We’re in the thick of cold weather once again and germs are flying rampant again. More than 200 different viruses now compete for a place inside the warm passages of the nose and throat. It is also a difficult task to avoid these errors. There are threats in the air around us, circulating through heating and air conditioning systems. Areas our hands come in contact with every day, like door handles, stair railings, and elevator buttons, provide the most opportunity for infection (on average, we touch our faces 16 times per week!) hour!).
In the US alone, the common cold causes between 75 and 100 million medical appointments each year. Over 24 million cases of sinusitis occur annually – it’s an ill fate we face and therefore it’s no wonder we have a strong dislike for these microbes of misery. Modern medicine and science have yet to find a complete cure, as each time variants of the virus morph and evolve to neutralize whatever antibiotic has worked before.
Well, fear not entirely, research has shown that there is a new answer on the block. It is a natural substance that has the inherent ability to bombard these infectious bodies in a way that commercial drugs fail. This germ-fighting, good-tasting WMD is a simple honey produced by Bee’s that feeds on the pollen of the ‘Manuka bush’ found in New Zealand.
Honey as an antiseptic is nothing new, it has been used for several thousand years for its healing properties. Mentions of honey’s health benefits can be found in many sources, from the Quaran to Ayurvedic medicine texts dating back 4,000 years. It has been promoted as a healing solution for external wounds and as a natural elixir taken internally.
However, it wasn’t until recently that it was discovered to be particularly remarkable for fighting off infections, including strong resistant strains like MRSA. One otolaryngologist in particular, Dr. Joseph G. Marsan, MD, of the University of Ottawa, found that it was highly effective as a treatment for eliminating bacterial biofilms present in sinus infections, much more so than conventional modern antimicrobials.
“Certain bacteria, mainly Staph aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have found a method to protect themselves from antimicrobial activity by living in substances called biofilms, which cannot be penetrated by even the most powerful antimicrobials,” Marsan said.
“Our study has shown that certain honeys, namely Manuka honey from New Zealand and Sidr honey from Yemen, have a potent killing action on these bacterial biofilms that is far superior to the most potent antimicrobials currently used in medicine,” Marsan said.
Ongoing research continues today and honey is now considered a sustainable way to prevent MRSA outbreaks within hospitals and a viable contender for being the effective treatment for sinus problems.
I can personally testify to the cold nuclear abilities of Manuka honey. When I now feel the tingles of a developing cold, I break in some Manuka honey. I must honestly say that every time the cold turned into a full blown sinus infection, it kept the infection from clearing up in a matter of a day or two.
Here is my own recipe to use Manuka honey:
Start with a standard non-ionized sea salt wash.
Make the mixture using 10 oz of boiled or distilled water with a tablespoon of Manuka honey added. If the mixture feels too thick to pour, add more water.
Perform a nasal wash using a Neti Pot in the standard way.