Seeking a Natural Remedy for Infections and Wounds? A new study reveals the natural remedy that can treat infections, and wounds – even better than modern treatments.

A new study reveals what happens when both honey and vinegar are combined.

Is it possible that a combination of honey and vinegar could offer a time-honored yet innovative method for treating persistent infections?

Throughout history, the blend of honey and vinegar, known as oxymel, has been employed as a medical remedy. Now, scientists have discovered that this ancient concoction may hold modern applications in wound treatment.

In a groundbreaking study published in Microbiology, researchers extensively explored how this mixture could be incorporated into modern medicine to enhance infection treatments.

Bacterial infections, particularly those protected within biofilms, pose significant challenges for effective treatment. Biofilms are intricate communities of bacteria that firmly attach to surfaces, such as in wound infections. Bacteria shielded within biofilms are resilient and hard to eliminate, making current treatments often ineffective.

Previous research has demonstrated the remarkable efficacy of natural remedies in combating infections. Manuka honey, for instance, possesses antimicrobial properties and aids in wound healing. Vinegar, too, has proven to be a valuable antiseptic.

Medical professionals have already incorporated this knowledge into current medical practices, utilizing manuka honey to treat antibiotic-resistant infections. However, they solely employ acetic acid, the active component of vinegar, without combining the two substances.

Dr. Erin Connelly, Dr. Freya Harrison, and their team from the University of Warwick embarked on the first exploration of the combined application of honey and vinegar to biofilms of bacteria cultivated in the laboratory.

Recognizing this gap in research, they began by examining the effects of combinations of two medical-grade honey ointments with natural vinegar or acetic acid. Their aim was to ascertain the treatment’s effectiveness in eradicating microbes and determine the most effective combination.

Furthermore, they sought to investigate if whole vinegar exhibited greater antibacterial properties than acetic acid alone.

Dr. Erin Connelly remarked, “In our survey of premodern recipes we noticed a pattern of combining honey and vinegar to wash or dress wounds and swellings, and this inspired us to focus on that combination in our analysis.”

Comparing the use of vinegar and acetic acid individually and in combination with medical-grade honey, the researchers discovered that it was specifically the combination of the two substances that yielded the best results.

Dr. Harrison explained, “We applied a low dose of honey, that alone didn’t kill the bacteria, and a low dose of acetic acid that also could not kill the bacteria alone.

“These doses are lower than those that wound care nurses currently use on patients. But when we put these low doses together, we saw a large number of bacteria dying which is really exciting. We really need to investigate whether combining these substances could help patients who are not responding to either substance used alone.”

Additionally, they found that certain natural vinegars exhibited superior antibacterial capabilities compared to an equivalent dose of pure acetic acid. Notably, pomegranate vinegars emerged as intriguing candidates for further study, as they displayed potent antibacterial activity and, when combined with honey, exhibited similar effects to acetic acid.

While additional research is necessary to comprehend the mechanism and optimal dosage combinations of honey and vinegar, these promising findings have generated enough excitement for the researchers to propose conducting clinical trials on a modern version of oxymel.

Professor Joseph Hardwicke, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This is an exciting area of research to use traditional remedies in the modern NHS. The burden of wound care and infections is increasing year by year, with causative conditions such as diabetes on the rise. Maybe the knowledge of our ancestors can be used to enhance the current care we can provide to our patients, at a lower cost.”

Source: 10.1099/mic.0.001351

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