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A British scientist, Dr Rose Cooper, based at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, has clinched a £28,000 grant to fund research into how simple breakfast honey can combat the killer MRSA superbug.
The money from the British Society for Anti-Microbial Chemotherapy will fund 12 months' research into the role of New Zealand manuka honey in the fight against MRSA.
Dr Cooper will study how common breakfast-table honey, Down Under, made by bees which collect nectar from the wild manuka bush, affects cell division in MRSA.
Dr Cooper, who is principal lecturer at the university's School of Applied Sciences, has been studying the health benefits of honey for eight years.
She said "When I started this work in 1997, I think people thought I was off my trolley,"
"But ancient civilisations have always used honey as medication, and there is evidence the Ancient Egyptians used it in 70% of their remedies.
"If you talk to nurses, it was even used in British hospitals up to 30 years ago, but has been phased out.
"These days, in the medical profession you need evidence to change attitudes, and I am optimistic that we can do that”.
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