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Loading...Researchers Find 2,000 Year-Old Beer Was Used as Medicine
Researchers at Emory University discovered that ancient Nubians consumed regular doses of sickness-fighting antibiotics, most likely in their beer.
The study, led by anthropologist George Armelagos and medicinal chemist Mark Nelson of Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is the strongest evidence yet that the art of making antibiotics, which officially dates to the discovery of penicillin in 1928, was common practice nearly 2,000 years ago (Futurity.org).
During chemical analysis of human bones from Nubia dated between A.D. 350 and 550, Armelagos and Nelson found traces of tetracycline, an antibiotic still used to treat bacterial infections, including pneumonia and other respiratory tract infections, acne, and infections of skin, genital and urinary systems.
Armelagos and his fellow researchers believe the source of the antibiotic to be beer, a beverage regularly consumed by the Nubians. The grain used to make the fermented gruel contained the soil bacteria streptomyces, which produces tetracycline.
The researchers are convinced that these ancient people knew what they were doing, and purposefully perfected the fermentation practice so that they could take advantage of this powerful natural medicine.
According to Nelson, even the tibia and skull belonging to a 4-year-old were full of tetracycline, suggesting that they were giving high doses to the child to try and cure him of illness (eScienceCommons).
And the Nubians aren’t the only culture to achieve better health through an occasional home brew.
In ancient Greece, Hippocrates used beer as a remedy to facilitate diuresis, reduce fever and heal wounds. Aretus of Capadocia also recommended it for diabetes and migraine.
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+ add your ownCheers to good health!
made beer and gihger beer for years alot cheaper as well
Common sill on my travels to India was to drink a beer a day... I think it is the alcohol in it that gives one the idea it will keep sickness at bay... but really, I never got sick when I practiced this! :D
interesting, thanks!
Weird. Drinking alot of beer always use to GIVE me a headache. I guess I should keep drinking then to remedy it? Deal!
odd and interesting.
Human ingenuity! I've never made my own beer, but this is pretty tempting!
I love it! An Elderfriend of mine once told me that when he gets gallstones, he drinks a six pack and they pass. Yes to beer!
Another plus for us Beer enthusiasts! My older friends tell me that they had relatives that consumed 1 to 3 cans of beer everyday and lived to 90 or 100.."Beer the Elixir of Life".I am pop one can right now!
Noted, with thanks.
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