Before antibiotics came about, it was common for honey to be used as a medicine to treat wounds and to prevent infection. After being forgotten as a healing agent, honey's effectiveness is being reevaluated for the treatment of wounds, burns, insect bites, cuts, eczema, psoriasis, athlete's foot, ringworm, etc. Honey has been known to heal even the most heavily infected wounds without negative side effects.
The existence of hydrogen peroxide in honey disinfects and heals wounds due to its antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. Bacteria cannot survive in the presence of oxygen or hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide regulates the amount of oxygen getting to cells and increases the oxygenation of skin tissue.
Honey also creates a moist healing barrier which prevents wounds from sticking to bandages, therefore preventing the damaging of new skin tissue. Scarring is also reduced when using honey as a wound dressing because skin cells grow without forming a scab. In addition, honey produces a protective barrier around the wound, preventing cross-infection.
The nutrients found in honey helps healthy tissue regrow and promotes the regeneration of new blood capillaries. It also contains amino acids, vitamins, trace elements and sugar which help in the healing process. The Vitamin C content in honey plays a role in collagen synthesis. Honey is also extremely acidic which assists in the healing process because bacteria cannot survive in an acidic environment.
The high sugar content in honey has an osmosis effect on wounds by drawing lymph out and absorbing moisture. As a result, dirt and debris is lifted from the wound bed which induces sloughing of necrotic tissue. It has also been known to have an anti-inflammatory action which reduces swelling and pain. Honey has been proven to be more effective than silver sulfadiazine and polyurethane film dressings for the treatment of burns.
A particular type of honey found in New Zealand called Manuka Honey seems to have more healing properties than other types of honey. Bees gather nectar from the flowers that grow on the Manuka Tree and use this nectar to produce this special type of honey containing powerful antibacterial properties. In addition to the hydrogen peroxide found in most types of honey, Manuka Honey contains a another type of antibacterial component which has become known as the Unique Manuka Factor or UMF. This other antibacterial activity is unaffected by enzymes in the body that destroy the hydrogen peroxide components. It is also unaffected by light, heat or aging. Manuka Honey maintains its potency even when diluted over 50 times as will happen when used on the body as a wound dressing. It also has the ability to diffuse deep into the skin reaching affected areas.
"Active Manuka is a powerful antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agent that is capable of destroying E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Helicobacter pylori," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International which is a manufacturer of health care products containing Active Manuka Honey as a main ingredient. "Its antibacterial properties are even effective against antibiotic-resistant superbugs such as MRSA and can be used in cases where traditional forms of medicine don't work."
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