STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF GARLIC AND HONEY ON SOME UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS

ABSTRACT
The study on the effect of honey and garlic on some upper respiratory tract infections was conducted between the month of June and October 2012 in Imo state.
A total number of sputum samples were collected from males and females age 20-25 years with clinical signs and symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections. The sputum samples collected were analyses using standard microbiological method. The micro organisms isolated from these sputum samples were, staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus pneumonia, staphylococcus viridians, haemophilus influenzae and mycoplasma pneumonia. With the study on the effect of honey and garlic on some upper respiratory tract infections which these micro organisms were isolated from, reveals that garlic and honey has an effect on these micro organisms, by revealing its inhibitory zone on these organisms that were all isolated from these samples.
Staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus pneumonia, staphylococcus viridian, heamophilus influenzea have a
6high inhibitory effect than mycoplasma pneumonia; it was revealed that there was no significant difference on their effectiveness of garlic and honey on the organisms tested, also there was high inhibiting zone in garlic and honey in patient aged 40-50 years.

INTRODUCTION
Honey and Garlic’s current principal medicinal uses are to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, as an antimicrobial, and as a preventive agent for cancer. The active constituents are several complex sulfur-containing compounds that are rapidly absorbed, transformed and metabolized. Pooled data from numerous randomized trials antibacterial effects, but these have not been evaluated in controlled trials in humans. Epidemiologic data, in vitro studies and animal data suggest that garlic may help prevent some solid tumors, but no randomized trials have evaluated its effectiveness as a therapeutic agent in oncology. There are no studies evaluating its effectiveness or safety in treating children or pregnant or nursing women. Garlic is safe when eaten as food, though in some sensitive persons, it can cause gastrointestinal irritation, and of course, halitosis. Prolonged topical use has been associated with moderate burns.

Until the first part of the 20th century, honey dressings were part of everyday wound care practice.
1.1 MEDICINAL EFFECT OF HONEY
In a test-tube study published in 2009, researchers found that honey can kill three types of drug-resistant bacteria known to cause sinusitis. In fact, study results showed that honey knocked out the bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicicillin-resistant and -susceptible Staphylococcus aureus) more effectively than commonly used antibiotic drugs.
While these study results indicate that honey remedies may be of some use to people with sinusitis, it’s important to seek medical attention in treatment of sinusitis in order to reduce risk of serious complications (such as meningitis and vision problems).