Ancient Remedy 'Oxymel' Shows Potential for Modern Wound Care 'Oxymel' is an ancient remedy made from a mixture of honey and vinegar that has been used in medical treatments throughout history. Modern scientists have confirmed that this mixture can find application in modern wound treatment.

A new study published in Microbiology is the first comprehensive exploration of how the concoction could be used in modern medicine and improve infection treatment. Bacterial infections can be difficult to treat, especially when they are protected by biofilms. A biofilm is a complex system of bacteria that can tightly adhere to a surface, such as the flesh of an infected wound. Bacteria protected by biofilms are difficult to kill, and current treatments are not always effective at removing them.

Previous research has shown that some natural remedies are very effective in treating infections. Manuka honey has been shown to have antimicrobial properties that aid in wound healing, and vinegar has been shown to be a useful antiseptic. Today, doctors use this information in medicine. While they use manuka honey to treat antibiotic-resistant infections, they only use acetic acid (the active ingredient in vinegar) and do not currently combine the two.

Dr. Erin Connelly, Dr Freya Harrison, and their team from the University of Warwick have pioneered the discovery of what happens when honey and vinegar are mixed and applied to laboratory-grown bacterial biofilms. what happened? By comparing vinegar and acetic acid alone, then combined with medical-grade honey, the researchers found that a combination of the two substances worked best. They also found that some natural vinegar were more effective at killing bacteria than an equivalent dose of pure acetic acid. In particular, pomegranate vinegar is an interesting candidate worthy of further study. They have strong antibacterial activity and, like acetic acid, are also active when combined with honey.

While more research is needed to understand the mechanism and optimal dosage combination of the honey and vinegar mix, these promising results have proven exciting enough that the researchers now recommend that the modern version of oxymel be included in the clinical trial phase. The results of this study show that the ancient therapy oxymel can be used in modern medicine, showing the potential of modern wound care.