In addition to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, honey enhances the wound healing process [7].
Results. Honey has anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used as a wound dressing to promote rapid and improved healing. These effects are due to honey's anti-bacterial action, secondary to its high acidity, osmotic effect, anti-oxidant content and hydrogen peroxide content.
The main medical use for Manuka honey is for wound and burn healing. It is generally used for treating minor wounds and burns. Research shows Manuka honey to be effective in treating other conditions, including: Skin care including eczema and dermatitis.
Manuka honey as a wound dressing is useful in maintaining a moist wound environment and acts as an autolytic debriding agent in debriding wounds. The rapid healing that was observed after topical honey application can be explained through a dual effect on the inflammatory response.
Manuka honey with a high UMF rating is significantly more effective than examples with a low rating, or regular honey, in improving wound healing, new research shows.
Honey has not been shown to be toxic to the wound bed or to the body. As yet there are no reported cases of honey-resistant strains of bacteria. The recommended time for honey application is two weeks.
Manuka honey is made by bees that gather nectar and pollen exclusively from the manuka tree, while regular honey is made by bees that get nectar and pollen from different types of flowers.
Conclusion: Honey appears to be more effective than sugar in reducing bacterial contamination and promoting wound healing, and slightly less painful than sugar during dressing changes and motion.
Depending on the amount of exudate, the dressing with medical honey has to be changed up to 2 times a day in acute inflammatory wounds. The most often practised change interval for medical honey dressings is every 24–48 h.
Fresh fruits and vegetables eaten daily will also supply your body with other nutrients essential to wound healing such as vitamin A, copper and zinc. It may help to supplement your diet with extra vitamin C. Keep your wound dressed. Wounds heal faster if they are kept warm.
The antibacterial property of honey is also derived from the osmotic effect of its high sugar content and low moisture content, along with its acidic properties of gluconic acid and the antiseptic properties of its H2O2[47].
Because pasteurization exposes the honey to high temperatures, it may destroy or remove honey's natural properties. This means that raw honey may offer more powerful health benefits, in terms of healing wounds and fighting infections, than regular honey. Many studies have found that raw honey has health benefits.
In addition to its use as a natural sweetener, honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent. People commonly use honey orally to treat coughs and topically to treat burns and promote wound healing.
Medical grade honey contains more antibacterial and antioxidant properties than other honeys. The chemical composition of honey varies between the types, so some are better suited to medical use than others.
Honey is an extremely powerful antibacterial agent with many medicinal properties. It has a high viscosity which serves as a protective barrier against infections. In 2009, researchers found honey to work better than available antibiotics.
Honey exhibits a broad-spectrum of antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant (MRSA) ones. Honey has been shown to have a strong activity against many bacteria in both media and in culture.
Honey. Honey tops the list of antibiotics and is known for its extensive healing properties. The presence of hydrogen peroxide in honey exhibits strong antibacterial properties. In addition, the high sugar content thwarts the growth of bacteria.
Manuka honey and raw honey are two separate products. Manuka honey refers to honey that comes from a specific plant in Australia and New Zealand. Meanwhile, raw honey may be sourced from many different types of flowers.
When it comes to the anti-bacterial health benefits of honey, these are measured using a NPA (non-peroxide activity) rating, where 5+ is the lowest strength and 20+ is the best. Aldi's honey has a 5+ rating.
Some scientists claim that some Kanuka honey has even higher levels of MGO than Manuka honey. That means its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties could be even stronger. Kanuka honey's antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties could make it especially helpful in healing burns, bruises, and other wounds.
However there are few complaints of Mānuka creating a stinging feeling ( mostly on infected wounds). This is most likely due to the acidity in the honey, when wounds are inflamed they are most sensitive to acidity, hence the stinging sensation.
Manuka honey is probably best known for its wound-healing properties. When applied directly to the wound it supports the healing process and reduces pain – so much so that the US Food and Drug Administration approved it as an option for wound treatment in 2015.