At the southern terminus of the Cotswold Way, a 102-mile trail through the English countryside, there’s a beautiful sight for sore legs: the Roman Baths.
Hiking to hot springs is a time-honored tradition in the U.S. and beyond, and not just because soaking feels good after a long walk. Many hot springs enthusiasts also claim that the waters themselves have healing properties. The Romans were no different: They believed Bath’s springs, which are today cordoned off as a museum exhibit, could heal skin infections and other afflictions. And now, recent science shows that they might have actually been right.
Bath’s bacteria-fighting microbes
Scientists from the University of Plymouth recently analyzed Bath’s spring-fed waters and discovered 15 different types of microorganisms with the potential to fight human pathogens. These microorganisms have natural antimicrobial properties that could be used to fight common bacterial ailments, including E. coli infections, staph infections, and others.
While doctors currently have treatments for many of these infections, the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance could…
