1000 year old medical text may hold cure to MRSA

[pudly]

Scientists in England have tested out an ancient Anglo-Saxon eye infection potion and found that is has super anti-bacterial properties, including killing drug-resistant MRSA. Will be interesting to see where this goes.

AncientBiotics - a medieval remedy for modern day superbugs?

 

[weezy]

I've come across some old medical books, and although some of the procedures seem straight medieval, they really did have other things pretty well figured out.

 

[eldirector]

Pretty cool. That far back in history, it either worked or you died. No pharmaceutical company profits to consider, no malpractice insurance, no "well, it worked in the lab!". If you turned into a newt, you either got better, or died a newt.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Considering the history of my people are we certain that this "eye medicine" was not a recipe of some sort?

 

[pudly]

Just because it kills super-germs doesn't mean that it won't taste great on toast as well.

 

[mbills2223]

Until we overuse it and breed resistance to it, that is...

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Until we overuse it and breed resistance to it, that is...

I heard from a nurse once that the reason superbugs like MRSA developed was actually because of "underuse". That is to say, people would take their antibiotics, but instead of taking them for the entire course of treatment, they would stop once they started feeling better. This didn't kill all the bacteria the way it should have if they would have finished the course of treatment. The bacteria that were left then essentially became breeding stock for the superbugs. IANAD though...

 

[pudly]

That is partially true. It is also partially because antibiotics have been way over-prescribed, including for viral problems. This kills off smaller bacterial infections that the body could handle on its own, but leaves occasional bugs that could resist the antibiotics to carry on and grow. Both paths have contributed to the problem.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

That is partially true. It is also partially because antibiotics have been way over-prescribed, including for viral problems. This kills off smaller bacterial infections that the body could handle on its own, but leaves occasional bugs that could resist the antibiotics to carry on and grow. Both paths have contributed to the problem.

That makes sense. I think there's a lot of wisdom in the saying, "Rub some dirt on it." We've become such a paranoid, hand sanitizing society that kids aren't building up the resistance that they used to.

 

[mbills2223]

I heard from a nurse once that the reason superbugs like MRSA developed was actually because of "underuse". That is to say, people would take their antibiotics, but instead of taking them for the entire course of treatment, they would stop once they started feeling better. This didn't kill all the bacteria the way it should have if they would have finished the course of treatment. The bacteria that were left then essentially became breeding stock for the superbugs. IANAD though...

Both overuse and under use lead to resistant bacteria...it is a losing battle

 

[femurphy77]

There was a program on History Channel a few years ago, back before they started airing "reality" trash, and they were highlighting ancient medicine. The had unearthed some apparent surgical tools that were dated at over 1000 years old. When compared to their modern day counterparts they were almost identical in shape and form. The modern tools were used for extremely delicate brain surgeries.

If we only know half of what we've forgotten thru the centuries it would be mind boggling how much more advanced we would be!

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Interesting.

It'd be cool if one of those books had a cure for cancer.

 

[Mgderf]

Fascinating read.
Most doctors, if they're honest about it, would tell you there are multitudes of order more that they DON'T know...
Amazing to see what they figured out way back when.

 

[Dead Duck]

Until we overuse it and breed resistance to it, that is...

Both overuse and under use lead to resistant bacteria...it is a losing battle

Well aren't you just a "Stick-in-the-Mud".

 

[Fargo]

Both overuse and under use lead to resistant bacteria...it is a losing battle

Don't forget the gross overuse of antibiotics on herd animals to keep them alive and upright in feedlot type situations. Our quest for cheap meat has some potentially big comeuppances in the pipeline that doctors have been warning about for years. Substituting herdwide antibiotic shots instead of liveable conditions has generated a ton of resistant bugs.

 

[1861navy]

Interesting. In 2011 I had MRSA infection on my cheekbone it was confirmed by a doctor. I didn't take the regular antibiotics, instead I used a mixture of Common Plantain, White Oak, Garlic, Onion, and turmeric as a poultice, and as an infusion 2-3 times a day. It worked extremely well. To this day I have had no recurrence of the infection.

One reason herbs and plants are so amazing is they are chemical factories. Common Plantain, Garlic, yarrow and so many others host a variety of antibiotic, antibacterial, antiinflammatory properties, each. This is much more than a specifically formulated synthetic antibiotic, thusly modified infections are able to spread when people don't have the variety.
Back in paleo times, in colonial America, and ice age Europe a lot of wild plants hosting these properties were eaten as food, so they got pretty substantial doses of antibiotics daily. Probably why they didn't experience modified infections at the rate we do today.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Interesting. In 2011 I had MRSA infection on my cheekbone it was confirmed by a doctor. I didn't take the regular antibiotics, instead I used a mixture of Common Plantain, White Oak, Garlic, Onion, and turmeric as a poultice, and as an infusion 2-3 times a day. It worked extremely well. To this day I have had no recurrence of the infection.

I have had more than several guys with MRSA infections, usually attacks the legs for some reason.

1861, that is amazing. Where did you get the recipe? Have you related your experience to a medical school or the like?

 

[AA&E]

That is partially true. It is also partially because antibiotics have been way over-prescribed, including for viral problems. This kills off smaller bacterial infections that the body could handle on its own, but leaves occasional bugs that could resist the antibiotics to carry on and grow. Both paths have contributed to the problem.

There is a valid reason for prescribing antibiotics for viral infections. A viral pneumonia... rarely fatal by itself. The true danger comes from bacteria secondary infections of the lungs that lead to death. This is one example of why antibiotics are prescribed for viral illnesses.

 

[mbills2223]

There is a valid reason for prescribing antibiotics for viral infections. A viral pneumonia... rarely fatal by itself. The true danger comes from bacteria secondary infections of the lungs that lead to death. This is one example of why antibiotics are prescribed for viral illnesses.

Nonononono!

 

[chezuki]

A few years ago, I had MRSA on my elbow. I rubbed a little bit of flu vaccine on it twice a day and it cleared right up. It gave me the flu of course, but just a little amoxicillin and clotrimazole got me over the flu in just a day or so.





Unfortunately, I'm now autistic as hell.