Who Thought of Using Honey on Wounds?
Honey has been used since ancient times, from Egypt to China to Greece to the Middle East.
It was used to treat sore throats, but also, at times, wounds.
William Reavell / Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images
Today, it’s used anywhere from San Francisco to Northern Nigeria.
However,honeyhasn’t always been recognized as beneficial in wound care.
In the past, it was seen as a natural remedy with little value.
For years, it was not part of standard medical practice.
The medical honey business is now worth millions of dollars for some companies.
Does Honey Actually Work?
There is growing evidence that honey does help with wound healing when placed on wounds.
Many health practitioners use it in established medical facilities.
Research is still being done to determine what works best.
Many use medical-grade honey that comes from Leptospermum honey likemanukaand jelly bush honey.
Although honey does not support bacterial growth, it does contain spores.
These spores can sprout into bacteria that can cause diseases likebotulism, which we don’t want.
Botulism is also why parents are told not to feed their babies, honey.
Is Medical Grade Honey Edible?
The honey discussed here is for placing on wounds, not for eating.
How It Works
Bacteria doesn’t grow well in honey.
This is one of the reasons why honey can be helpful for wounds.
In a way, the honey smothers bacteria.
There are a lot of reasons for this.
This is also a great mixture because it’s not too strong.
Straight up H2O2 would be too strong for wounds, damaging healing tissue.
Too acidic a substance would also damage young, growing tissue.
Here’s why:
Keep wounds clean.
Talk to a medical professional about how best to do this.
It’s also important that wounds do not dry out.
It’s important also to use precautions when handling wounds.
You also do not want a wound to infect you.
Wounds may need antibiotics.
This may mean debridement by amedical professionalor antibiotics or other treatments.
Even if you seek care in a hospital, you may still be treated with honey.
Many health facilities around the world do use honey as part of their wound care.
it’s possible for you to talk to your healthcare professional about this.
Those infections that once responded to antibiotics now are their very own “honey badgers.”
The bacteria don’t care; they keep growing in the face ofantibiotics.
This happened, in part, because we often use antibiotics when we don’t need them.
Many took antibiotics “just in case.”
They may have taken antibiotics to avoid an infection that hadn’t developed.
They might have taken antibiotics when they thought they had an infection but didn’t.
With wounds, it is often hard to tell if there is an infection.
Honey offers the chance to treat infections, both resistant and not resistant to antibiotics.
Honey doesn’t rely on antibiotics so it can help stop bacteria in its own way.
Cooper R, et al.A Comparison Between Medical Grade Honey and Table Honeys in Relation to Antimicrobial Efficacy.
2009;21(2):29-36.
Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds.The Evidence Supporting the Use of Honey as a Wound Dressing International.
March 2006 5: 40-54.
Jull AB, et al.Honey as a Topical Treatment for Acute and Chronic Wounds.
Soffer A.Chihuahuas and Laetrile, Chelation Therapy, and Honey.
Arch Int Med.1976;136(8):865-866.
