Ancient Medicinal Clay Combats 'Superbug' Infections By Nick Tate | Friday, 29 Jan 2016 02:43 PM A naturally occurring clay long used by natural healers in British Columbia, Canada, has been shown to have strong antibacterial properties that may make it particularly useful against multidrug-resistant “superbug” infectious pathogens. The findings, by University of British Columbia researchers, indicate the rare mineral clay could be an effective new weapon against so-called ESKAPE pathogens that cause the majority of U.S. hospital infections and are resistant to antibiotics. "Infections caused by ESKAPE bacteria are essentially untreatable and contribute to increasing mortality in hospitals," noted UBC microbiologist Julian Davies, co-author of the paper published in the American Society for Microbiology's mBio journal. "After 50 years of over-using and misusing antibiotics, ancient medicinals and other natural mineral-based agents may provide new weapons in the battle against multidrug-resistant pathogens." The clay is common in the Heiltsuk First Nation's traditional territory, 250 miles north of Vancouver, and is part of a deposit formed near the end of the last Ice Age, approximately 10,000 years ago. Local First Nations people have used the clay for centuries for its therapeutic properties — to treat ulcerative colitis, duodenal ulcer, arthritis, neuritis, phlebitis, skin irritation, and burns. "We're fortunate to be able to partner with UBC on this significant research program" said Lawrence Lund, president of Kisameet Glacial Clay, a business formed to market cosmetic and medicinal products derived from the clay. "We hope it will lead to the development of a novel and safe antimicrobial that can be added to the diminished arsenal for the fight against the ESKAPE pathogens and other infection-related health issues plaguing the planet."
[FairfieldLife] Finally something from British Columbia other than NeoMarxism
emptyb...@yahoo.com [FairfieldLife] Sun, 31 Jan 2016 11:28:57 -0800
