Honey Effective In Killing Bacteria That Cause Chronic Sinus

[roster]

Honey Effective In Killing Bacteria That Cause Chronic Sinusitis
ScienceDaily (Oct. 1, 2008) — Honey is very effective in killing bacteria in all its forms, especially the drug-resistant biofilms that make treating chronic rhinosinusitis difficult, according to research presented during the 2008 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, in Chicago, IL.*
The study, authored by Canadian researchers at the University of Ottawa, found that in eleven isolates of three separate biofilms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and methicicillin-resistant and -suseptible Staphylococcus aureus), honey was significantly more effective in killing both planktonic and biofilm-grown forms of the bacteria, compared with the rate of bactericide by antibiotics commonly used against the bacteria.

Given the historical uses of honey in some cultures as a homeopathic treatment for bad wound infections, the authors conclude that their findings may hold important clinical implications in the treatment of refractory chronic rhinosinusitis, with topical treatment a possibility.

Chronic rhinosinusitis affects approximately 31 million people each year in the United States alone, costing over $4 billion in direct health expenditures and lost workplace productivity. It is among the three most common chronic diseases in all of North America.

*Title: Effectiveness of Honey on S. aureus and P. aeruginosa Biofilms. Authors: Talal Alandejani, MD (presenter); Joseph G. Marsan, MD; Wendy Ferris, BSc, MLT, MSc; Robert Slinger; Frank Chan, PhD. Date: September 23, 2008.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 091335.htm

[ReginaJ]

I have had sinus issues my entire life. Last year, before I had my sleep study, I finally had my sinuses "fixed". They also repaired an old fracture in my nose and repaired my deviated septum. I had 4 months of agony afterwards and honestly? I am no better off than I was before I had it. At this point, I am willing to try anything.

[dsm]

Rooster,

Another good find - thanks

DSM

[Bookbear]

Going along with that, http://health.usnews.com/articles/healt ... honey.html . National Geographic has a short article on honey bandages a few months ago. Some hospitals now stock them for diabetic wound care.

[birdshell]

OK, now, HOW is it used to treat/prevent sinus infections?

Does one use a honey and water solution for nasal irrigation (or lavage)?

I cannot imagine using the honey straight, unless it is supposed to be ingested to have its effect.

Karen,
Who knows bees are in danger, so NOW we find out that honey kills sinus infections?

[kteague]

Funny how we keep "discovering" things that were practiced for generations. Maybe it's like Snoredog says - science has caught up with what the generations were saying.

My aunt was baking honey breads and buns and using honey based face creams back in the fifties. My uncle was a bee inspector for the state of Indiana, and he taught my father the trade. In our rural comunity my father had a reputation as "the bee man" and people would come from all over to ask him to clear their trees or buildings from swarms of bees. For every swarm he captured, he added another hive to his collection. We canned and sold the honey from a roadside table to supplement our household income. Our large garden seemed always abundant, probably thanks to those pesky bees that stung us too many times to count. While suburbanites sought to rid their yards of clover, we didn't mow ours while the clover was in bloom (and we rarely wore shoes in the summer) because the clover made good honey.

I saw on TV that a pesticide that was deemed safer for humans is now believed to be the cause of the bee crisis. Seems it causes neurologic damage to their homing ability, or the memory of direction, leaving them unable to find their way back to the hive or tell the other bees where to find a food source. Gee, wonder what it's doing to us. Well, without the bees agriculture will suffer, and thus the consumer. But I wonder if the price of honey will increase sharply now that it's going to be marketed for its healing properties.

[roster]

Anybody willing to emulsify a little honey with salts and water in a neti pot and give it a try? This could be pleasant and kill the sinus infection at the same time!

Being quite cautious, I propose that you use a pasteurized honey and stay away from raw.

[Snoredog]

Funny how we keep "discovering" things that were practiced for generations. Maybe it's like Snoredog says - science has caught up with what the generations were saying.

My aunt was baking honey breads and buns and using honey based face creams back in the fifties. My uncle was a bee inspector for the state of Indiana, and he taught my father the trade. In our rural comunity my father had a reputation as "the bee man" and people would come from all over to ask him to clear their trees or buildings from swarms of bees. For every swarm he captured, he added another hive to his collection. We canned and sold the honey from a roadside table to supplement our household income. Our large garden seemed always abundant, probably thanks to those pesky bees that stung us too many times to count. While suburbanites sought to rid their yards of clover, we didn't mow ours while the clover was in bloom (and we rarely wore shoes in the summer) because the clover made good honey.

I saw on TV that a pesticide that was deemed safer for humans is now believed to be the cause of the bee crisis. Seems it causes neurologic damage to their homing ability, or the memory of direction, leaving them unable to find their way back to the hive or tell the other bees where to find a food source. Gee, wonder what it's doing to us. Well, without the bees agriculture will suffer, and thus the consumer. But I wonder if the price of honey will increase sharply now that it's going to be marketed for its healing properties.

and what was that old remedy, wasn't it honey, Jack Daniels and a lemon twist?

[carbonman]

and what was that old remedy, wasn't it honey, Jack Daniels and a lemon twist?

That mixture in your neti pot should take care of your sinus problems.

Please let us know how that works out.

[RafterRattler]

I have had sinus issues my entire life. Last year, before I had my sleep study, I finally had my sinuses "fixed". They also repaired an old fracture in my nose and repaired my deviated septum. I had 4 months of agony afterwards and honestly? I am no better off than I was before I had it. At this point, I am willing to try anything.

I worry about this same thing. Have suffered all my life, and spent the first 20 years of my life with my mother constantly telling me to go blow my nose - rather than taking me to a doctor. Come to find out I'm a chronic sufferer as well. My doctors want to cut me open too - and I keep telling them no. I am extremely claustrophobic when it comes to breathing through my nose, and the thought of struggling for 4 months after surgery would have me contemplating suicide.

So I'm dying to figure out how to get honey up there....q-tip maybe?
Mike

[Babette]

Hey RR, Snort it like a MAN!

Couldn't resist...

LOL,
B.

[RafterRattler]

Hey RR, Snort it like a MAN!

Couldn't resist...

LOL,
B.

Hehe....I actually DID think of that! But....isn't it a little thick? Does it come in powder form?

Mike

[roster]

........ Have suffered all my life, and spent the first 20 years of my life with my mother constantly telling me to go blow my nose - rather than taking me to a doctor. Come to find out I'm a chronic sufferer as well. My doctors want to cut me open too - and I keep telling them no. I am extremely claustrophobic when it comes to breathing through my nose, and the thought of struggling for 4 months after surgery would have me contemplating suicide.

Mike

Mike,

I am not sure of your exact problem but I had enlarged turbinates and a double deviated septum. Last November I had all six turbinates resectioned (reduced in size) and the septum corrected. Surgery was on a Tuesday and I had the splints removed the same week on Friday morning and then went to lunch and shopping with my wife. The doc sent me home from the surgery with a big bottle of some codeine solution for pain but I never broke the seal. I am very happy about the results!

You will hear nightmare stories about this type of surgery but the techniques have improved tremendously over the last ten years. If you decide to look into it, make sure you get a good surgeon. It is a sensitive area and a mediocre surgeon could probably mess up.

Good luck whatever you decide,

[ractar28]

The doc sent me home from the surgery with a big bottle of some codeine solution for pain but I never broke the seal.

I'd hate to see that stuff go to waste. I'll send you my address .

[chou]

I'm anxiously awaiting my favorite myth-busting site, Snopes.com, to tell us their wisdom ("Research in progress."): http://www.snopes.com/medical/homecure/remedies.asp

But in the meantime, I can use some common sense. Also: while not as highly trained as many people, I have taken university-level microbiology and this whole idea seems like a VERY BAD IDEA to yours truly.

First of all, honey can contain botulism spores, which regular adult humans can digest, but infants can't--hence the prohibition that people NOT give honey to infants & babies, 'cos it could kill them:.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/infant ... sm/HQ00854

And honey can always contain botulism. Do you really want to spray that up your nose? The cited studies used bacteria like regular ol' P. aeruginosa--but these, and many other bacteria, aren't the tough spore-formers that botulism is. The spores protect the bacteria and make them much tougher. A warm, gentle environment like one's sinuses seems like the perfect place for disaster to strike.

Also, honey is nutritionally the same as sugar. Sugar feeds many bacteria. Pure honey is relatively free of contamination (except botulism) due to its nature--just like jam, it kills many bacteria on its surface because of all the sugar and low water content--it sucks the moisture out of bacteria & kills 'em.

But add water and it changes the whole picture--as an experiment, try leaving an opened can of soda (or honey mixed with water) somewhere--it'll get all kinds of gross things growing in it in short order. And the insides of one's sinuses are a moisture-rich environment. Studying how honey kills bacteria on a surface is one thing, inside a living human's sinuses is quite another story.

I would SERIOUSLY do some research before putting a sugary, gooey substance which probably contains botulism spores in it in my sinuses. Jeez, people!