Scientists have found a medical-grade honey made from New Zealand’s kānuka (Kunzea ericoides) flowers as effective as some medicines.
Pending further research, this finding could offer people affected by the herpes virus a new option in antibiotic treatments.
The clinical trial led by the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ) tested and found a better natural alternative to antiviral creams that reduced the time it took for an ulcer to heal.
Honey from a flower endemic to New Zealand has the ability to treat diseases.
Herpes virus exists in many people. Of those who do, nearly half will experience discomfort from the virus attack in the form of blisters on the outer mucous membranes, like the nose or lips.
For treatment, many people use a cream containing acyclovir which speeds up the healing time by about 1-2 days.
Although it is usually a fairly benign treatment, acyclovir is not completely free of side effects.
Meanwhile, honey has been used for centuries to treat infections. Everything changed when the “silver bullet” of broad-spectrum antibiotics took center stage.
The growth of a medically antagonistic culture in recent decades has revived interest in this classic drug, with claims that honey can boost energy, improve sleep, fight infection and “detox” the liver.
While independent and private research companies often fund the search for potential chemical treatments in the natural pharmacopoeia, proponents of alternative treatments may be reluctant to include out their potential measures for scientific consideration.