Old Fashioned Remedies

[tara]

Old Fashioned Remedies Effective Against Superbugs

By Carol Wickenkamp
Epoch Times
Seattle Staff Dec 09, 2005

STICKY SOLUTION:

The ancients used honey as an antifungal and antibacterial medicine on wounds. (Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images) Researchers are finding that superbugs, which resist the strongest antibiotics in modern medicine's arsenal, sometime succumb to remedies from pre-antibiotic times. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a major health problem in hospitals and institutions in Europe and North America.

Almost impossible to kill, the bacteria cause surgical and neonatal infections in hospitals, spread readily among prisoners and can be found in rugs, air-conditioning ducts, on door handles, floors and TV remote controls.

Appearing outside of the hospital environment, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) can also be easily spread by casual contact via open cuts, brush burns and scrapes, and can quickly become difficult-to-treat and potentially deadly infections.

Yet old-fashioned methods for wound cleansing and dressing, ointments and cleaners offer promise as effective additions to standard treatment regimens.

Silver Shows Promise

1) http://www.advanced-colloidal-silver.com aka ADVANCED COLLOIDAL SILVER
2) http://www.purestcolloids.com aka MESOSILVER
3) http://www.lifesilver.com aka ASAP
4) http://www.germslayer.net

Silver has long been recognized for its infection-fighting properties. In Ancient Greece and Rome, silver was used to fight infections and control spoilage. In 1893, the botanist von Nageli discovered that minute concentrations of silver contained microbicidal properties.

Silver nitrate drops were routinely used in newborn infants' eyes to prevent infections until replaced by antibiotic drops. More recent products utilizing silver in various forms are showing real promise in combating bacterial resistance.

Colloidal silver was a liquid commonly used before the 1930s as an antibiotic and is available at health food stores and on the Internet.

Mesosilver, a colloidal silver product, was shown by an independent New York testing laboratory to be effective in reducing the number of MRSA and VRSA bacteria to undetectable levels within 5 to 24 hours, depending on the strength of the solution.

Acticote, a silver-impregnated dressing, was tested in two hospitals in Austria with encouraging results. In an unpublished study, Professor Robert Strohal found that in 95 percent of cases tested, MRSA infection did not occur in wounds treated with the dressing. This dressing is used in the U.K. to treat burn victims.

AcryMed Inc., a Portland, Oregon, company specializing in wound care and infection control technology, released research findings that show silver ointments to be effective in combating MRSA. The founder and CTO of AcryMed, Bruce Gibbins, stated that, "Used in medical dressings or in ointment form, silver can be an extremely useful first defense in stopping MRSA before it develops into a systemic infection."

A fabric that developers claim helps to kill the MRSA superbug is being used in hospitals in Nottinghamshire, England. The fabric, which contains a silver yarn, is used in curtains in the wards in one hospital and in surgeons' gowns and nurses' uniforms in other hospitals. The silver yarn ionizes when it is in the presence of bacteria, killing the bacteria that are on or near the fabric.

A website for tracking the rise of MSRA is http://mrsawatch.co.uk

Essential Oils and Extracts: More than Just Aroma and Taste

Grapefruit seed extract has been used for years as an alternative treatment for a wide variety of skin ailments, such as athlete's foot, mouth ulcers and eczema. NOW STUDIES HAVE SHOWN IT IS ALSO EFFECTIVE AGAINST MRSA.

However, its action does not kill "friendly" bacteria, as do antibiotics. Its toxicity is low, and it is effective in very low concentrations.

The doctors and nurses at Manchester University, England found a combination of three common oils—eucalyptus, lavender and tea tree—were more effective than conventional antibiotic treatments.

The researchers found that the three oils usually used in aromatherapy destroyed MRSA and E. coli bacteria in two minutes flat. They believe that the oils' complex mix of chemical compounds defeat the defenses of the bacteria
.
Possibly in the future, patients could be treated with essential oil compounds, in conjunction with or in place of conventional antiseptics. Research using tea tree oil as a single treatment has yielded mixed results, suggesting that an essential oil combination might be most effective.

Unfortunately, because of E.U. legislation, the researchers are unable to begin clinical trials, although MRSA kills over 5,000 people a year in the U.K. and is becoming a severe problem in hospitals and institutions all over Europe.

Honey's Sweet Promise

Dioscorides described honey as being "good for all rotten and hollow ulcers" about 2,000 years ago, when it was used to treat infected wounds. The ancients weren't so ignorant—research shows that honey inhibits the growth of about 60 species of bacteria, demonstrates antifungal effects against some yeasts, as well as the three species of fungi that commonly cause skin diseases.

Dr. Rose Cooper, a microbiologist at the University of Wales Institute, has been studying the health benefits of honey for eight years. She has obtained a grant from the British Society for Anti-Microbial Chemotherapy that will fund 12 months' research into the role of New Zealand manuka honey in combating MRSA. Several studies have shown that wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus are quickly rendered sterile by honey, and manuka honey is particularly effective as an antibacterial agent.

HONEY DRESSINGS FOR WOUNDS, BELIEVED TO BE HELPFUL IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF MRSA AND SOLD AS MEDIHONEY PRODUCTS, ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE IN THE U.K.

Sunshine, Salt and Garlic

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation (types A&B), as well as artificial UV (type C), has been proved to be a helpful addition to standard therapies, with MRSA being sensitive to both types of UV. A salt solution increased the effectiveness of the UV therapy.

A stabilized and standardized allicin, the natural antibiotic found in garlic and onions, shows highly significant activity against multi-drug-resistant organisms including MRSA.

Allicin seems to inhibit certain essential enzymes in the microorganisms. A number of allicin products called Allimed™ are produced as capsules, liquid, soap and cream.

Insects Do Their Part

Not for the squeamish, maggot therapy is becoming more common in wound therapy. In pre-antibiotic times, maggots were a common ally in keeping infected wounds clean and in combating gangrene. Maggot therapy is a simple and highly successful method for cleansing stubbornly infected, non-healing wounds, particularly those infected with MRSA. In an effort to cut back on the use of antibiotics, doctors are again turning to the crawly creatures, which only eat unhealthy tissue and pose no risk to patients.

Conventional antibiotic treatment of necrotic wounds can take months; however, maggot therapy takes just two three-day sessions. Some doctors believe maggots are one of the most effective ways of treating wounds infected by MRSA, and the low cost, rapid relief and lack of toxicity of maggot therapy would certainly support them.

http://utopiasilver.com/emailtemp/ar.../superbugs.htm

[megluth72]

Fantastic find Tara! I've been spending alot of time surfing the net lately to find what you just put on here. Looks like alot of us having been using these methods for some time now, and it is good to see confirmation on the use.

I'm not sure about the maggot therapy though... , but I've seen on t.v. that it actually works. Good for those that have feet issues related to diabetes. At least there's an alternative treatment out there if things get bad enough.

Thanks again!

[tara]

Thank you, megluth72. I echo your sentiments about the worm-maggot therapy. One would think that most people have more than enough worms in them!

I do recommend the mesosilver though: http://www.purestcolloids.com aka MESOSILVER as that is the colloid that I use and it has never failed me yet.

FYI, Here is a forum dedicated to silver colloids: http://colloidforum.com/phpBB/index.php

I have no affiliation with the product nor with the website.

[Seasprite]

I cant figure out how to post a new topic. Sorry about this, maybe someone can help me.

I finally got an appointment with a dermatologist and he took a sample of my head
lesions and he cultured it and came up with Staph. aureus.

Did any of you have that also?

Thanks, Sprite

[tara]

Hey, Seasprite!

There are web sites devoted to MRSA e.g.-- http://www.robprince.net/mrsa/forum-usa.asp -- it is a bacteria that can be acquired through the community or via hospital.

Golden Staph - Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Description

MRSA or 'golden staph' is the name of a strain of bacteria called Staphylococcal aureus (Staph). This bacteria is resistant to methicillin (an antibiotic) and can become resistant to other antibiotics as well.

Staph is a normal bacteria found in the nose and on the skin of up to 50 percent of all healthy adults and children. It is usually harmless but can cause infections in people. MRSA is a common cause of infection in hospitals and long term care facilities. However in recent times, different MRSA strains have also been found in the community.

Symptoms

Staph infections can be minor showing up as pimples, boils or skin infections, or can be serious, leading to blood poisoning or lung infections. An MRSA infection like a Staph infection can also show up as skin lesions such as boils, abscesses and carbuncles. It is not possible to tell a MRSA infection and a Staph infection apart without testing. Swabs must be taken from the site of infection and sent to a pathology laboratory for testing.

http://access.health.qld.gov.au/hid/...eusMrsa_fs.asp

Tara

[Kritters]

Hi Tara & all,
If you want to read a great book (you can probably order it from the library in CD form....I download CD books onto my ipod for hands-free reading :-)

http://www.amazon.com/Honey-Maggots-.../dp/0395924928

It tells about the use of honey as and antibiotic, maggots, leeches, etc. It's really interesting. One thing I didnt know about the benefits of honey is that it contains hydrogen peroxide. It really helps with burns also. They are actually farming maggots for use in healing. They heal by eating the dead tissue and therefore removing contaminants from infecting more tissue.Oh, and any old maggot doesn't work. Some can actually cause more problems so it's best to choose your maggots carefully DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME FROM THE GARBAGE CAN . Blood letting which was commonly used in the old days accomplished ridding the blood of built up metals, etc. which is the reason for heart problems (too much iron from using iron pans, etc. )and why after menopause women die of more heart attacks than men. If men are healthy it's a good idea to give blood periodically for that reason. (Now with this Morgs and other diseases they don't check for when in the blood tests, however, I'm not so keen on the idea of giving to other people) but just getting some taken from your body, I think makes sense and allows the body to make new.

Anyway, the book is fun reading

Kritts

[Seasprite]

IT IS NOT MRSA, that is the deadly one. it is aureus.

can someone tell me how to post a new topic?

thanks, peace and healing to all. -sprite

[carla]

Sprite,
Click on the board you want to post in and scroll down until you come to the tabs above the regular topics.Click on new Topics
xx