New Zealand Couple Use Honey to Heal Patients in Indian Clinic

Why Jason's Buzzing at Bay's Healing Honey
By Joel Ford, Bay of Plenty Times (New Zealand), 5/31/2007

Jason Cobb is using a little piece of the Bay to help heal sick people in one of India's poorest areas.

Mr Cobb and his wife Andrea run a health clinic and children's home in Orissa, Eastern India, where they use medical-grade manuka honey to help patients…

Comvita provides the Foundation with manuka honey used to treat patients and Mr Cobb says it is amazing how well it works on a variety of different skin ailments.

"Manuka has special properties. It kills bacteria, repairs tissues and provides the perfect healing environment," he said.

"We don't have a lot of remedies so we use it for everything - it's great."

The honey has many marvellous properties: it acts as a liquid barrier between the wound and the dressing to prevent the dressing from sticking; it provides a moist, bacteria-free environment keeps wounds moist so scarring is reduced; and studies have shown that the acidity produced by manuka honey helps stimulate minor wound healing…

Newly-Isolated Propolis Component Inhibits Proliferation of Cancer Cells

Propolin H from Taiwanese Propolis Induces G1 Arrest in Human Lung Carcinoma Cells
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2007 May 26

Propolis, a natural product collected by honeybee, has been reported to exert a wide spectrum of biological functions. In this study, we have isolated a novel component, namely, propolin H, and investigated its effects in human carcinoma cells. Propolin H inhibited the proliferation of human lung carcinoma cell lines in MTT assay, and a significant G1 arrest was observed to occur in a dose-dependent manner at 24 h of exposure in H460 cells…

Propolin H exerts its significantly growth inhibitory effects and may have therapeutic applications.

Croatian Bees Sniff Out Landmines

By Nicholas Walton, BBC News, 5/30/2007

A new technique to help find unexploded landmines using honey bees is being developed at Zagreb University in Croatia…

Training the bees to find mines takes place in a large net tent pitched on a lawn at the university's Faculty of Agriculture.

A hive of bees sits at one end, with several feeding points for the bees set up around the tent.

But only a few of the feeding points contain food, and the soil immediately around them has been impregnated with explosive chemicals.

The idea is that the bees' keen sense of smell soon associates the smell of explosives with food. So far this has proved successful.

The first day or so is spent in the large net tent, getting the bees used to associating the smell of TNT with food.

After that several bees are taken out of the colony and tested to see if they react correctly when presented with extracts of explosives…

American Beekeeper Uses Bee Venom to Treat MS

Amateur Beekeepers Abuzz with Excitement
By Chad Hunter , News-Leader (USA), 5/29/2007

At Scott Kissee's home in Ozark, two hives provide bees he uses for an alternative treatment of multiple sclerosis called "bee-venom therapy," or apitherapy. Although not scientifically proven or endorsed, the practice, according to Kissee, has been a blessing.

"When I came out of the Army, I was on heavy, heavy medication, of course my shots every day and muscle relaxers and painkillers," said Kissee, who spent months in a wheelchair following the diagnosis in 2000. "I was pretty skeptical (of bee venom therapy), but I started trying it and got off almost all my medication."

Every other day, Kissee prods 21 bees into stinging his back from the neck down.

"You catch them with the tweezers and tap the butt. They sting you every time. It's working great for me, and it's saving the taxpayers a whole lot of money on medication."…

Pollen, Raw Honey Recommended for Allergy Relief

To Sneeze or Not to Sneeze
By Laurie Castaneda, The Pinnacle (USA), 5/11/2007

For some, modern medicine often takes a back seat to home remedies. These methods vary, from taking 16 grams of Vitamin C orally over a 24 hour period to aromatherapy (lavender and chamomile oils are said to help calm asthma attacks).

Others, such as Leon Bray, say bees may provide the relief allergy sufferers are looking for.

Bray, a Hollister resident who has kept bees as a hobby for 40 years, says both bee pollen and raw honey may work to ease certain allergy symptoms. Several years ago, a co-worker of Bray's used bee pollen provided by Bray to ease his symptoms.

"I made some pollen traps and brought it into him," he said. "He swore by it."

Bray also said the pollen bees carry naturally finds its way into honey, creating another way to get bee pollen into the diet.

"Bees bring in pollen to feed their brood," he said. "They feed them the nectar which mixes with the pollen. The pollen then transfers when they move from there into the honey chamber. As the bees go up and down they bring the pollen with them."

The pollen in the raw honey can help a person build up immunity to the pollen, said Bray, who suggests taking a teaspoon of raw honey every day.

"Some people swear by it, but I believe that while it will work for some people, maybe it won't for others," he said.

Bray said he believes the honey eases symptoms from pollen that was in the air at the time the bees made the honey - pollen released later won't find its way into the honey until the next batch - and that only raw honey provides the benefits allergy sufferers seek…

Sea Lion Shark Bite Wound Treated with Honey

California Sea Lion Receives Sweet Treatment After Shark Attack
American Bee Journal, April 2007
Excerpted from “The Sea Dog,” Winter 2007

On September 6th the Care Center received a yearling female sea lion with extensive wounds to her side and abdomen. The marks were characteristic of a shark bite…

The problem was how best to treat a contaminated wound of this size. Sea lions are notoriously good at removing bandages and the necessary restraint for repeated bandage changes is stressful to the animal.

She was not stable enough to undergo anesthesia, so whatever treatment was selected would need to be rapidly applied and minimally painful to an awake animal.

Due to the size of the wound and the degree of contamination I decided to try a novel wound treatment that dates backs at least several centuries, honey.

Two bandages that looked something like big silver band aids were constructed with a cloth center which was coated with honey. This was applied to the wounds every other day for 2½ weeks.

No other topical treatments were used and no necrotic tissue was removed by a standard surgical procedure known as debridement.

The changes in the health of the wound were noticeable at the first bandage change. After two weeks sufficient healing had occurred that oral antibiotics were discontinued, the wound was left un-bandaged and the animal allowed to return to an in-ground pool with other animals. She was released December 1st with only a small crescent shaped wound still visible…

Researcher/Author Seeks Testimonials to Apitherapy’s Effectiveness

Kirsten Traynor, an American researcher based in Germany, is seeking personal stories from individuals who have treated any type of illness or disorder with bee hive products. The stories may be included in a book she is writing on Apitherapy. Traynor’s book will be based on scientific studies from around the world confirming the medicinal value of hive products.

E-Mail: Kirsten@mdbee.com or kstraynor@adelphia.net

Ugandan Boxers Use Honey as Dietary Supplement

Boxers Resort to Honey to Supplement Diet
By Norman Katende, The New Vision (Uganda), 5/25/2007

UGANDAN boxers at the Africa Boxing Championships in Madagascar have resorted to taking honey so that they make up for the ‘poor’ diet on their menu.

The boxers have to brave the breakfast with dry tea and hard French bread, which team doctor Ntege Ssengendo says is not healthy and beneficial to the fighters.

“They tell us that this is the continental breakfast but we feel it is not nutritious enough. We have resorted to providing honey to supplement on the missing nutrients,” said Ntege, who thought that breakfast should have had sausages, bananas and eggs…

Apitherapy Training Center Under construction in Romania

The International Apitherapy Center is currently under construction in Mereni, Romania.

The center will offer training in Apitherapy, Apipuncture and Api-Phyto-AromoTherapy.

Propolis an Option for Treating Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Propolis Antimicrobial Activity: What's New?
Le infezioni in medicina, 2007 Mar;15(1):7-15

Propolis is a hive product that bees manufacture from balsamic resins actively secreted by plants on leaf buds and barks. Propolis composition is highly variable, depending on the plant species and on the season of collection. However, propolis essentially contains resins, balsams, essential oils, flavonoids, vitamins, minerals and pollen, albeit at different concentrations.

Although more than 300 constituents have been identified in propolis samples, biological activity is mainly due to few substances, such as flavonoids, terpens, caffeic, ferulic and cumaric acids and esters.

Propolis is characterized by multifactorial activities, but only some of them have been substantiated by clinical and experimental evidence. It is widely acknowledged to exert antimicrobial activity against a wide range of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and viruses), but also exerts antiinflammatory, anaesthetic, healing, vasoprotective, antioxidant, antitumoral, antiulcer and hepatoprotective activities.

The wide spectrum of activities has led in recent years to the development of new technologies to improve propolis properties of the traditional hydroalcoholic extract. This paper reviews the antimicrobial properties of propolis, focusing on respiratory pathogens. These characteristics make propolis a valid option for therapy of upper respiratory tract infections.

Honey’s Therapeutic Properties Used in Beauty Products

Honey is Sweet for the Body
By Elise Minton and Paige Herman, Orange County Register (USA), 5/23/2007

Honey has become a staple ingredient in some of today's most sought-after beauty products – and for good reason. Besides its sweet scent, this natural moisturizer is hailed for its wide variety of therapeutic properties, such as the ability to keep skin hydrated and moist, as well as the power to fight against the signs of aging. Plus, honey is an anti-irritant, so it's safe to use on even sensitive skin.

Benefits of honey

Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture. It contains essential vitamins such as B5 and panothenic acid. It's also full of minerals like zinc and magnesium, which increase the skin's moisture retention. And it improves cell production and scalp circulation. Honey also contains loads of enzymes and amino acids, making it a powerful antibacterial ingredient that is excellent for treating acne, as well as reducing redness and inflammation. Rich in antioxidants, honey also helps regenerate damaged tissue, deflect free radicals and improve skin tone and elasticity. To reap the full benefits, look for dark-colored honey, which contains more antioxidants than light-colored versions.

Sun Protection

Since honey is suitable for sensitive skin and is a natural moisturizer, it is being considered as a substitute ingredient for some of the harsh chemicals found in most sun blocks. With its natural antioxidant properties, honey also helps the skin protect itself from the sun's damaging UV rays and aids in skin cell rejuvenation…

70 Percent of Honey Sold in Hungary is ‘Counterfeit’

Counterfeit Claims: Honey Laced with Additives and Sugar
The Budapest Sun, 5/23/2007

May 23, 2007 08:00 am Seventy percent of the honey sold in Hungarian supermarkets is counterfeit, and includes additives and sugar, according to the Hungarian Beekeepers’ Association (Országos Magyar Méhészeti Egyesület or OMME)...

Photo Essay: Palestinians Use Honey and Bee Stings to Treat Disease

United Press International, May 2007

Palestinian bee and honey expert Rateb Samor treats patients using bee venom therapy at his clinic in Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Samor and his wife Oum Ebrahem use honey and bee stings to treat illnesses like paralysis, nasal sinuses, rheumatism, and other serious diseases.

The Prophet Mohammad recommended using honey for medicinal purposes. He is reported to have said: "Make use of the two remedies: honey and the Quran (Islam’s holy text)." The Quran states: “[T]here issues from within [bees] a fluid of many hues, wherein is healing for mankind.” (Chapter 16, Verse 69)

National Geographic Video Examines Bee Venom Therapy in Taiwan

Bee Therapy
Video: National Geographic Channel

Can bee stings cure arthritis, or MS? Meet some people in Taiwan willing to endure hundreds of bee stings to cure what ails them.

Doctor to Study Honey as Diabetic-Ulcer Treatment

By Kawanza Newson, The Milwaukee Journal (USA), 5/20/2007

Jennifer Eddy vividly remembers the 79-year-old old man with foot ulcers so severely infected that his dried and deteriorated skin caused the loss of two toes.

Two surgeons urged amputation of the man's lower legs to save his life, but the man opted to go home, and he then lost a third toe.

Eddy, a family physician taught to never give up on a patient, approached the man with an idea she'd first heard about during medical school.

She told him that honey had been used since the early days to treat wounds and asked if he'd be willing to try it.

The man agreed and placed a thick application of honey he'd purchased at a supermarket on his sore each day.

Within three weeks, Eddy says, the man's foot began creating nice, healthy tissue. It took about a year for the ulcer to clear up.

Now, more than three years later, Eddy is conducting her own randomized study to test the usefulness of topical honey for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers on 40 patients throughout Wisconsin. So far, five people have enrolled in the study to determine how much their wound size decreases within four weeks of twice-daily use of grocery-variety honey.

"It's just a medical intervention that should be evaluated like anything else," said Eddy, an assistant professor with the University of Wisconsin Medical School who practices at the Eau Claire Family Clinic.

The study is funded with a $100,000 grant from the Wisconsin Partnership Fund for Health and a $30,000 grant from the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation. A podiatrist is donating his time for seeing patients.

Eddy expects to have enough information within two years to draw some conclusions on the effectiveness of honey and will decide if a larger study is needed.

"If it works, it works, and if it doesn't, it doesn't," she said. "But the good thing about these chronic diabetic ulcers is if honey is successful, not only will patients benefit but all of society will benefit (because) it's a tremendous cost savings."…

9 Reasons Honey is Truly a Miracle Food

By Wade Meredith, Healthbolt, 5/17/2007

Honey has been consumed by humans for 2,500 years and it’s still got the right stuff. Check it out:

1. Honey is mostly known as a sweetener. It contains about 69% glucose and fructose.

2. Honey is a universal source of energy that provides 64 calories per tablespoon. (One tablespoon of sugar will give you about 50 calories.) The sugars in honey are easily converted into glucose by even the most sensitive stomachs.

3. Honey contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. The vitamin and mineral content of honey depends on the type of flowers pollen was gathered from during the making process.

4. Good for your skin: milk and honey are often served together. Both of these help smooth and sooth skin.

5. Honey has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It has traditionally been used as a natural treatment for wounds, burns and ulcers. In recent years there has been renewed interest in the medicinal properties of honey for wound care...

Propolis Extract Shows Fungicidal Effect

The "In Vitro" Antifungal Activity Evaluation of Propolis G12 Ethanol Extract on Cryptococcus Neoformans
Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, 2007 Apr;49(2):93-95

Cryptococcosis is a worldwide disease caused by the etiological agent Cryptococcus neoformans. It affects mainly immunocompromised humans. It is relatively rare in animals only affecting those that have received prolonged antibiotic therapy. The propolis is a resin that can present several biological properties, including antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities. The standard strain C. neoformans ATTC 90112 was used to the antifungal evaluation…

The inhibitory effect of PEE G12 on the fungal growing was seen at the concentration of 0.2 mg mL-1 and 1.6 mg mL-1 was considered a fungicidal one.

Online Excerpts from Russian Apitherapy Book Explain ‘Express’ Method of Medicinal Honey Production

Curative Properties of Honey and Bee Venom
By N. Yoirish
Published 2001
The Minerva Group, Inc.
ISBN 0898754097

This book examines the “express” method of honey production.

“[N]ew honeys obtained by the ‘express’ method possess stronger disinfecting properties than natural and artificial honeys.” Page 58

South Korean Conference to Feature Bee Venom Therapy Workshops

Seventh International Conference on Biotherapy
The Convention Hall, The KimKoo Museum
Seoul, Korea, June 21-24, 2007

June 24 (Sun)

09:00 - 12:30
SESSION: APITHERAPY (Part 1)
Keynote Lectures
Chair: Christopher M-H Kim, M.D. (Korea) and
Anatoly A. Gribkov, M.D. (Russia)

09:00 - 09:45
Honeybee Venom Clinical and Discovery
Research in The United States and Canada in the 20th Century
Robert Brooks, Ph.D. (USA)

09:45 - 10:30
Use of Apitherapy in Clinical Medicine
Stefan Stangaciu, M.D. (Romania)

11:00 - 12:30
SESSION: APITHERAPY (Part 2)
Keynote Lectures
Chair: Robert Brooks, Ph.D. (USA) and Stefan Stangaciu, M.D. (Romania)

11:00 - 11:45
1. Prerequisites and methods for intervertebral hernia treatment by live bee stings and other bees' products
2. Video presentation
Anatoly A. Gribkov, M.D. (Russia)

11:45 - 12:30
Bee Venom Therapy in the modern medicine (1985-2005)
Christopher M-H. Kim, M.D. (Korea)

Propolis Exhibits Anti-Radical Activity

Evaluation of Propolis Effects on Some Biochemical Parameters in Rats Treated with Sodium Fluoride
Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, Volume 88, Issue 3, July 2007, Pages 273-283

Abstract: The present study in which 42 female rats, each weighing 200−250 g, were used covered a period of 21 days. The animals were divided into six groups. The first group served as the control group, whereas Group 2 was administered propolis at a dose of 200 mg/kg/bw in drinking water for 21 days. Group 3 was first provided with normal drinking water for a period of 14 days, and was subsequently administered propolis at a dose of 200 mg/kg/bw in drinking water for 7 days. Group 4 was first given normal drinking water for 14 days, and was secondly administered 100 ppm fluoride as a sodium fluoride in drinking water for 7 days. Group 5 was first administered propolis alone at a dose of 200 mg/kg/bw in drinking water for 14 days, and was secondly administered 100 ppm fluoride in association with 200 mg/kg/bw propolis for 7 days. Finally, Group 6 was first provided with normal drinking water for 14 days, and was secondly administered 100 ppm fluoride in association 200 mg/kg/bw propolis for a period of 7 days.

At the end of the 21st day, blood samples were collected from the heart of each animal into both heparinised tubes and tubes without anticoagulants. Glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, total protein, and uric acid levels, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in the serum, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the plasma, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were measured.

When compared to the control group, statistical differences were determined to exist with respect to oxidative stress parameters which involved increase in MDA levels in Groups 4−6, decrease in SOD activity in Groups 4 and 6, increase in CAT activity in Groups 5 and 6, and decrease in GSH-Px activity in Groups 4 and 6.

Furthermore, in comparison to the control group, significant differences were observed with respect to certain serum biochemical parameters, including decrease in glucose levels in Groups 5 and 6, decrease in triglyceride levels in Groups 2 and 4, decrease in cholesterol levels in Groups 2 and 5, decrease in the total protein level of Groups 4−6, decrease in the ALT activity of Groups 5 and 6, increase in the AST activity of Group 4, decrease in the ALP activity of Groups 2−6 and increase in the uric acid level of Group 2.

In the groups that were administered propolis in association with fluoride, improvement was observed in some oxidative stress parameters and certain other biochemical parameters. Changes determined in the oxidative stress parameters (especially MDA and SOD) were indicative of the anti-radical activity of propolis on the free radicals generated by sodium fluoride. However, the values not drawing completely close to those of the control group can be explained with propolis not being able to completely eliminate the free radicals and the other adverse effects generated by fluoride.

Summer Apitherapy Course in Romania

Date: June 7 – 8
Place: Cluj, Romania

The course, featuring international speakers, is being organized by the University of Agriculture Science and Veterinary Medicine in Cluj.

For more information, contact: Cristina Aosan

Artificial Sweeteners Used in 20 Percent of Japanese Honey

Honey Firms Caught Using Artificial Sweeteners
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Japan), 5/14/2007

The Tokyo-based National Honey Fair Trade Conference, a public-interest corporation that promotes proper labeling for honey products, found from its regular checks that over the last seven years, 120, or about 20 percent, of honey products it inspected had used artificial sweeteners that are banned by the conference, sources close to the conference said Sunday.

Since such products are labeled as pure honey, fake products are likely being sold, the sources said.

As the conference only sent a notice or warning to the companies that sold such products and did not conduct thorough inspections or release inspection results, the Fair Trade Commission is investigating the matter.

The conference is a public organization established with approval from the fair trade watchdog under the Law for Preventing Unjustifiable Extra or Unexpected Benefit and Misleading Presentation.

In its annual inspection, about 100 products are selected from conference member companies. Specialized institutes are commissioned to analyze the ingredients.

Two artificial sweeteners--isomerized sugar and thick malt syrup--were found in some of the products.

Between fiscal 2000 and 2006, about 610 products were inspected, with about 100 found to have contained isomerized sugar and 20 found to have been mixed with thick malt syrup.

About 20 percent of the products tested positive on average. ..

Bee Venom May Help Treat Neurodegenerative Diseases

Bee Venom and Melittin Reduce Proinflammatory Mediators in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated BV2 Microglia
International Immunopharmacology, 2007, In Press

Abstract: Bee venom (BV), well known as a traditional Oriental medicine, has been shown to exhibit anti-arthritic and anti-carcinogenic effects. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of BV have not been elucidated in microglia. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of BV and its major component, melittin (MEL), on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia. Our results indicate that BV and MEL suppress LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression in a dose-dependent manner, without causing cytotoxicity in BV2 microglia…

These results demonstrate that BV and MEL possess a potent suppressive effect on proinflammatory responses of BV2 microglia and suggest that these compounds may offer substantial therapeutic potential for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases that are accompanied by microglial activation.

Honey’s Role in ‘Hibernation Diet’ Explained

Mike McInnes explains the principles behind the Hibernation Diet which uses the body's own recovery system to burn fat - with a little help from Honey.

View the video.

‘Encapsulated’ Propolis More Efficient as Antibiotic

Poly (Epsilon-Caprolactone)/Propolis Extract: Microencapsulation and Antibacterial Activity
Die Pharmazie, 2007 Apr;62(4):287-90

Spherical and homogenous microparticles of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), containing propolis were prepared by the emulsification-solvent evaporation technique. Using this method of preparation, a solid formulation of propolis, free of ethanol and suitable for manipulation and storage, was obtained from an ethanolic extract of propolis. The incorporation efficiency of propolis in the microparticles was almost 30% and around 60% of the substance was released in 48 h. In vitro propolis microparticles exhibited similar halo zones in the Petri plate test against Streptococcus mutans (GS5) with a 10-fold lower concentration than the free propolis extract showing that the encapsulated propolis in microparticles is more efficient as antibiotic.

Presentation on Use of Honey in Modern Wound Care

‘New’ Remedy – New Evidence

Presented at the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) in Tampa, Florida (USA)
By Keith F Cutting, Principal lecturer, Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College
International Board Member AAWC

Honey and wound Healing - the Story So Far:

* Positive findings - 17 RCTs, 1965 participants
* 5 clinical trials, 97 participants
* Effectiveness in assisting healing - 16 trials, 533 wounds (experimental animals)

Key Actions of Topical Honey:

* Anti – inflammatory
* Anti – microbial
* Debriding
* Deodorising
* Stimulates healing
* Promotes MWH

Key Points:

* Honey is readily available.
* All honeys are not the same and do not possess the same therapeutic advantages.
* Honey should not be considered as a generic term.
* Medical grade honey is filtered, gamma irradiated and produced under exacting standards of hygiene.
* Manuka Honey (Leptospermum scoparium) is superior to other honeys.
* Honey has a very broad spectrum of action.

Anti-bacterial Effect:

* pH, osmolarity, phytochemicals, H2O2
* pH between 3.2 - 4.5
* Low enough to inhibit E.coli, pseudomonas, salmonella and streptococcus pyogenes

Catheter Associated Infections

* Honey is safe, inexpensive, unlikely to select for resistance, and appears to be an effective prophylactic
RCT Medihoney v. Mupirocin - 3 X weekly application on catheter (haemodialysis) exit sites – infection rates
* n =101, Honey 51, Mupirocin 50
* Catheter Associated Bacteraemias, Honey 6, Mupirocin 5
* Medihoney has in vitro activity against multi resistant clinical isolates of MRSA, VRE and multi-resistant gram negative organisms including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Does Honey Inhibit Biofilm Formation

* Up to 5 percent concentration artificial honey supported biofilm formation with reduced growth at 10 percent and above.
* Floral honey significantly inhibited biofilm formation at 1 percent
* Osmotic pressure alone not sufficient to prevent biofilm formation.

Honey May Protect Computer Users

Honey Makes Computers Safe
Russia-Infocenter, 5/8/2007

Natural honey eliminates hazardous effect of computer radiation on a living organism, claims young scientist from Russian city of Ufa.

Young genius, who attends secondary school, has tested honey affecting consequences of staying near computers on fruit flies (Drosophilla melanogaster). Flies, males and females separately, were kept near computer for about six hours and received food with or without honey.

Insects, which ate honey and were exposed to computer radiation, produced four-times more baby flies than insects, which didn’t eat honey and were exposed to computer radiation. Control group, which received no honey and wasn’t exposed to hazardous radiation showed even higher fertility than honey-fed flies…

Propolis Extracts Effective Against Oral Pathogens

In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Propolis Samples from Different Geographical Origins Against Certain Oral Pathogens
Anaerobe, 2007 Mar 7

Propolis is an agent having antimicrobial properties, however, its composition can vary depending on the area where it is collected. In the present study, the antimicrobial activity of five propolis samples, collected from four different regions in Turkey and from Brazil, against nine anaerobic strains was evaluated. Ethanol extracts of propolis (EEP) were prepared from propolis samples and we determined minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of EEP on the growth of test microorganisms by using agar dilution method. All strains were susceptible and MIC values ranged from 4 to 512mug/ml for propolis activity…

It was shown that propolis samples were more effective against Gram positive anaerobic bacteria than Gram negative ones. The organic chemical compositions of EEPs were determined by high-resolution gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The main compounds of EEPs were flavonoids such as pinobanksin, quercetin, naringenin, galangine, chrysin and aromatic acids such as cafeic acid. Because of increased antimicrobial resistance, propolis may be kept in mind in the treatment of oral cavity diseases.

Honey’s H2O2 Level is Strong Predictor of Antibacterial Activity

Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide on Antibacterial Activities of Canadian Honeys
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 52(12): 1228–1237 (2006)

Abstract: Honey is recognized as an efficacious topical antimicrobial agent in the treatment of burns and wounds. The antimicrobial activity in some honeys depends on the endogenous hydrogen peroxide content. This study was aimed to determine whether honey's hydrogen peroxide level could serve as a honey-specific, activity-associated biomarker that would allow predicting and assessing the therapeutic effects of honey…

Canadian honeys demonstrated moderate to high antibacterial activity against both bacterial species. Both MIC90 and MIC50 revealed that the honeys exhibited a selective growth inhibitory activity against E. coli, and this activity was strongly influenced by endogenous H2O2 concentrations…

These data indicate that all Canadian honeys exhibited antibacterial activity, with higher selectivity against E. coli than B. subtilis, and that these antibacterial activities were correlated with hydrogen peroxide production in honeys. Hydrogen peroxide levels in honey, therefore, is a strong predictor of the honey's antibacterial activity.

Résumé : Le miel est reconnu comme étant un agent antimicrobien topique efficace pour le traitement de brûlures et de blessures. L'activité antimicrobienne de certains miels dépend de leur contenu en peroxyde d'hydrogène endogène. Cette étude avait pour but de déterminer si les niveaux de peroxyde d'hydrogène dans le miel pourraient être employés comme biomarqueurs spécifiques au miel et associés à l'activité qui pourrait permettre de prédire et d'évaluer les effets thérapeutiques du miel…

Les niveaux de peroxyde d'hydrogène dans le miel sont ainsi des prédicteurs importants de l'activité antibactérienne du miel.

Indian Study Looks at Honey’s Effect on Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes

Research on Toxicology Published by Scientists at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research
Drug Week, 5/11/2007

A new study, "Effect of honey on CYP3A4, CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 enzyme activity in healthy human volunteers," is now available. According to recent research from Pondicherry, India, "Honey is a common food supplement but not many studies have studied honey and drug interaction. This study investigates the influence of 7 days of honey administration on the activity of CYP3A4, CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 drug-metabolizing enzymes in healthy volunteers by using appropriate biomarker and probe drugs."

"A within-group pharmacokinetic study was done in 12 healthy volunteers. Urine samples (0-8 hr) were collected after administration of 30 mg of oral dextromethorphan (probe drug for CYP2D6) for analysis of dextromethorphan and dextrorphan. A plasma sample (4 hr) was collected after administration of 200 mg of oral proguanil (probe drug for CYP2C19) for the analysis of proguanil and cycloguanil. Urine samples (0-24 hr) were collected for the analysis of 6beta-hydroxycortisol (biomarker for CYP3A4)…

Seven days of honey administration resulted in statistically significant increase in 24-hr urinary excretion of 6beta-hydroxycortisol. However, the metabolic ratios of dextromethorphan and proguanil were not significantly altered after 7 days of honey administration," wrote T. Tushar and colleagues, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research.

The researchers concluded: "Honey obtained from Western Ghats of southern India may induce CYP3A4 enzyme activity but not CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 enzyme activities."...

Study: Propolis Has Radioprotective Properties

Assessment by Survival Analysis of the Radioprotective Properties of Propolis and Its Polyphenolic Compounds
Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2007 May;30(5):946-51

The radioprotective effects of propolis and polyphenolic compounds from propolis on the radiation-induced mortality of mice exposed to 9 Gy of gamma-irradiation were studied…

All test compounds provided protection against hematopoietic death (death within 30 d after irradiation). The greatest protection was achieved with quercetin; the number of survivors at the termination of the experiment was 63%...

Treatment with test components after lethal irradiation was ineffective. These results suggest that propolis and its polyphenolic compounds given to mice before irradiation protect mice from the lethal effects of whole-body irradiation.

Cleaning Up China's Honey

By Don Lee, The Los Angeles Times (USA), 5/3/2007

FUFENG, CHINA — For two years, Sun Baoli has been trying to clean up the dirty honey business here. He's been met with nasty stings from bees, but those are nothing compared with the curses and punches from their keepers.

The 52-year-old entrepreneur paid the local government about $5,000 to rent part of a nature preserve teeming with nectar-filled acacia trees. He's been recruiting beekeepers to harvest on the grounds, and all he asks is that they follow a few simple health rules. First, no using antibiotics in their colonies; the drugs can make people sick. Second, no storing honey in metal containers; those can taint the sweet goo with toxic iron and lead.

Some 45 keepers have signed up. But many others are hostile to his efforts, which they see as a threat to their decades-old way of doing business on the cheap and making easy profits…

Honey and thousands of other Chinese food products are showing up more and more on dining tables around the world…

In 2002, Chinese honey was blocked first by the European Union and then the United States after shipments tested positive for chloramphenicol, an antibiotic banned in foods by many countries because it has been shown to cause a potentially fatal blood condition.

Later that year, China's Ministry of Agriculture outlawed the use of chloramphenicol in food production, and last year the Agricultural Science Assn. of China added it and nine other medicines, including penicillin, to its list of drugs prohibited from use in food.

The efforts by China helped restore shipments of honey to the West, and in 2006 exports of Chinese honey to the U.S. grew by 14% to $27.3 million. It is widely used as an ingredient in breads, cakes, barbecue sauces and jams.

But for many beekeepers, old habits die hard…

U.S. Researcher Studies Use of Honey to Treat Diabetic Foot Ulcers

UW Study Tests Topical Honey as a Treatment for Diabetic Ulcers
University of Wisconsin (USA), 5/2/2007

The sore on Catrina Hurlburt's leg simply wouldn't heal.

Complications from a 2002 car accident left Hurlburt, a borderline diabetic, with recurring cellulitis and staph infections. One of those infections developed into a troublesome open sore that, despite the use of oral antibiotics, continued to fester for nearly eight months.

Experts believe that treating wounds with honey has tremendous potential for the approximately 200 million people in the world with diabetes, 15 percent of whom will develop an ulcer, usually because of impaired sensation in their feet.

Then Hurlburt's physician, Jennifer Eddy of UW Health's Eau Claire Family Medicine Clinic, suggested she try using topical honey.

Within a matter of months, the sore had healed completely…

With funding provided by the Wisconsin Partnership Fund for Health and the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation, Eddy is currently conducting the first randomized, double-blind controlled trial of honey for diabetic ulcers…

"If we can prove that honey promotes healing in diabetic ulcers, we can offer new hope for many patients," says Eddy. "Not to mention the cost benefit, and the issue of bacterial resistance. The possibilities are tremendous."

To be eligible for the study, patients must be older than 18, have diabetes and a sore below their knee, and not be taking prednisone. Interested patients can call (715) 855-5683 for further information on the study or outreach opportunities.

Indian Researcher Recommends Honey Home Remedies

Honey with Carrot Juice Improves Eyesight
New Kerala (India), 5/1/2007

Chandigarh, May 1: If you sit for long hours before computers and want to improve your eyesight, then mix two teaspoons of honey with carrot juice and consume regularly.

According to a research conducted by Ms Mandeep Kaur, of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Samrala in Punjab, there are plenty of home remedies from honey and improvement of the eyesight is one such remedy. In cold, cough and congested chest, two teaspoons of honey with equal quantity of ginger juice should be consumed frequently.

As per the research paper, one spoon of fresh honey mixed with the juice of half a lemon in a glass of lukewarm water taken first thing in the morning is very effective for constipation, hyperacidity and obesity. Regular use of two teaspoons of honey mixed with one teaspoon of garlic juice helps to control blood pressure.

A mixture of honey, ginger juice and black pepper powder in equal quantities when consumed thrice daily helps to relieve symptoms of asthma.

"Consuming one teaspoon of honey daily helps to lead a healthy long life", Ms Mandeep Kaur stated in her paper…

Honey Has Negative Impact on Leishmaniasis Ulcers

Effect of Topical Honey Application Along with Intralesional Injection of Glucantime in the Treatment of the Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2007 Apr 27;7(1):13

BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is an Endemic disease in Iran. Although many treatments have been suggested for this disease, there hasn't been an effective and safe treatment for this condition. Regarding to the healing effect of honey in the chronic ulcers and its reported efficacy on the cutaneous leishmaniasis, we performed a study to better evaluate the therapeutic effect of honey in the cutaneous leishmaniasis and its final scar…

RESULTS: 90 patients completed the study course and 10 patients left out the study. In the glucantime alone treated group, 32 patients (71.1%) had complete cure where as in the group treated with both glucantime & topical honey,only 23 patients (51.1%) achieved complete cure. This difference was significant statistically (p=0.04). our study showed that topical honey, when used as an adjuvant therapy with intralesional glucantime, decreased the effect of glucantime in healing of the leishmaniasis ulcer. In fact, patients who were treated with this combination treatment had less improvement in their lesions as compared with intralesional glucantime alone.
CONCLUSIONS: Although our study showed a negative effect of honey on the healing of the leishmaniasis ulcers, further studies to better clarify the efficacy of honey in this condition is needed. We suggest that in another study the efficacy of Manuka Honey is evaluated against cutaneous leishmaniasis.