Honey may be the oldest known wound dressing, but scientists only recently have been able to explain how the substance’s bioactivities and physical characteristics play a role in wound healing. Honey can be used on any type of wound at any stage of healing. Research has shown honey to be capable of clearing infection, and healing infected surgical wounds.

It has been used when wounds did not respond to conventional antibiotic and antiseptic therapy and in wounds infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It can deodorize and debride wounds, expediting, and restarting the healing process. Different types of honey have different potency and nature of antibacterial activity depending on the amount of hydrogen peroxide and its effect on the honey’s osmolarity and acidity. Regardless of type, honey should be sterilized as part of the manufacturing process using gamma-radiation, rather than heat, before use.

Honey offers the following benefits in healing wounds

• Acidic pH promotes healing. Honey has an acidic pH of between 3.2 and 4.5. When applied to wounds, the acidic pH encourages the blood to release oxygen, which is important to wound healing. An acidic pH also reduces the presence of substances called proteases that impair the wound healing process.

• Sugar has an osmotic effect. The sugar naturally present in honey has the effect of drawing water out of damaged tissues (known as an osmotic effect). This reduces swelling and encourages the flow of lymph to heal the wound. Sugar also draws water out of bacterial cells, which can help keep them from multiplying.

• Antibacterial effect. Honey has been shown to have an antibacterial effect on bacteria commonly present in wounds, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE). Part of this resistance may be through its osmotic effects.

• boils

• burns

• non-healing wounds and ulcers

• pilonidal sinus

• venous and diabetic foot ulcers

How do you apply honey to wounds?

If you have a wound or burn that won’t heal, it’s important to check with a doctor before using honey on the wound. Ask the doctor if honey is a possibility for treatment.

For severe wounds, it’s best a doctor or wound-care nurse shows you how to apply the honey the first time. This is because the amount of honey and the way the dressing is applied can impact how effective the wound healing will be.

Tips for applying honey on wounds

If you’re applying honey on wounds at home, here are some general tips for application.

• Always start with clean hands and applicators, such as sterile gauze and cotton tips.

• Apply the honey to a dressing first, then apply the dressing to the skin. This helps to cut down on the messiness of honey when applied directly to the skin. You can also purchase honey-impregnated dressings, such as MediHoney brand dressings, which have been on the market for several years. An exception is, if you have a deep wound bed, such as an abscess. The honey should fill the wound bed before a dressing is applied.

• Place a clean, dry dressing over the honey. This can be sterile gauze pads or an adhesive bandage. An occlusive dressing is best over honey because it keeps the honey from seeping out.

• Replace the dressing when drainage from the wound saturates the dressing. As honey starts to heal the wound, the dressing changes will likely be less frequent.

• Wash your hands after dressing the wound.

If you have any questions about applying honey to your wound, follow up with a physician.

Types of honey used on wounds

Ideally, a person should use medical-grade honey, which is sterilized and therefore less likely to cause immune system reactions.

In addition to Manuka honey, other forms sold for healing include Gelam, Tualang, and MediHoney, which is a brand name for a product where the honey has been sterilized by gamma irradiation.

Medical grade honey on wounds has been shown to help people with chronic and non-healing wounds. Medical honey has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and even anti-odour properties that can help people with chronic wounds.

You should always check with your doctor before using this honey type to ensure it’s safe to apply to the wound.