In addition to providing essential nourishment to infants, human milk; i.e., breast milk, has a number of valuable uses, especially medicinal uses, for both children and adults. It has been used medicinally for thousands of years. The antibacterial and healing properties of breast milk are often overlooked, even by the nursing mothers themselves. Breast milk, if properly expressed and stored, is a sterile solution and can be used in a variety of ways to promote healing and clean wounds. Breast milk contains strong antibodies and antitoxins that many people believe promote healing and better overall health.
Breast milk has been used as a home remedy for minor ailments, such as conjunctivitis, insect bites and stings, contact dermatitis, and infected wounds, burns, and abrasions. Breast milk has also been used alternatively to boost the immune system of ill persons having viral gastroenteritis, influenza, the common cold, pneumonia, etc., because of its immunologic properties.
With that being said, we can conclude that breastmilk has several uses. By examining an unusual protein found in human breast milk that attacks bacteria in the respiratory tract researchers at the University Of Buffalo hope to better understand how certain proteins attack harmful bacteria. Understanding how certain proteins kill bacteria, w/out the bacteria striking back, could be applied to combat drug resistance.
My thoughts: I think it's great that researchers are going back to the basics when it comes to fighting bacteria. My hopes are that by examining this unusual protein that they do indeed get a better understanding of how certain proteins attack harmful bacteria. For proteins are the building blocks of life and if we figure out what method works for one then we can attempt to use that same method for all. That's just my theory...lol :-) what are your thoughts?
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