Ancient Egyptians Used Moldy Bread as an Antibiotic
Ancient Egyptians Used Moldy Bread as an Antibiotic
There is evidence suggesting that ancient Egyptians used moldy bread, specifically containing a type of mold called Penicillium, as an early form of antibiotic.
There is evidence suggesting that ancient Egyptians used moldy bread, specifically containing a type of mold called Penicillium, as an early form of antibiotic.
Important to note, Penicillium mold is not Penicillin. Bread commonly available in modern grocery stores is often not made the same way as back then, and will be growing and carrying other pathogens which you don't want to be getting into an open wound. Penicillin, the modern medicine, is highly processed, and impossible to manufacture without what amounts to a laboratory.
They covered this a bit, at the end of the article:
Furthermore, Egyptian bread was leavened without yeast, in contrast to ours, which typically contains yeast. Therefore, using our moldy bread to cover wounds is not recommended. Our bread contains numerous chemical elements that, instead of aiding in wound healing, could worsen the condition and potentially lead to more serious pathologies. Additionally, Egyptian bread was manufactured using clay pots baked on hot ashes, while our bread involves machines that, despite hygiene efforts, may harbor microbes or bacteria.
I got interested in how to make my own modem medicines because there's a nonzero chance I'll need to know how in my lifetime, so learning how hard it is to refine was a great disappointment.
Boo, AI cover image
Oh fuck off.
It was really unnecessary to make that personal.
hot wine served as an alcohol substitute
And I suppose they would have substituted petroleum for gasoline?
Additionally, today's wheat, corn and other grains (food in general) isn't the same, as ancient times. Too many added chemicals, added gluten, sugars, etc. The nutritional value is mostly lost, but for the added nutrients, and I'm not entirely sure they're absorbed the way we think they are.
"Added gluten" makes no sense, but yes the modern wheat is bred to have waaay less bitter taste and secondary nutrients, whild being high in short carbohydrates like sugar. It also contains way more gluten.
The fact that especially wheat seems to only be used in a highly filtered form, doesnt help.
And yeah, genetic diversity is important here too.
I’m not sure why you’re being downvoted here. It’s common knowledge that although we produce more food it’s not as nutritious as before. We get more mass but less dietary value.
We get more mass but less dietary value.
Absolutely. Obese people have died from malnutrition, and that's a whole other ball of wax.
Wtf you talking about
This isn't anything new, and a quick search can tell you more. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/modern-wheat-a-perfect-chronic-poison-doctor-says/