Honey is so interesting and has so very many benefits! I have finally come to the conclusion several blog posts will be necessary to give it the justice it deserves.
Before I move on to the benefits of honey and wounds, there are a few facts are necessary in selecting and storing this heavenly liquid gold . . .
Health Benefits depends on the quality of the honey.
*Cold Pressed* is the best choice when purchasing honey. Most commercial honey packers use a manufacturing process which includes heating the honey to around 160 degrees F. Heat above 115 deg F destroys the beneficial enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins.
Local honey is also a better choice, for many reasons which we will address in a later post. For now, keep in mind that a lot of the honey on grocery store shelves is imported from overseas.
The best way to store honey is in a cool dry place and an airtight container. This keeps it from absorbing moisture from the air and away from heat which alters the taste.
How Honey Helps Heal Cuts and Wounds
While honey is commonly used as substitute for sugar or a flavor enhancer, it has been used in treating burns and wounds for many centuries. Through scientific studies and testing we now know the secret of honey lies on its antibacterial activity.
When honey is applied properly to a wound, it can promote healing just as well as or often better than, over-the-counter ointments and dressings.
v Honey is mainly composed of glucose and fructose. These two sugars act to attract water. This allows honey to absorb water from the cut or wound, in essence drying it out. Helping to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi which thrive in moist environments.
v Glucose oxidase an enzyme found in honey, when combined with water produces hydrogen peroxide, a mild antiseptic. The hydrogen peroxide in honey is much less than the 3% concentration found in drug stores. Making it gentler to use, does not harm tissues and prevents scarring from occurring.
v Antioxidants and flavonoids found in honey may function as antibacterial agents. Pinocembrin is an antioxidant unique to honey and is currently being studied for its antibacterial properties.
v Honey is acidic, and acids prevent the growth of bacteria.
v The thick texture of honey also prevents external contaminants from entering wounds.
v Honey has proven to speed healing time in scientific studies by reducing inflammation and increasing blood flow.
Bottom Line: While the high sugar content attracts the water from the damaged tissue it continues the dilution process which produces hydrogen peroxide, giving it a massive boost to its antibacterial benefits. Because many types of bacteria can’t survive in honey, wounds heal faster, swelling eases and tissue can grow back.
Treatment through the Ages
Healing wounds with honey goes back to the ancient Egyptians.
Papyruses dating back 4000 years show pastes and ointments were made for the treatment of ulcers, sores and wounds.
They also used strips of linen and honey over burn areas, which along with the healing properties; it prevented sepsis from setting in.
The Greeks also discovered the medicinal benefits of honey. Hippocrates prescribed honey for ulcers and sores.
Al-Razi, a famous Persian philosopher and physician, used honey and vinegar for the treatment of skin irritations and even gum disease.
As late as the last two world wars, honey was used on soldiers’ wounds.
Present Day Studies and Uses
As with most ancient and *natural* remedies, Honey was phased out with the modern science’s discovery of penicillin and new antibiotics. That said, with the recent headlines of new resistant germs, more studies are being performed to test the healing benefits of honey.
Medical journals cite more than 600 cases in which honey was employed to treat wounds.
The British Journal of Plastic Surgery published a research trial that proved germs did not survived in honey. It also proved wounds healed faster than when treated with a specifically trialed hospital product.
Scientists at the University of Bonn have been experiencing these positive results from the medical use of honey. Even when dealing with multi-resistant bacteria many times it healed within just a few weeks.
South African gold miners participated in a double blind controlled trial in which honey was proven to be safe and as effective as commercial healing gels to treat wounds and abrasions.
New Zealand where the manuka bush grows, have long been using manuka honey for medical purposes in treating burns and wounds. Manuka contains a unique ingredient called UMF which helps fight bacteria and has deodorizing qualities. Hospitals in Britain, Australia, Canada and the U.S. now use this wonderful honey for burn and wound treatments.
Applying Honey as a Wound Dressing
Soak a cotton ball in water. Using tongs to keep them sterile, clean the wound.
Use 1 tsp to 1 ounce of honey depending on the size of the wound. Apply with a cotton swab to the wound and just beyond the edges of the wound.
Cover with sterile gauze, followed by a waterproof bandage to prevent the honey from oozing out and to hold the dressings in place.
Sources:
The Book of Honey by Jenni Fleetwood. Fall River Press 2009. ISBN # 9781435118263
