Stingless Bee Honey Fights Germs After 18 Years Storage

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This "sugarbag honey" could help combat the 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections that occur annually in the U.S. alone.

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Researchers found it effective against drug-resistant bacteria and fungi that regular antibiotics struggle with, including dangerous "golden staph" infections.

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What makes this honey special? Unlike regular honey that relies on hydrogen peroxide to kill germs, stingless bee honey uses a powerful dual-mechanism approach.

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Even when researchers removed the hydrogen peroxide, the honey still killed microbes - suggesting something inherent in the honey itself provides this benefit.

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The honey showed particular promise against Trichophyton interdigitale, a stubborn fungus that causes athlete's foot and nail infections resistant to conventional treatments.

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Indigenous Australians have used this honey for centuries to treat skin problems and sores - knowledge that modern science is now validating through rigorous testing.

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Each tiny stingless beehive produces only half a liter of honey annually - but these hives need less maintenance than regular beehives, potentially allowing for scaled production.

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The antimicrobial properties remain effective even after heat treatment, making it dramatically different from European honeybee products that lose potency when heated.

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With antibiotic resistance expected to cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050, could this ancient remedy become a modern medical breakthrough?

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