Honey Used to Battle New Form of Drug-Resistant Microbe

By Martin Cassidy, BBC (UK), 5/1/2008

The ancient Egyptians understood that honey had healing properties, but now researchers in Belfast have discovered the secrets of its anti-microbial properties and its power to destroy a worrying new form of MRSA.

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.

In Belfast's City Hospital Professor John Moore and his small team of scientists are in hot pursuit of superbugs...

Surrounded by his team, he explains that in medieval times, some physicians used rose honey to treat wounds soldiers received in battle.

Those doctors understood that honey had healing and disinfecting properties and that set the City Hospital scientists thinking.

And far from being the only team looking at the medicinal properties of honey, they found a number of other researchers around the world who were also interested…

Clinical trials will now follow with topical treatment of sores, boils and leg ulcers with a honey dressing…