14 DAY TRIAL // The healing water is not found in a magic spring, but it is produced by a Californian company.
The "super-oxidized" water is said to speed up wound healing by killing all kind of germs, from viruses and bacteria to fungi. The new water is also effective against MRSA (an antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus infection) and UK trials are testing the product on patients with diabetic foot ulcers, as healing poses a great problem in people with diabetes.
The active ingredients of the Microcyn water are oxychlorine ions, electrically charged particles that penetrate through the cell membranes of free-living microbes. As the liquid kills just isolated cells it can completely surround, the human cells are protected as they are tightly attached together in a matrix. The healing water is made by filtering purified water through a semi-permeable sodium chloride (salt) membrane, which releases the oxychlorine ions.
One trial revealed that patients with advanced foot ulcers who were treated with the super-oxidized water, alongside an antibiotic, presented an average healing time of 43 days compared to 55 days in those who used just the antibiotic. This is important, as 15% of diabetic foot ulcers end in amputation.
"The healing of wounds is a major problem for people with diabetes who do not have good blood glucose control or have circulatory problems. We would welcome any safe effective treatment which could help people with diabetes make a swift recovery. This research is very interesting and we look forward to the trial results." said diabetes UK care adviser Tracey Kelly.
"The team involved is a credible one and wound healing is a major area in the health of older people. There is an urgent need to understand the biology of our repair systems so that we can improve treatments that will help to restore more people's health and independence." said Mike Foster spokesman of Help the Aged.
Bleach has also ions like hypochlorite, but in much higher concentrations. Still, US researches found that the water destroys 10 strains of bleach-resistant bacteria.