Post by AussieSurvival on Sept 5, 2008 21:10:53 GMT 9.5
See: MediHoney
In 1999 Queensland honey manufacturer Capilano launched the world's first medically approved honey for use on wounds and burns.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved registration of the honey for its high antibacterial activity, which is claimed to successfully combat persistent, drug-resistant infections.
New Zealand biochemist Professor Peter Molan, from the University of Waikato's honey research centre, said at the launch in Brisbane today that scientists were rediscovering an ancient remedy.
"Honey has been used as a salve for wounds for thousands of years," he said.
"It"s really been in use as an antibacterial right up to World War Two, when antibiotics came in.
"Now the antibiotic era is over, with all the problems of resistance, it's starting to be researched more."
Prof Molan turned up more than 50 reports in the medical literature over the past ten years of honey succeeding as a treatment for leg ulcers, abscesses, burns, and eye problems such as blepharitis and conjunctivitis.
His own research has shown that the antibacterial properties of honey from the Leptospermum tree can defeat even MRSA and VRE, drug resistant forms of hospital acquired infection.
Capilano Honey Limited today announced a "limited release" sterilised product, Medihoney, would go on sale at Terry White Chemists in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia at $19.95 for a 50 g tube.
National operations manager Anthony Moloney said supply was limited because the Australian Leptospermum found in Department of Primary Industries tests to have the highest antibacterial activity, flowers for only a short period in the year.
Bee-keepers in a coastal area of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, centred on Grafton and Lismore, are being paid by Capilano to track down accessible Leptospermum, now dwindling because of the growth of national parks.
Although "jelly bush" or Leptospermum honeys have a reputation as a folk remedy, Mr Moloney claims that many products sold in health foods stores are inactive against bacteria.
While the TGA has approved Medihoney as an antibacterial, it stopped short of allowing Capilano to claim superior potency.
Prof Molan meanwhile has set up a pilot clinical trial at Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, to compare Leptospermum honey with other honeys including a completely inactive placebo.
In 1999 Queensland honey manufacturer Capilano launched the world's first medically approved honey for use on wounds and burns.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved registration of the honey for its high antibacterial activity, which is claimed to successfully combat persistent, drug-resistant infections.
New Zealand biochemist Professor Peter Molan, from the University of Waikato's honey research centre, said at the launch in Brisbane today that scientists were rediscovering an ancient remedy.
"Honey has been used as a salve for wounds for thousands of years," he said.
"It"s really been in use as an antibacterial right up to World War Two, when antibiotics came in.
"Now the antibiotic era is over, with all the problems of resistance, it's starting to be researched more."
Prof Molan turned up more than 50 reports in the medical literature over the past ten years of honey succeeding as a treatment for leg ulcers, abscesses, burns, and eye problems such as blepharitis and conjunctivitis.
His own research has shown that the antibacterial properties of honey from the Leptospermum tree can defeat even MRSA and VRE, drug resistant forms of hospital acquired infection.
Capilano Honey Limited today announced a "limited release" sterilised product, Medihoney, would go on sale at Terry White Chemists in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia at $19.95 for a 50 g tube.
National operations manager Anthony Moloney said supply was limited because the Australian Leptospermum found in Department of Primary Industries tests to have the highest antibacterial activity, flowers for only a short period in the year.
Bee-keepers in a coastal area of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, centred on Grafton and Lismore, are being paid by Capilano to track down accessible Leptospermum, now dwindling because of the growth of national parks.
Although "jelly bush" or Leptospermum honeys have a reputation as a folk remedy, Mr Moloney claims that many products sold in health foods stores are inactive against bacteria.
While the TGA has approved Medihoney as an antibacterial, it stopped short of allowing Capilano to claim superior potency.
Prof Molan meanwhile has set up a pilot clinical trial at Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, to compare Leptospermum honey with other honeys including a completely inactive placebo.