bacterial spores, such as Clostridium botulinum.

The exact mode of action has not been determined, but by creating a moist, antibacterial wound environment manuka honey is thought to: 1) form a protective barrier that prevents adhesions of dressing to wounds, 2) maintain a moist healing environment which reduces scarring, 3) reduce wound odors and purulent exudate, 4) promote debriding either through autolysis or due to its enzymes and release of hydrogen peroxide and 5) support angiogenesis, granulation and epithelialization of wound healing.

One explanation is the acidic pH of honey (3.5-4.5) reduces the alkalinity of wounds, resulting in a more acidic healing environment. Manuka honey also stimulates the release of inflammatory cytokines from monocytes which, in turn, promotes tissue healing…

Dosage, Safety

Typically, manuka honey is applied liberally (15 mL-30 mL) during dressing changes, following careful cleansing of the wounds, every 12-48 hours, followed by sterile gauze or polyurethane dressings…

Manuka Honey: At A Glance

Indications

• Homeopathic and anecdotal observations suggest manuka honey promotes healing of new or acute wounds, such as cuts, lacerations, superficial burns and abrasions, but strong evidence is lacking.

• Standardized preparations, such as Medihoney and ApiNate, are suggested over ordinary honey for their antibacterial action in treating wounds.

• May reduce pain compared with another commonly used wound dressing.

Contraindications

• Meant for topical treatment of wounds; should not be ingested.

• Do not use ordinary honey in place of medical honey; impurities may prove harmful.

Honey Can Help Treat Acne

Sweet Healing from Honey and Brown Sugar
By Elle Febbo, LA Skin Care Examiner, 7/5/2009

Health experts from acne.com are now referencing Honey as a healing agent when it comes to our skin, and Brown sugar as a safe, natural cleansing agent for dermatological use…

Below are a few ways to make your natural sweeteners do a lot more for you that add to your calorie count.

1. When you feel or see a blemish starting to appear, dab on a fingertip of honey to the effected area, and cover with a band-aid before bed. By dawn, it should be gone.

2. Mix 1/8th cup honey, and 2 teaspoons of whole milk together in a dish. Cleanse face and neck with milk and honey mixture, then rinse and moisturize as usual.

3. Queen Bee Exfoliating Scrub (Available in most common kitchens):

Naturally exfoliating your skin with gentle exfoliant, such as brown sugar, will remove dead skin cells from the skins surface while delicately cleansing pores. Upon completion, skin will feel smooth, and tone will be more even…

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Australian ‘Wonder Honey’ Said to Beat Manuka in Antibacterial Activity

Aust Native Organic Honey Stars in Antibacterial Role
Queensland Country Life (Australia), 7/6/2009

An Australian Certified Organic (ACO) honey company has launched a medicinal grade honey derived from a native Australian plant.

The honey contains more potent levels of non-peroxide active antibacterial activity than are recorded in any other product on the market worldwide.

Research has highlighted the potential of the honey to act as a medical agent with the capacity to kill harmful bacteria.

It also reportedly strengthens immune systems and aids in the recovery of everything from strep throat to skin wounds and scars.

The ‘wonder honey’ will be marketed under the trade name Berringa Honey.

That's a subsidiary of the Australian Organic Honey Company which has produced high grade Australian Eucalypt honey for food consumption for the past 20 years.

The honey reportedly contains un-matched levels of Methylglyoxal (MG) - a compound naturally formed in honey as a result of chemical reactions by green photosynthesising plants.

MG activity in Berringa honey, made under a certified organic production system from the native genus Leptospermum Polygalifolium (a type of tea tree), has been recorded consistently at levels of + 1,600 mg/kg.

This is claimed to be well ahead of regular honey, which typically has not been found to contain levels in excess of 5 mg/kg (2)…

New Medicinal Honey Lozenge Targets Ulcers, Heartburn, Sore Throats

Pure Medical Grade 20+ Manuka Honey in a Lozenge
Scoop Independent News, 7/6/2009

Health & Herbs International, New Zealand’s specialist naturopathic products company, has launched the Radiance ManukaGuard lozenge. Every lozenge contains 100% pure manuka honey providing 20+ certified bioactive manuka factor, which is exciting medical researchers worldwide because of its special health promoting properties.

Radiance ManukaGuard lozenges contain only pure New Zealand manuka honey harvested from a remote and unpolluted area at the tip of the North Island of New Zealand, an area so rich with manuka trees, it enables the production of an exceptionally high quality manuka honey. The honey is `condensed’ into a compact, convenient lozenge using a specially developed process which maintains its biological activity…

New Zealand Company Wants to Sell 'Bee Venom' Honey in Britain

A New Zealand company wants to sell honey in Britain that contains the venom of bees

By Harry Wallop, Telegraph (UK), 7/3/2009

Nelson Honey has applied to the Food Standards Agency for permission to market the unusual product in Britain, claiming bee venom honey alleviates the symptoms of arthritis.

It has been sold in New Zealand for the last decade, with more than 13 million pots sold. The company admits there have been "extremely low" reported incidences of adverse reactions to honey with bee venom added.

The FSA has to approve the marketing of any "novel food" to check it is safe. The regulator said: "Before any new food product can be introduced on the European market it must be rigorously assessed for safety. In the UK, the assessment of novel foods is carried out by an independent committee of scientists appointed by the Food Standards Agency."

Nelson's most popular bee venom honey is called Nectar Ease, which sells for New Zealand dollars 21.95 (£8.95) for a 500g pot.

The company claims, on its website: "Bee venom has been used via Bee-Sting Therapy for centuries in all cultures. The actual healing process is still a bit of a mystery but ongoing research has identified a number of naturally occurring chemical compounds which appear to work together in the body."…

Honey Proven to Be a Wonder Cure

By Phil Mercer, The National (UAE), 7/4/2009

SYDNEY // Australian scientists have discovered that honey is a powerful natural medicine capable of killing almost all types of bacteria, including drug-resistant superbugs that threaten the lives of hospital patients around the world.

The miracle sweet liquid is Manuka or jelly bush honey and is made only by bees collecting pollen and nectar from trees in Australia and New Zealand.

After seven years of research, a team at the University of Sydney has found that this simple product has an extraordinary ability to destroy micro-organisms that cause infections in external wounds.

“The bacteria have all been killed very quickly by honey, despite any resistance [to other drugs] that they might have,” said Dee Carter, an associate professor…

Myanmar Propolis Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Chemical Constituents of Propolis from Myanmar and Their Preferential Cytotoxicity Against a Human Pancreatic Cancer Cell Line
J. Nat. Prod, July 2, 2009

A methanolic extract of propolis obtained in Myanmar was found to inhibit PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells preferentially under nutrient-deprived conditions (NDM), with a PC50 value of 9.3 μg/mL.

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of two new cycloartane-type triterpenes, (22Z,24E)-3-oxocycloart-22,24-dien-26-oic acid (1) and (24E)-3-oxo-27,28-dihydroxycycloart-24-en-26-oic acid (2), together with 13 cycloartanes (3−13) and four known prenylated flavanones (14−17).

Among these, compound 1 exhibited the most potent preferential cytotoxicity (PC50 4.3 μM) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, 1 induced apoptosis-like morphological changes of PANC-1 cells within 24 h of treatment.