Bald’s Leechbook, a 10th century medieval text
Scientists in England have achieved promising results from a medieval recipe that could cure MRSA or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a deadly form of staph infection that has been typically resistant to antibiotics. They recreated a translated formula containing “garlic, Allium, wine from a 9th century wine vineyard and oxgal – bile from a cow’s stomach.”
Dr. Christina Lee, an English professor specializing in medieval practical works, asked microbiologists at University of Nottingham to consider testing a 10th century potion designed for eye infections. The early results are very promising: the formula was tested on a Staphylococcus biofilm and in a 24-hour period, the number of infected cells in the lab experiment dropped from the billions down to a few thousand.
MRSA is a particularly resistant strain of infection that can affect many parts of the body, and because it can often be life-threatening and resistant to traditional medical treatments, it is often called a ‘super bug.’ It is also highly contagious.
This unexpected discovery from ancient medical practices still requires much research and is years away from being available for actual treatment.
Dermatology Times posted a video that describes this unusual MRSA research conducted by the University of Nottingham.
If you believe your home or a public place has been exposed to MRSA, it is important that affected areas are professionally decontaminated, to prevent the spread of this highly contagious bacteria. Here is more information on the MRSA cleanup services provided by Bio SoCal.
