Honey, the Magic Cure for Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu)

By Kyle J. Norton

On seeking natural therapy with no side effects, scientists may have found a herbal remedy for the prevention and treatment of gastroenteritis, according to studies.

Gastroenteritis or stomach flu is an inflammatory condition of the stomach and intestines that causes gastrointestinal discomforts, including vomiting, and diarrhea and fever.

Most cases of gastroenteritis are caused by viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection associated with contaminated food and drinking water.

People with a weakened immune system such as elderly and infants are most vulnerable to the disease onset.

Most bacterial and parasite gastroenteritis are treated by antibiotics. However, in viral infection, no treatment is available.

Similar to other infectious diseases, gastroenteritis can be spread through person-person contact.

Acute gastroenteritis is deadly in children, causing millions of deaths each year in young children, mostly in developing communities. 

Dr. Elizabeth Jane Elliott, in the examination of acute gastroenteritis in the children in the Western world, wrote, "In developed countries, it is a common reason for presentation to general practice or emergency departments and for admission to hospital. Dehydration, which may be associated with electrolyte disturbance and metabolic acidosis, is the most frequent and dangerous complication".

And, "Optimal management with oral or intravenous fluids minimizes the risk of dehydration and its adverse outcomes. Routine use of antibiotics, antidiarrhoeal agents, and antiemetics is not recommended and may cause harm".

Honey, the rich golden liquid is the miraculous product made by bees using nectar from flowers.

The liquid is considered one of healthy sweet food for replacing the use of white sugar and artificial sweetener by many people.

Researchers on finding potential and natural remedy for the treatment of gastroenteritis examined whether the addition of honey in oral rehydration solution (ORS) effect in the duration of symptoms of acute gastroenteritis in infants and children.

The study included 100 infants and children with acute gastroenteritis randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, each consisting of 50 patients: Group I received ORS for rehydration (control), and Group II received ORS with honey.

Honey included treatment group showed reduced frequencies of vomiting and diarrhea significantly compared to the control group.

Additional honey also recovered normal hydration and satisfactory weight gain in a significantly shortened time compared to control.

Dr. Abdulrhman MA, the lead scientist said, "honey added to ORS promoted rehydration of the body and sped recovery from vomiting and diarrhea".

Futhermore, in order to find more information about honey activity on gastroenteritis, scientists at the
honey in oral rehydration solutions (ORS) effects given to infants and children with gastroenteritis.

Once again added honey shortens the duration of diarrhea in patients with bacterial gastroenteritis through its antibacterial properties.

In fact, pathogenic bacteria were significantly inhibited by honey at a concentration of 40% and above, including Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, and Candida albicans.

In nonbacterial gastroenteritis, honey displayed a similar effect as those of glucose on the duration of diarrhea.

Moreover, the high sugar content in honey could be used to promote sodium and water absorption from the bowel similar to those of oral rice water and sucrose.

Based on the findings, researchers wrote in the final report, "... honey have thus shown that when given with an ORS it shortens the duration of bacterial diarrhea and may safely be used as a substitute for glucose, provided that the solution contains electrolytes".

Taken altogether, honey may be considered a functional remedy used for the prevention and treatment gastroenteritis with no side effects, pending to the confirmation of additional larger sample size and multicenter human study.

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Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.

References
(1) Bee honey added to the oral rehydration solution in treatment of gastroenteritis in infants and children by Abdulrhman MA1, Mekawy MA, Awadalla MM, Mohamed AH. (PubMed)
(2) Honey: its antibacterial action in the treatment of gastroenteritis by [No authors listed] (PubMed)
(3) Acute gastroenteritis in children by Elizabeth Jane Elliott, professor in pediatrics and child health. (PMC)