February 16, 2009

Honey- the better antibioitic

by Thijs Westerbeek


For centuries honey has been the home remedy of choice for many afflictions. It soothes the throat, it's good for the stomach, it improves our natural defences against microbes - there's no end to its beneficial uses.

Little wonder, then, that every neighbourhood pharmacy sells a whole range of products containing honey. Now researchers at the Amsterdam Medical Centre (AMC) intend to use honey as a real medicine and maybe even as an alternative for antibiotics.

Honey is already being used as standard issue medication in the treatment of wounds. Recently, a honey-based ointment has been introduced on the market, which is remarkably effective on slow-healing wounds that resist normal treatment. The honey in this special ointment has an anti-microbial and soothing effect and also keeps the bandages from sticking to the wound.

Tineke Creemers
Constant quality
This ointment has been developed by the Dutch company Bfactory, an enterprise which closely cooperates with the University of Wageningen. Dr Tineke Creemers, General Manager of Bfactory, explains what standards honey has to meet to be acceptable as regular medicine:

"The trick is to make sure the honey is the same quality at all times and that its enzyme levels are as high as possible. This is because the natural enzymes in the honey give it its anti-bacterial properties. Furthermore, doctors cannot use a medicine that varies in strength, hence the need for constant quality."

Keeping the quality constant is surprisingly simple: the bees of Bfactory follow a strict diet. This is easily controlled by only allowing the bees to forage in closed surroundings, in this case glasshouses. What's more, the little worker bees only get to eat the nectar of flowers that guarantee the very highest concentration of enzymes. All other plants are banned. Accordingly, most of the research efforts are directed at the hunt for those plant species that give the best results.

Revamil is a honey-based hydrophilic gel which stimulates healing and protects the wound against infection.

Internal medicine
While the researchers at the AMC agree that honey-based wound dressing is a success, they now intend to take another step forward; using honey as an effective alternative for antibiotics, especially in the treatment of bacterial infections of the stomach and the lower intestines. As researcher Dr Paul Kwakman explains:

"There is an end to the use of antibiotics. Resistance is becoming an ever bigger problem so we really are desperate for an alternative". Dr Kwakman is lucky in that several plant species have pollen that naturally contains very special proteins. These proteins closely resemble peptides, human proteins that play a crucial role in our natural defences against illness. Through genetic modification, these plants can be made to produce proteins identical to human peptides. When bees then make honey from this genetically modified pollen, the peptides end up in that honey and are perfectly preserved.

There is no risk of bacterial resistance against this type of medicine because the working principle has nothing in common with antibiotics. No toxic agent is introduced in the body, but instead our natural defences are given an extra dose of peptides to fight off disease. Since these peptides are identical to human proteins our body won't regard them as 'foreign' and thus they remain as effective as the first time they were applied.

Letting bees do the work
But why does it have to be so complicated? Why go through all the trouble of first getting plants to produce peptides, bees to only eat peptide-laden pollen, and then to harvest this very special honey? Why not simply put the peptides in a pill? The suggestion makes Dr Paul Kwakman smile a little:

"Bees can do the job far better than we could ever hope to do. They extract far purer peptides from the pollen at much lower costs. Besides, the high sugar level in honey is not only an excellent means of preserving the peptides for a very long time, it also tastes good. Taking your medicine in this way is so much nicer than swallowing pills, not to mention getting an injection. It's only logical that the first patients who will benefit from honey-therapy will be babies with antibioticsresistant infections of the intestines." (forums.poz.com)

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Honey, aloe vera boost immunity in HIV patients

by Fred Nangoli


Armed with a small handbag in one hand, Joyce Twase quietly walked around the bush, picking small leaves off tiny plants as she stocks them inside her bag. In a few minutes, the bag is full and slowly, she heads for her home.

Twase is not a traditional healer, but a trained herbal medicine woman, who goes about the bushes of Kalinabiri in search for herbs to administer to people living with AIDS in the Anglican Diocese of Kampala.

A member of the diocese's home-based caregivers, Twase is presently administering herbal therapies to over 40 people living with AIDS in Ntinda. She is also helping other caregivers in looking after some 560 others.

Twase started using herbal therapy in 2003 when she was trained together with 40 others in home-based care by the diocese in collaboration with World Vision. After her course, Twase came up with a group of five patients, whose lives had deteriorated tremendously. "I took them to the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) for testing and their results were shocking. Their CD4 counts had reduced to 12, 24, 48,64 and 90 respectively," she recollects.

"Their lives were in danger and yet JCRC officials told us the process to put them on ARVs would take about two months which was too long a time," Twase adds.

Back home, Twase started her patients on herbal therapy, whose first dose comprised a mixture of honey; Aloe Vera leaves and locally distilled waragi. In just two weeks, the therapy produced wonders.

"When we returned to JCRC for more tests, the results were amazing. Their CD4 count had increased tremendously and doctors even wondered," she explains before unveiling a file containing results of her patients.

According to the results, patient one whose CD4 count was 12 had risen to 420 while the others had their CD4 count going beyond 450.

"Doctors told us that there was no need for ARVs since their lives were no longer in danger. They encouraged us to continue with our therapy," She says. Twase and her colleagues christened the wonder therapy a "miracle therapy" and started passing it on to others in need at no cost.

To make the æmiracle therapy,' Twase says she gets aloe-vera leaves, which she roasts, over a hot charcoal stove. "I squeeze juice out of the roasted leaves. Once it is extracted, I get a glassful of this juice and mix it with the same amount of honey and wine or locally distilled waragi," she explains.

Twase says a severely ill patient and one with a terrible cough is given two teaspoonfuls of this therapy twice a day. She says in less than two weeks, the cough is gone and the patient is up walking. "In cases were we cannot afford waragi, we make pineapple wine," she says. Twase says much of the honey is obtained from traders coming from northern Uganda.

"We encourage our colleagues living with AIDS to take the therapy because it builds immunity," she adds.

Today, together with other 45 home-based care, Twase is moving around the 23 congregations of Kampala Diocese educating, counselling and treating people.

Rev. Can. Job Mbukure, the Kampala diocesan secretary, admits many of their home-based caregivers are administering herbal therapies to persons living with AIDS. He says the church supports the use of herbs as long as they have no connection with evil practices like witchcraft.

"But much as they are using the herbal therapies, they are also keeping very close with the check ups at JCRC. We are proud of JCRC for the continued technical assistance," says the clergyman. Rev. Simon Mwesigwa, a community counsellor and member of Ntinda Herbal Therapy, says there are many herbs that treat different complications among people living with AIDS. He says in case of wounds in the mouth and private parts, liquid therapies from plants like kafumitabagenda.

He says honey and droplets of kavawala leaves and roots are good herbs too. Rev. Mwesigwa says for skin rash, powder obtained from dry roots of kamunye, kanzirornziro, kafugankande and moringa once mixed with vaseline clear the rashes. In case of severe headache, leaves from a plant called kafumbe have produced good results when used in washing the head.

"Watery stool can be cleared using a mixture of clay with ekemi, aloe-vera and a mixture of boiled kamunye, omusasa and kifabakazi." He says unlike the western medicine, herbal therapies have no side effects.

"We also encourage our patients to visit health centres for more medication," he says.

"I do not know of any herb that could increase the CD4 count although I have heard of herbs which treat HIV-related illnesses such as diarrhoea and patients say they get some relieve thereafter," says Dr. Geofrey Kabuye, the head of research ARV JCRC. (aegis.com)

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Can honey really be used as food for people living with HIV/AIDS?

In many studies that have been done, it is found that HIV infected persons are deficient in several nutrients including antioxidants, B vitamins, proteins and calories (Alice Ojwang 2003) Yet of all foods, beehive products have the cutting edge of being the richest sources of all known micronutrients essential for healthy living. as food supplements, honey, pollen and royal jelly can help bring the organ systems and biochemical reservoirs of the body to their maximum capacity, which in turn provides the most efficient and effective defense mechanism against infections. Products of the beehive contain all the nutritional factors and other biologically active substances to help human body function at its maximum capacity (Robert L. 1997).

Honey: This life-gate diet is vital to the survival and well being of mankind including PLWHA. Honey is rich in micronutrients including minerals, vitamins, hormones, enzymes, organic acids and antioxidants. The minerals in honey include zinc and selenium, which play a key role in preventing the spread viral infection. The factor of stress in HIV/AIDS infection has always been overlooked, yet an infection that is tantamount to "death sentence" like HIV/AIDS cannot but burden the mind of the victims, thus making their body vulnerable to cocktail of infections. Such development further suppresses the immunity because emotional stress is a major factor in weakening the immune system and allowing infection to occur. Research study has demonstrated that mind and matter are connected at least as far as our body immune system is concerned. (Robert L. 1997). This is because the stress hormones require vitamin C for their synthesis and this reduces vitamin C levels in the body below !

What is necessary for the white blood (immune) cells to work properly. But honey is rich in vitamin C (ascorbic acid); which is vital to the revival of immune system being an antibiotic vitamin and detoxifying agent 100 grams of honey contain 0.50 mg of vitamin C. The other vital nutrients that can effectively stem the negative effects of stress are also found in honey. These are amino acids, potassium, B vitamins, thiamine and magnesium. In most cases too, malnutrition is the precursor for HIV in infection, which may develop into full-blown AIDS as the viruses replicate in the cells. Yet, in redressing malnutrition, no drug or food can equal honey. HIV/AIDS infection also causes nutritional absorption problem and this may deprive PLWHA of vital nutrients, thus further exposing them to flurry of infections. But honey contains live enzymes, which are important to the internal actions of many systems of the body. The enzymes in honey include glucose oxidase, invertase, diastase (amylase) catalase and acid phosphate, which help predigest our foods, lessen the work of digestive organs and relieve the stress on the digestive glands. Honey also has pH Balancing System (PHBS) to help digestion and absorption of nutrients in our foods. PLWHA are prone to fatigue, which renders them unproductive and scientists also agree that reduced energy intake is the most important determinant of weight loss in HIV associated wasting (Macallan et al 1995). But such condition can be countered with carbohydrate rich food like honey to provide energy requirement of the body. Honey is 85 per cent mainly pre-digested carbohydrate, which has proved to be the best source of quick and concentrated energy. The rapid assimilation of invert sugars which honey contains makes it a desirable source of quick energy, and a practical food for PLWHA. Studies actually confirmed that the unique mixture of sugars in honey work best in preventing fatigue. PLWHA are also vulnerable to diarrhea that !

Can cause life-threatening dehydration and deficiency of enzymes necessary to digest lactose (Taylor et al 2000). But clinical records indicated that honey is as effective as glucose in achieving re-hydration. (Peter M. 2001) PLWHA need low fat diet, which further makes honey critical to their well-being because chemical analysis of the product shows that it neither contains fat nor cholesterol.

Sleep is also essential to the welfare of PLWHA because its deprivation affects the production of white blood cells and the hormone cortisol, making a person more prone to infections and circulatory diseases. During sleep the body does most of its repair work and muscle tissue is rebuilt and restored, while hormones are also produced to carry out running repairs and boost the immune system. Yet, nothing promotes sound sleep better than honey, because it contains calcium, which relaxes the nerves and muscles and amino acid tryptophan that increases the levels of neurotransmitter serotonin, a sort of sedative in the brain. Moreover, honey can also be blended with other natural products like lemons and carrot juices to ensure optimal health for PLWHA more so that (Roger et al 2002) reported an effective use of lemon juice as killer agent for HIV/AIDS virus. (pronutrition.org)

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Herbalist encourages use of honey

A private medical officer in Kawambwa in Luapula Province has encouraged people to start using pure honey if they are to be free from some diseases.


Dr. Rodgers Kaluba of Kenya’s Medicinal Plants University said in Kawambwa today that many people prefer to use sugar but that honey is the best.

Dr. Kaluba, who is in Kawambwa to attend to patients with different ailments, was giving a health talk to some people that approached him for treatment.

He said pure honey can cure over 100 diseases when mixed with cinnamon hence the need for people to use in preference for sugar.

“Bees collect nectar from different species of trees that make honey to be a strong herbal medicine and people should use it even for curing BP,” Dr. Kaluba emphasised.

Dr. Kaluba also implored people living with HIV/AIDS to avoid eating meat, chicken and other foods with fat.

He revealed that the virus multiplies faster with fat, hence the need for the HIV patients to avoid eating such foods

However, Dr. Kaluba has advised that HIV patients should always eat vegetables such as emaranthus known as ‘ibondwe’ that are fertiliser free.

He said fruit, such as mangoes and guavas are also important for HIV patients.

Other foodstuffs that he recommended are cereals that include soya beans, sorghum, pumpkin seeds and millet.

Meanwhile, Dr Kaluba has explained that HIV is categorised in seven areas.

Dr Kaluba says HIV 1 and 2 are found in human beings while HIV 3 is found in cattle, and HIV 4 in blue monkeys with dogs, pigs, lions and leopards hosting HIV 5.

He said HIV 6 is found in rats and rabbits while HVI 7 is found in elephants.

According to Dr Kaluba, HIV 2 can be cured within three months while HIV 1 is incurable.

But Dr. Kaluba noted that a person with HIV 1, when given his herbal medicine, life can be prolonged just as ARVs do.

Dr. Kaluba in his ten day treatment of patients in Kawambwa has seen a five year old boy who has never walked since he was born start walking.

The boy of Lusambo village in Chief Munkanta’s area in Kawambwa started walking after Dr. Kaluba massaged him for three days using herbal medicine. (lusakatimes.com)

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February 13, 2009

Honey: Safe during pregnancy?

by Sue Gilbert, MS

QUESTION:

Is it okay to eat foods containing honey while pregnant? Will these foods harm the fetus?

ANSWER :

Many parents know that it is not safe to give honey to a baby younger than one year of age. The reason that this is advised is because honey can contain the botulinum spore that in the proper environment may cause the deadly food poisoning botulism. Acid will inhibit the spore from growing and producing the botulism toxin. A baby's immature digestive system is not yet acidic enough to inhibit the toxin from being produced, whereas the digestive system of an older baby and adults is. In other words, the baby's digestive tract provides a nice warm, air-free, low-acid environment where botulinum spores just love to grow. When it grows it will produce the toxin. The toxin produced by the spore is the danger.

A pregnant mom can safely eat honey. Her digestive tract is acidic, and will prevent a botulinum spore from growing -- no toxin will be produced. There is no danger to the fetus from the mom-to-be eating honey or honey-containing foods. (parenting.ivillage.com)

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