Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site shark.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!tektronix!orca!shark!hutch From: hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison) Newsgroups: net.med Subject: Re: prevention <---> treatment Message-ID: <1486@shark.UUCP> Date: Mon, 29-Jul-85 19:42:44 EDT Article-I.D.: shark.1486 Posted: Mon Jul 29 19:42:44 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 31-Jul-85 15:42:54 EDT References: <1049@cbdkc1.UUCP> <34@unc.UUCP> Reply-To: hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison) Distribution: na Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR Lines: 31 Xref: tektronix net.med:01919 Summary: In article <34@unc.UUCP> fsks@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann) writes: >In article geb@cadre.ARPA (Gordon E. Banks) writes: >>However, the "raw honey" information posted was sheer superstition. >>Raw honey has been reported to cause botulism in infants, but otherwise >>no significant health differences have been discovered between this >>bee-sugar and cane or beet sugar. > >The "quack" book I read said that honey soothes inflamed mucous membranes. >If this is just an old wives tail, then why does my doctor recommend honey >and lemon juice in a glass of tea to soother sore throats? Why didn't he >just recommend sugar in the tea, instead of honey, assuming there is no >difference? After all, sugar is cheaper, and more convenient to handle. Actually, MY doctor recommends that NO strong acids, like citric acid in lemon juice, be used when a sore throat is present, since the acidity can further inflame the raw tissues. He DID recommend hot, weak tea with sugar, or dilute fruit juices. He said that the sugar had a soothing effect, and that a saline solution gargle or chicken soup (fresh, not the boullion cube variety) would also help. >I've read that Roman soldiers used honey as a balm for binding wounds. >If honey really has no such antiseptic effect, then why doesn't it spoil >when stored at room temperature? Honey doesn't spoil at room temperature because bee spit has a weak antibiotic effect. However, if you leave it uncovered, which the bees do not, it will mold if it stays out long enough. Not a lot of things WILL grow on a pure sucrose base, though, at least, it wasn't too good as a culture medium back in bio class in school. Proteins were lots better. Hutch