Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Manuka Honey results...amazing!


Last Sunday I noticed that my one eczema patch (the only one I have, about 2" x 3") on my shin was a little sensitive. Didn't think much of it. The next morning I noticed it... There was a white spot from infection. By the next day, the entire spot was infected and very painful.

I covered it with Manuka Honey and put a dressing on top. The Manuka Honey did burn a bit. I changed the bandage twice a day. I really thought I was going to end up in the hospital, again. It was just as bad as the other ones sending me there. Within two days the pain and sensitivity were gone. Even thought the pain was gone, on Friday, after being out for a couple hours, my leg was swollen to my toes. I decided to stay off of it the entire weekend and kept it covered. The only treatment I used starting last Monday was 5 turmeric capsules 3 times a day, Hibiclens in the shower, and Manuka honey dressings.

I can't believe that within a week, the infection seems to be gone and there is no drainage. Even the eczema is clearing up. It barely drained at all, meaning that the combination had to be killing it from the inside. Amazing! Antibiotics take longer than that! WHOO HOO!!

Friday, October 24, 2008

StingRay....

Thank you for your encouraging comments. I love that song by MercyMe...I'd love to hear more of your story....send me a comment with your blog or some info on your MRSA story???

Monday, October 20, 2008

Manuka Honey...


Ever since we returned from the beach we have been battling eczema and trying to keep it from turning into MRSA spots. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes not. Now that the weather is changing, it will be a little more challenging. BUT...I did order some manuka honey and manuka honey ointment. I tried this (the ointment) directly onto the girls eczema spots and it seems to be working amazingly well. My 8yo's skin was really broken out and just over night cleared up immensely, so I'm hopeful.

I would note, it would be impossible to put straight manuka honey on without a bandage...can be messy. Good for wounds, or skin infection with a covering, but not to spread on the larger areas that have eczema. But, the ointment is easier...I only put it on at night so they have jammies over and it's not nearly as sticky, although it is still 40% honey. It has done a great job with eczema so far, and keeping an eye on it with MRSA. I'll update you once we've had a few more days to experiment with it.

If you want to look into the Manuka Honey, try this website: www.manukahoneyusa.com

THey have lots of information and certify their rating (although I don't know exactly what they have to do for that), but it seems like a lab has to certify for them.

I'll keep you posted...

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Tired!





I'm tired! Not like I need a nap, but just tired....

Wondering, will there ever be a time where I'm not slathering my girls with lotions and remedies, and bandaging their spots, or giving them supplements at every meal, or washing laundry all day? Will there ever be a time where we can use a towel more than once before it goes in the laundry, or clothes can be worn a second day or jammies a second night? A day where they can play dress up without the entire dress up box full of clothes having to be washed? Will there be a day like this?

A day when I can let the girls play in the woods without knowing that we will have to go home for a breathing treatment and Benedryl? A day where they can go to their friends houses that have pets and play while being able to breath at the same time? Will there be a day when they can eat what everyone else eats without itching and pain and rashes? A day where we can attend a Christmas party and not cringe when we see the bowl full of nuts on the food table? Will there be a day like this?

Will there be a day where eczema, allergies, asthma, and MRSA are not on our minds and in our actions? A day they can go to the pool and not be embarrassed by the many scars on their legs from their affliction? A day where they can go to bed WITHOUT a shower...where I can just say "girls, get ready for bed" and they don't require mom's eye and help for draining, band-aids, lotions and medicines? Will there be a day like this?

Honestly, I don't know if there will be.... I have to preach the truth to myself. I don't know how long these struggles will go on. I DO know that there will always be something. We will always have some struggle, some challenge in our lives. We live in a fallen world and it makes me long for heaven! I am so grateful that it's not a fatal illness or accident that we are having to live through. Grateful that we don't live in a 3rd world country where we wouldn't have access to healthcare. I am grateful that despite these obstacles, I have happy little ladies that love life and give me much joy. It's become normal for them, they know nothing different. I am grateful that one day, I will see my Savior face to face, and he will wipe away all the tears and pain and sadness and we will never again go through struggles and challenges, but will be filled with joy we can't even imagine! Most of all, I am grateful that he changed my heart to see the truth. That I once looked upon Him as a story and mocked him, but now I know He is so much more, and i am grateful that I am going through this knowing Him, because I don't know how we'd get through it without Him.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

You Tube Manuka Honey Clip

Here is a very informational video from You Tube on Manuka Honey. Looks like (perhaps?) it's from a company that sells Manuka Honey, so keep that in mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1U0JG9xvsY&feature=related

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Another Manuka Honey Story...


Prevention and Treatment of MRSA with Manuka Honey
By Frank Buonanotte, published Sep 04, 2008

MRSA related Staph infections are the cause of concern in many hospitals across the world. It is not an uncommon occurrence that a patient is admitted into a hospital with one ailment and leaves with a Staph infection. Although, hospital patients aren't the only ones concerned about MRSA. Doctors and other medical professionals have grown increasingly more fearful that they may be exposed to this deadly bacteria.

MRSA is a mutated form of bacteria that has developed a resistance to antibiotics. If gone untreated, a MRSA-Staph infection can be fatal. Amidst all the hysteria, scientists are beginning to recognize that a particular type of honey, known as Manuka Honey, is actually effective against this notoriously resilient superbug.

Researchers have examined MRSA that has come in contact with Manuka Honey and have determined that MRSA cannot survive in the healing environment created by Manuka Honey. MRSA is a bacterium that grows and divides into 2 similar cells every half hour. It divides by forming a wall across the middle of the cell, which then splits in half to create 2 new cells. Studies have shown that Manuka Honey interferes with the cell cycle of MRSA by affecting the separation of new cells, so that cells unable to complete division are disabled at that point in the cell cycle.

All types of honey contain hydrogen peroxide which is a known antiseptic and disinfectant. However, scientists have discovered that there is an additional antibacterial component in Manuka Honey, making it much more effective for therapeutic use. This additional component, known as UMF, is unaffected by enzymes that dilutes the effectiveness of regular honey. It remains active when used as a wound dressing and diffuses deeper into skin tissues.

In addition to its unparalleled antibacterial properties, Manuka Honey is also considered to be antimicrobial and, therefore, capable of treating both bacterial and fungal infections. Another advantage to utilizing Manuka Honey for medical purposes is that its anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce pain in damaged tissue.

Manuka Honey is made by bees that use the nectar from the flower that grows on the Manuka bush, which is indigenous to New Zealand. It's this unique nectar that provides Manuka Honey with it's impressive healing qualities. Since Manuka Honey comes from New Zealand, it can be somewhat hard to come by. However, a New York-based manufacturer of skin care products called Honeymark has developed a line of Manuka Honey products that is available in the U.S.

"Manuka Honey is natures best kept secret," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International. "Although, its ability to conquer the battle against MRSA superbugs is projecting Manuka Honey into the lime light." Unlike some traditional forms of medicine, Manuka Honey has been found to have no negative side effects when used for medical purposes.

Other Manuka Honey Evidence


Early study touts honey as antibiotics substitute
Wed Sep 24, 2:04 PM

OTTAWA (AFP) - Honey, used in tea or hot water in Canada for generations to soothe sore throats, could soon be substituted for antibiotics in fighting stubborn ear, nose and throat infections, according to a new study.

Ottawa University doctors found in tests that ordinary honey kills bacteria that cause sinus infections, and does it better in most cases than antibiotics.

"It's astonishing," researcher Joseph Marson said of bees' unexplained ability to combine the nectar of flowers into a seemingly potent medicine.

The preliminary tests were conducted in laboratory dishes, not in live patients, but included the "superbug" methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, which is highly resistant to antibiotics.

In upcoming human trials, a "honey rinse" would be used to "flush out the goo from sinus cavities," said Marson in an interview with AFP.

The researchers have so far tested manuka honey from New Zealand, and sidr honey from Yemen.

The two killed all floating bacteria in liquid, and 63-91 percent of biofilms -- microorganisms that sometimes form a protective layer in sinus cavities, urinary tracts, catheters, and heart valves, protecting bacteria from normal drug treatments and often leading to chronic infections.

The most effective antibiotic, rifampin, killed just 18 percent of the biofilm samples in the tests.

"As of today, nobody is sure what in the honey kills the bacteria," Marson said, noting that "not all honeys have the same potency" and calling for more research to determine the mechanism behind the healing.

Canada's clover and buckwheat honey did not work at all.

Previous studies have shown honey's healing properties on infected wounds.

The results of the study were presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, in Chicago.

Clinical Studies Show Honey Kills MRSA


I was just looking online the other night for MRSA help and found some information on Manuka. Apparently this is a tree from New Zealand...similar to tea tree, but better!

Then today, I checked my comments and "Judy" sent me a link to the following article. Sounds like it's had even better results in treating MRSA, AND it is good for eczema. The downside to Tea Tree is that it is drying. My girls skin can't handle too much tea tree, especially in sensitive areas. We have had an anaphylactic reaction to honey, but it was raw and not manuka...so I'll have to check into that. I think I might try this one out..although it is more expensive! I'll keep you posted.

Clinical Studies Show Honey Kills MRSA
Many Clinical Studies Suggest that MRSA Can Easily Be Controlled - Without Antibiotics
By Emily Patterson, published Feb 28, 2008

I was doing research on another topic and found human studies that show that honey has been shown to kill MRSA. One of the studies relates to an immunosuppressed individual who made a full recovery after contracting the MRSA bacteria when it was treated with honey. Another study refers to seven children treated with honey and all seven children were successfully cured of the MRSA bacteria. I have provided links to the source studies, which are located on the National Library of Medicine web site.

It has been repeatedly proven that antibiotic therapy only helps to make MRSA stronger. This information has been wide-spread in public media outlets. MRSA does continue to get stronger, but we can quite likely get rid of it a way that does not require antibiotics.

MRSA has been with us for quite some time. However, it is important to know that the MRSA strains of today are different from the strains in the 1970's. In an article published on the WLWT Cincinnati OH web site quotes Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Lisa Haglund, "although staph infections and even MRSA is nothing new, the latest strain of the infection is different than previously seen versions.

"This particular MRSA strain behaves differently than the hospital MRSA strain we've had experience with since the 70's. It's behaving different also in the laboratory. You can see it has different elements," she said."[1]

The powerful antibiotics that must be prescribed to 'control' MRSA are often ineffective. When antibiotics fail to control MRSA, the result is death. The new strains are changing the landscape for the most susceptible people. It's no longer a condition associated with a hospital stay for the young and old with weaker immune systems. It is striking in communities, and it is different and more antibiotic resistant the ever before. These new strains have killed many healthy teenaged kids who have never even been in a hospital.

In many clinical settings, Manuka honey has been shown eradicate MRSA bacteria when used in wound dressings. Here are only a few of the available studies that show the effectiveness of Manuka honey in the treatment of MRSA.

This study, "Effect of medical honey on wounds colonised or infected with MRSA." from the Children's Hospital Medical Centre, University of Bonn, Germany states, "Full healing was achieved in seven consecutive patients whose wounds were either infected or colonised with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antiseptics and antibiotics had previously failed to irradicate the clinical signs of infection."[2]

A study by the Maxillofacial Unit, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford Surrey, UK shows that this information has been widely recognized for a long time and is available as an option for the treatment of many bacterial wound infections. The study, "Manuka honey dressing: An effective treatment for chronic wound infections." states that, "Manuka honey dressing has long been available as a non-antibiotic treatment in the management of chronic wound infections."[3]

A study from the Wound Healing Research Unit, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK involved an immunosuppressed patient who made a full recovery from an MRSA infection with the use of Manuka Honey. Healing of an MRSA-colonized, hydroxyurea-induced leg ulcer with honey. "RESULTS: MRSA was eradicated from the ulcer and rapid healing was successfully achieved. CONCLUSION: Honey is recognized to have antibacterial properties, and can also promote effective wound healing. A traditional therapy, therefore, appears to have enormous potential in solving new problems."[4]

Manuka honey can control MRSA when used as a wound dressing. All of the studies I could find show an incredible success rate. There is no reason that anyone should ever die from this easily killed bacterial infection. This should be the first option, not the forgotten option.

Resources:

1. WLWT Cincinnati OH, http://www.wlwt.com/health/14415521/detail.html

2. Children's Hospital Medical Centre, University of Bonn, Germany, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17927079?ordinalpos=5&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

3. Maxillofacial Unit, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford Surrey, UK, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17113690?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlusDrugs1

4. Wound Healing Research Unit, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12171686?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlusDrugs


This article was found here: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/629879/clinical_studies_show_honey_kills_mrsa.html?page=2&cat=5