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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
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Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:15:23 -0400
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> The data is actually interesting, and perhaps useful.
>
> BUT
>
> It is dishonest to completely ignore the hygroscopic properties of honey
> in the write up.
>
> What a waste.
>

Agree. A supersaturated sugar syrup is used medically as an antibacterial
agent. Honey is a supersaturated sugar syrup.

Also, when you dilute honey you do release H2O2, so it would seem to be the
only agent, but, as you noted, not the only one when undiluted honey is
used. Then you also have the acidic quality, also a bacteria killer.
Dilution removes that. So wit undiluted honey you get peroxide,
supersaturated sugar and acid, a nice antibacterial trifecta.

Medicinal honey is much more complex than any specific honey type. It all
depends on the nectar and time. If the nectar has time to ripen, its
Glucose Oxadase content is higher, so it has more potential for increased
H2O2 and acidity. Also time increased the glucose content, so again more
acid and H2O2. Some nectar are already high in glucose so that helps.

So you can have the same bees and nectar source and get different medicinal
honey if curing times differ because of temperature and humidity.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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