How Dirty Dishes And Stale Bread Saved The World

Home Remedies - Facts or Quacks?

That's what I recently asked myself. Myths and legends often have their basis in a grain of truth. So I wondered if home remedies, alternative treatments, and folklore cures might also be based on truth. A little research provided some astounding results!

He Was No Martha Stewart

In fact, Alexander Fleming had no housekeeping skills whatsoever. During the early 1900s, Petri dishes, beakers, and test tubes were piled around his lab like dirty dishes in a bachelor's sink. That may be appropriate, because he was studying the growth of bacteria and molds. I'm sure he had no trouble getting either of those to grow in his lab. I'm not sure how he kept his experiments separate.

Cashing In On Some Bread

Fortunately, there was at least one experiment that got contaminated. He discovered that a mold growth called Penicillium (because the cells are pencil-shaped) had killed the bacteria he was culturing in one of his test dishes. The Penicillium mold is often found on bread. He was able to isolate the chemicals in the mold which killed the bacteria, which are now known as penicillins.

A Miracle Cure Is Born

The antibiotic effects of penicillin, and its cousin cephalosporin, proved to be a great aid to the medical community in fighting bacterial illnesses and diseases. Over the years these molecules have been enhanced to help them fight bacteria which had become resistant. Penicillin is still saving lives today, simply because Al Fleming was a slob. Thankfully, he was smart enough to notice his mistake and understand what it meant.

Eating moldy bread isn't going to cure your illness. Instead, you might need a shot of penicillin to fight the effects of your ill-advised snack! In this case, however, this home remedy discovery is definitely a fact.

Doug Smith is a Chemical Engineer and the webmaster of http://www.SuperHomeRemedies.com. You get free & natural remedies for fungus, lice, acid reflux, cold sores, yeast & more. Stay up to date with our Natural Remedies News

Copyright 2005 by Doug Smith. You may reuse this copyrighted article provided no content is changed - other than line length - and the author's box is intact. All links must be active hyperlinks or made active.

Inflammatory Arthritis: Alternative Treatments

There are two main types of arthritis: inflammatory arthritis and... Read More

Holistic Medicine

Holistic Medicine involves natural treatment options like holistic nutrition, herbology,... Read More

Tips for Staying Young Eternally

What is something that goes up but never comes down?... Read More

The Future of Healing...

Your FUTURE is NOT in a doctor's office or a... Read More

Mindfulness and Pain: Just Say Ouch

What's the best way to manage pain?Just say ouch.That's a... Read More

4000 Year Old Secrets of Green Tea

The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green... Read More

Secrets Of Aromatherapy Part I - Physical Remedies

Aromatherapy can be used to relieve the discomfort of a... Read More

The Basics of Hypnosis

You've seen the stage acts where a hypnotist selects someone... Read More

Ayurveda: A Natural Health 101 Article

What It IsAyurveda is the traditional medical system of sub-continental... Read More

Got a Headache? Painkillers Are NOT the Solution!

Say you had a stressful day at work, didn't get... Read More

Laughter and Your Health

Alternative medicine: jokes and humor for your healthWhen thinking about... Read More

Organic Living - Whats That?

Hmmm ? what does organic living mean ? I like... Read More

Far Infrared Sauna Technology Comes of Age

What exactly is infrared, or radiant heat? No need to... Read More

Natural Pain Management

Life in today's hectic society is going more and more... Read More

About Candida, Its Symptoms & Treatment

Candida is a fungal infection affecting the moist external area... Read More

Alter Your Perceptions

This article first appeared in The Sept. 2004 issue of... Read More

Feuille D Menthe: The Cooling and Uplifting Fragrance of Green Grass

Feuille D'Menthe is a blend of several fragrant grass essential... Read More

How To Rid Your Home Of The Nations #1 Health Menace

With today's new building procedures, our homes are more dangerous... Read More

Top Ten Reasons Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy Works

Studies and research show natural HRT really works. By using... Read More

Colon Cleansing

Colonics are one of the best types of medicine. They... Read More

Stuttering Child

Children can develop a stutter at an early age and... Read More

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Infertility

Although health and healing are the common goals of Traditional... Read More

Genital Herpes - Natural and Alternative Treatment Remedies

Modern medical science has not been able to produce a... Read More

My Search for Happiness in the First Year of Sobriety

DAY 1: HOUR BY HOURHappiness in sobriety? Could this really... Read More

Eucalyptus Pure Essential Oil

Eucalyptus pure essential oil is obtained from the leaves and... Read More