Educational Site Offers Honey Wound Healing Videos, Curriculum

‘Superbugs’ are antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that can cause problems in some hospitals. In this clip, honey researcher Peter Molan and woundcare nurse Julie Betts explain that Manuka honey is particularly good at killing superbugs. But can superbugs become resistant to Manuka honey?

View other video clips.

Honey to Heal
Biotechnology Learning Hub

You may have been spreading honey on your toast for a few years, but people have been using it to treat illnesses for thousands of years! Now honey is being used to make a product that can help wounds heal more quickly.

Information Sheets

How Honey Heals Wounds
Honeybees and Manuka Trees
Processing Manuka Honey
From Bees to Bandages

Worksheets

Experiment: Antibacterial Effects of Honey
Experiment: Making Honey Crystals
Experiment: The Osmotic Effect of Honey
Experiment: The Properties of Honey
Experiment: The Thixotropic Nature of Manuka Honey
Experiment: The Viscosity of Honey
Experiment: How Much Water is in Honey?

Audio: Breakthrough Made in Controlling Varroa Mite Without Pesticides

Radio New Zealand, 7/21/2008

New Zealand scientists have made a breakthrough in controlling the deadly varroa bee mite without using chemical pesticides, with an organic solution from a naturally occurring fungus, metarhizium, which doesn't affect the bees or the honey. Dr Mark Goodwin, spokesperson, HortResearch, says they have now found a way for the fungus to work in bee colonies, while Becker Underwood will mass produce it.

Listen to the interview.

Video: Demonstration of Romanian Bee Venom Collector

The collector frame is made from wood or plastic and holds a wire grid (electrodes). Underneath the wires is a glass sheet which is covered with a rubber material named Plutex to avoid contamination of the venom. During collection, bees come in contact with the wire grid and receive a mild and adequate electric shock. They sting the surface of the collector sheet as they see this to be the source of danger, an intruder. The venom is then deposited between the glass and the protective material where it dries and is later gathered.

Does venom collection kill bees?

Bee venom is collected without killing bees. At the beginning, in1990s venom collectors used a thick rubber sheet to collect bee stingers. The bees stung into the rubber sheet after receiving an electric shock kill more than 10 bees per hive, who losed their stingers.This loss is not significant to the population of the bee hive and does not effect the life span of the colony.

The newer collector devices and methods are safe and do not harm bees. During 30 minutes of collection, with a well adjusted programm collector device will not die more than 3 bees/day…

U.S. Launches Crackdown on Illegal Honey Imports

Swarming to Arrest Honey Importers
By Cindy Skrzycki, The Washington Post (USA), 7/29/2008

How's this for the plot of a suspense thriller to take to the beach? Contraband worth millions is shipped through Russia to disguise its origin. Federal agents, tipped by an informant, move in for an arrest. A German executive is apprehended as she is leaving the country.

Except this tale is real, a sting, if you will, involving the alleged laundering of Chinese honey through Russia to avoid high U.S. tariffs, some of it possibly contaminated with banned antibiotics.

The case is part of a crackdown on importers trying to get honey into the U.S. market at prices that undercut domestic producers. Over the past 15 years, U.S. honey producers have complained to the International Trade Commission in Washington repeatedly to try to stem such imports from China. A year ago, 221 percent anti-dumping tariffs were slapped on some shipments…

Honey Included in Review of Biologic Treatments for Burn Wounds

Biologic Dressing in Burns
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 19(4):923-928, July 2008.

Abstract: Advances in cellular biology and knowledge in wound healing and growth factors have given us a wide variety of choices to attack the problem of the complex burn wound. Split-thickness skin grafting with autograft is at present the standard of care. It, however, is not an ideal substitute and frequently is not available for full-burn coverage.

This article will review honey, human amnion, xenograft, allograft, cultured epithelial autograft, and various engineered commercial products for use in the biologic treatment of burn wounds.

Bee Propolis: Synergisitc Health Care for the 21st Century

James Fearnley, BeeVital Research, 7/27/2008

For well over a century modern science has progressed at a startling rate. With this increase in knowledge has come medicinal and healthcare benefits that have seen ages peak and diseases eradicated. These medical advances were based around the paradigm of the “magic bullet”, isolating the active ingredient and using it to alter the chemistry of a single molecule/protein to elicit a change of state in the patient.

Success however has turned to obsession as cracks appear in the armoury of disease fighting drugs at our disposal. MRSA is rifling through our hospitals as antibiotics become ineffective and severe side effects of modern drugs are becoming common place now years after their introduction. A direct consequence of a one dimensional strategy, it is maybe the time to acknowledge the synergistic health benefits of natural medicine.

Propolis is a unique natural medicine because of its breadth of action. It has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and immunomodulatory effects, it could help treat asthma, allergies, arthritis and joint disorders, eczema and dermatitis, ME, viral infections including HIV and even cancer. This medicine could help treat an illness or keep you fit and healthy…

Researcher Looks at Antibacterial Activity of Argentine Honey

Antibiotic Activity of Algarrobo (Prosopis spp), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp) and Chilca (Baccharis spp) Monospecific Honeys Against Meticiline Resistant Bacteria of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Fernando Esteban, ESPACIO APICOLA, Argentine Beekeepers' Magazine, 81 Edition (January-March 2008 in Spanish)

En función de los resultados obtenidos se puede recomendar el reemplazo del azúcar de mesa por estas mieles, en la preparación de apósitos para llagas, escaras o heridas de la piel, particularmente por su comportamiento frente a Staphylococcus aureus una de las principales y más resistentes bacterias que afectan las heridas cutáneas (además de su presencia en infecciones de las mucosas del tracto respiratorio) en consonancia con la experiencia publicada por Kirsten Traynor en el American Bee Journal.

El que distintas mieles, a distinta dilución, tengan diverso comportamiento antibacteriano frente a distintos agentes etiológicos induce a realizar estudios posteriores para optimizar la selección del tipo de miel, sus posibles mezclas y las diluciones más adecuadas para valorar tanto su potencial conservante de alimentos como para distintos usos terapéuticos.

Researchers Seek Varroa-Killing Fungi

Fungus Foot Baths Could Save Bees
University of Warwick (UK), 7/28/2008

One of the biggest world wide threats to honey bees, the varroa mite, could soon be about to meet its nemesis. Researchers at the University of Warwick are examining naturally occurring fungi that kill the varroa mite.

They are also exploring a range of ways to deliver the killer fungus throughout the hives from bee fungal foot baths to powder sprays…

Construction of Romanian Apitherapy Center Almost Completed

Construction of the International Apitherapy Centre in Mereni, Romania (near Bucharest), is almost 95 percent completed. In a few months it will be able to receive students and experts in Apitherapy from around the world.

On November 21-24, 2008, the Romanian Society of Apitherapy (http://www.apiterapie.ro/), in conjonction with the Romanian Asociation of Beekeeping and several national and international bee-related institutions/organizations, will host the Second International Congress, Course and Expo on Apitherapy and Apipuncture.

Contact: Dr. Stefan Stangaciu at drstangaciu@apitherapy.com or drstangaciu@gmail.com

Propolis Helps Prevent Chemically-Induced Systemic Toxicity

Synergistic Effects of Ferritin and Propolis in Modulation of Beryllium Induced Toxicogenic Alterations
Food Chem Toxicol, 2008 Jun 25

Synergistic therapeutic potential of ferritin (5mg/kg, i.p.) and propolis (honeybee hive product; 200mg/kg, p.o.) was analyzed to encounter the beryllium induced biochemical and ultra morphological alterations.

Female albino rats were exposed to beryllium nitrate (1mg/kg, i.p.) daily for 28 days followed by treatment of above mentioned therapeutic agents either individually or in combination for five consecutive days…

Beryllium exposure severely altered ultramorphology of liver and kidney that proved its toxic consequences at cellular level. Ferritin in combination with propolis dramatically reversed the alterations of these variables towards control in a synergistic manner concluding its beneficial effects over monotherapy in attenuating beryllium induced systemic toxicity.

Stings Lead to Arthritis Relief

By Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon, The Hartford Courant (USA), 7/25/2008

Q.I was stung on my left leg five times by yellow jackets. I have osteoarthritis in my left knee, and the pain has been gone since I was stung. I'm hoping that it will last! If I had a choice, though, I would definitely pick honeybee stings over yellow jackets, as they're much less painful.

A. You're not the first person to share such a story with us. Years ago, a reader wrote: "While snoozing on the porch I was stung on the finger by a tiny bee. The result: intense pain, and after that a great reduction of arthritis in my arm."

Early in the 20th century, bee-venom therapy was used to treat arthritis. Hospital pharmacies even stocked bee venom for these injections. After World War II, though, this approach was no longer widely used.

Apitherapy, which uses bee stings medicinally, is undergoing a resurgence. Some proponents claim that honeybee stings can alleviate the pain of arthritis, shingles or tendinitis. Yellow jackets can be dangerous, however, and should not be used.

Honey Gains Exposure as Antimicrobial Agent, Antioxidant

Intertek Acquires Honey Testing Expertise with Applica
By Jane Byrne, Food Quality News, 7/23/2008

Intertek has acquired the German-based food analysis centre, Applica, to expand its range of quality and safety services targeted at the food sector, according to the company.

Applica's innovative and analytical methods for identifying quality and authenticity of a variety of foods makes them an essential match for Intertek, a spokesperson for Intertek told FoodProductionDaily.com…

Honey testing

With this new purchase, Intertek said it gains access to Applica's expertise in applied chemical analysis of honey, with demand for testing of the product to ensure its purity growing significantly among food manufacturers.

Honey is increasingly being used as an ingredient in food products such as baked goods, salad dressings, sauces, candies, dairy products, spreads, cereals meats, snacks and beverages.

"Honey …continues to gain prevalent exposure for its usefulness as both an antimicrobial agent as well as an antioxidant for health conscious consumers," claims Intertek…

Molan: Honey is Effective in Healing Venous Ulcers

Honey Merits Questioned
Daily News (New Zealand), 7/23/2008

I fully agree with Dr Mosquera that compression bandaging is the proven, effective treatment for venous ulcers, and I would never suggest that it not be used. In all the clinical work in which I have collaborated, honey has always been used in conjunction with compression bandaging.

I am sure that Dr Mosquera will have experienced himself that a proportion of cases of leg ulcers do not heal despite compression bandaging being used.

In the pilot trial that was carried out by community nurses based at Waikato Hospital, it was only patients with non-healing venous ulcers that were recruited. Honey was found to be very effective in healing these ulcers…

It is commonly the case that patients with non-healing venous ulcers have diabetes (poor wound healing is a feature of diabetes). Diabetics were excluded from the HALT trial. The results of a clinical trial in Northern Ireland on using honey on venous ulcers will be published soon. In this trial diabetics were included.

A statistically significant improvement in the rate of healing with honey was found in this trial.

Dr Peter Molan
Professor in Biological Sciences & Director of the Honey Research Unit, University of Waikato

Honey Gel Reduces Sting of Wound Treatment

Healing Without the Sting
Keith Cutting Discusses the Renaissance of Honey as a Therapeutic Agent in Wound Management
Journal of Community Nursing, 7/21/2008

The use of honey in wound care has received increasing attention in recent years, mainly as a result of improved formulations, increased availability, supportive research, clinical efficacy reports and numerous positive reports in the national and international press. These have all contributed to the renaissance of honey as a therapeutic agent, in particular, its use as an antimicrobial agent which neatly confronts the increasing number of reports on the problem of antibiotic resistance.

The therapeutic advantages of honey have been recorded by Molan (2001) and tabulated by Cutting (2007) Table 1.

Good practice dictates that before first application of any honey product the patient should always be assessed for risk of reaction/allergy to bee or honey products and asked about known sensitivities. Adverse effects from application of honey are rare and although Molan (2001) records that patients find honey soothing and non-irritating some clinicians report that a small number of patients may experience a stinging sensation (Vandeputte & Van Waeyenberge 2003). It has been stated that not all honeys are the same and for this reason honey should not be considered a generic term (Molan 2002). Consequently, with the introduction of a new honey product it should not be assumed that painful reactions following application may occasionally be expected.

Melladerm® PLUS is intended for use in all types of wounds, including burns and is derived from Bulgarian (BULGARIA H) mountain flower honey. Bulgaria H has been selected on the basis of its excellent wound healing properties. Melladerm® PLUS is a proprietary wound ointment/gel that contains 45% BULGARIA H and a mixture of ingredients including glycerin and polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG 4000) to make the honey dressing more user friendly. PEG 4000 is a blend of water soluble polymers and its use as an additive to honey has been assessed by Subrahmanyam (1996).

Clinical evaluation reports prepared as part of a submission for CE marking on Melladerm Plus demonstrate healing without the disadvantage of occasionally incurring pain following application (Vandeputte 2007)…

Australian Midwives Test Honey Hand Cream

Rainbow Essence Natural Skin Care Products New Manuka Honey Hand Cream
Rainbow Essence announces the exclusive sole Australian distributorship of their soon to be launched all natural Manuka Honey Hand Cream.

Melbourne, Australia, July 23, 2008 --(PR.com)-- The extraordinary natural healing benefits of Manuka Honey are widely documented including its anti-bacterial and wound healing properties capable of treating conditions such as dermatitis, acne, wound infections etc.

Manuka Honey has the outstanding ability to moisturise, soothe and repair dry, cracked and damaged skin. Rich in vitamins, minerals and natural protein, it is the ideal ingredient for a hand cream…

Results of trials conducted with hospital midwives in Melbourne are being finalised and the Manuka Honey Healing Hand Cream is expected to be released in early August 2008.

The complete range of Rainbow Essence Natural Skin Care products can be viewed and ordered online at www.rainbowessence.com.au...