Scientists have created a new medicinal form of water, with a "miraculous" ability to heal wounds.
The "super-oxidised" water is charged with reactive molecules that destroy bugs and accelerate wound repair.
Researchers who have tested the disinfecting liquid on the wounds of diabetics claim it may be more effective than bleach.
The product, called Microcyn, is created by exposing purified water to sodium chloride - ordinary table salt - giving credence to an auld wives' tale - that of bathing a wound in brine.
It is now undergoing patient trials in the UK and other European countries, as well as the US.
People with diabetes often develop serious foot ulcers, which in 15% of cases result in amputation.
In one study, patients treated with the water, together with an antibiotic, healed within 43 days on average.
In comparison, those who received the standard treatment of iodine plus an antibiotic took 55 days to heal.
Microcyn was developed by a Californian company, Oculus, who announced their discovery last week at Global Healthcare, a biomedical conference in Monte Carlo.
They explained that the water contains oxychlorine ions - electrically charged molecules - which rapidly pierce the cell walls of free-living microbes and kill them.
Human cells are spared because they are tightly bound together, the scientists told New Scientist magazine.
"Microcyn only kills cells it can completely surround," said Hoji Alimi, of Oculus.
Part of the process of creating the oxychlorine ions involves exposing purified water to sodium chloride through a semi-permeable membrane.
The molecules that kill bugs and viruses are present in much lower numbers than the destructive ions in bleach.
Despite this, Microcyn has been found to wipe out 10 strains of bleach-resistant bacteria.
Although it has only recently been approved in the US for cleaning wounds, some doctors are already using the water to promote healing.
Cheryl Bongiovanni, director of wound care at Lake District Hospital in Lakeview, Oregon, said: "When you spray it on, you see the treated tissue pink up' and go beefy, which is good because it means the oxygen supply has resumed."
She has used Microcyn on around 1000 diabetic patients with leg and foot wounds in the past 18 months.
Professor Andrew Boulton, from Manchester Royal Infirmary, who is conducting one of the phase two trials, said: "It does seem promising. Hopefully it will confirm our initial good experience."
Patient groups welcomed news of the potential new treatment.
Tracey Kelly, Care Adviser at Diabetes UK, said: "With 15% of foot ulcers resulting in lower limb amputation, Diabetes UK 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 phase three trial results."
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