Honey can cure severe lung disease

0

Scientists have discovered a sweet way to kill bacteria that could potentially save hundreds of thousands patients with disabling lung diseases – manuka honey.

Highly drug-resistant Mycobacterium abscessus, also known as NTM, belongs to the same family as tuberculosis. But once it enters a patient's lungs, it is almost impossible to completely destroy it.

Scientists say that a combination of the common antibiotic amikacin and manuka honey, known for its healing properties, can actually kill the deadly bacteria and significantly reduce the side effects of the drugs. . They mixed them into a spray to fight resistant bacteria.

Researchers used bacteria samples from 16 infected cystic fibrosis patients and tested a mixture of amikacin and manuka honey to determine what dosage was needed to kill the bacteria.

“The amount of amikacin commonly used in patients is usually 16 micrograms per milliliter. But the results show that when manuka honey is added, the amount of amikacin needed to fight the germs is only two micrograms.”

By combining a natural ingredient such as manuka honey with amikacin, scientists have found a way to potentially kill these bacteria with eight times less medication than before.

This can significantly improve the quality of life for many patients, especially those with cystic fibrosis.