Anglo-Saxon cow bile and garlic potion kills MRSA

[G_j]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11504166/Anglo-Saxon-cow-bile-and-garlic-potion-kills-MRSA.html

Telegraph.co.uk
NEWS
Anglo-Saxon cow bile and garlic potion kills MRSA

By Sarah Knapton, Science Editor
1:12PM BST 30 Mar 2015

<>
A thousand-year-old medieval remedy for eye infections which was discovered in a manuscript in the British Library has been found to kill the superbug MRSA.

The 'eyesalve' recipe calls for two species of Allium (garlic and onion or leek), wine and oxgall (bile from a cow’s stomach).

It describes a very specific method of making the topical solution including the use of a brass vessel to brew it, a strainer to purify it and an instruction to leave the mixture for nine days before use.

None of the experts really expected the concoction to work. But when it was tested, microbiologists were amazed to find that not only did the salve clear up styes, but it also tackled the deadly superbug MRSA, which is resistant to many antibiotics.

<>

[Zorra]

1. DU Monsanto reps call for banning this natural remedy in 3..2..1...

This is truly wonderful, and fun, news, thank you!

[PoliticAverse]

5. Someone will find a way to patent it and get their version FDA approved. n/t

[G_j]

8. Yes, I thought it would be fun

and it's also fascinating.

[Orrex]

31. Ladies and gentlemen, I present yet another sad case of

[Pooka Fey]

51. ROFL

[mike_c]

2. substituting eye of newt at step 27 turns maidens into insatiable sex machines....

Just sayin'.

[msanthrope]

10. I got better. nt

[dflprincess]

20. +1000

[awoke_in_2003]

21. DUzy. nt

[valerief]

3. I'm sure our Congress will ban its use pretty soon. nt

[JustAnotherGen]

4. I've had MRSA three times since September 2009

They need to take a deep dive on this.


I bet they burned the people at the stake who discovered this all those years ago . . .

[PADemD]

27. Other Tested Remedies

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1228&pid=37447

[G_j]

43. That is interesting also

Another one of nature's surprises.

[JHB]

6. As if Anglo-Saxon cows weren't snooty enough!

[cyberswede]

9. LOL

[Coventina]

13. Anglo-Saxon cows are much more civilized than those murderous Nazi cows!!!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/01/07/aggressive-nazi-bred-cows-caused-havoc-on-a-modern-farm/

[hifiguy]

14. How now, Nazi cow?

This is one odd picture.

[Liberalynn]

18. Best laugh I've had all day!

[Surya Gayatri]

48. Thanks for that!

[hifiguy]

7. It turned me into a newt....

Well, I got better.

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. Garlic is a very well known antiseptic.

Last edited Mon Mar 30, 2015, 10:19 PM - Edit history (1)

among other properties it has.

[Dont call me Shirley]

12. And onions.

[840high]

15. Yes.

[Aerows]

40. Anti-fungal, as well

probably one of the more powerful ones, actually.

[They_Live]

16. What this thread needs is

more cow bile!

[dixiegrrrrl]

33. Lol! well done.

[Thor_MN]

44. +1

[Surya Gayatri]

49. Ba da boom!

[gollygee]

17. If it wasn't invented in a modern lab

I don't trust it.


LOL just kidding. This is fascinating. I suppose they worked by trial and error.

[MisterP]

19. cwic-wys, feor the leechboces!

they're also doubting the total domination of humorialism over medieval medicine--everyone used it, sure, but that's just what you started out with

[niyad]

22. it is completely unsurprising that these old wisdom remedies actually work. why

do you think big pharma hates them so much!!

[silverweb]

23. Agree completely!

[bhikkhu]

30. It was apparently developed through experiment and observation

...similar to modern scientific methods. They wouldn't have known why it worked, or what they were treating (other than the symptoms of infection), but I'd give the old doctors some credit for developing an effective treatment.

"Old Wisdom" gave us the four humors theory, bloodletting, the Magic Egg, and plenty of quackery that did as much harm as good. The Anglo-Saxons behind this remedy were a little better than that.

[Aerows]

38. More like Ancient wisdom

This type of craft has been studied for millennia. "Witches" were mostly persecuted because they also had the ability to help women put off childbirth or terminate pregnancy. Once the Catholic church got involved and made it so that only men could practice medicine, then you saw much of this knowledge fall away.

It was political.

[Aerows]

37. Garlic and rennet for infection

mustard for burns.

Garlic also for topical fungus and yeast infections (yes, this works).

Willowbark tea for headaches and fevers (hint, it's Salicylates - aspirin, essentially that is drawn out of the bark with hot water).

[niyad]

39. such simple, effective, inexpensive treatments.

[Aerows]

41. And we are trained

to be ignorant of them.

[niyad]

42. some of us are still quite familiar with them

[Aerows]

46. Indeed

[BrotherIvan]

50. I've also heard of garlic for ear aches

Literally just stick a half a clove in your ear

[Blue_In_AK]

53. Garlic also works great for ear aches

My kids thought I was crazy to stuff their ears with garlic, but it always worked.

ed. Brother Ivan, I didn't see your post before I posted. Great minds and all that...

[jtuck004]

24. I remember when they were doing the research on how to kill bugs with cows...

There were a couple of moments where it might have gone another way...

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

34. Someone forgot to give that cow some roller-skates and a cape.

Forget car races and horse races, we need Flatulent Cow Races!

I can see it now, each cow will be given a team of three monkeys instead of the cape. The first monkey will steer the cow, the second one will fling monkey crap at the other racers. The third one will supply the crap as he pretends to be the cow's 'rocket engine mechanic'.






This idea has potential. Now I just have to find someone to sell this to. Does anyone know the number for Trump's hair?

[Thespian2]

25. K & R

More power to the cow! Not surprised. Ancient texts have much to teach modern man.

[riderinthestorm]

26. Just sent this to my medieval archaeologist daughter

and discovered she has already received it 42 x already ...

[d_r]

28. good on mash potatoes also

[madamvlb]

29. This is really good news.

[Historic NY]

32. Who Moo?

[Aerows]

35. Garlic and rennet

have been cures for infection for thousands of years.

And let's discuss mustard plasters for burns. Old ass medicine that still works a charm.

[Thor_MN]

45. SSShhhh... Don't give McDonalds any excuses for their mayo and mustard burn cures...

[Surya Gayatri]

36. All hail the powerful bovine! Who knew!

Last edited Mon Mar 30, 2015, 10:53 PM - Edit history (1)

The famous 'Laughing Cow' (La vache qui rit) --and now we know why!

[Laffy Kat]

47. It may clear up the MRSA but..

You ain't gonna smell that great.

[phantom power]

52. Is it really a mystery that a mixture including acid and alcohol kills bacteria?