Honey has long been used to help treat infections and to provide natural healing for wounds. Although you may think that the sticky substance found in your kitchen cupboards might not be beneficial for skin care, this couldn’t be further from the truth although you should always ensure that a good quality honey is used.
Honey can be used on:
- Burns
- Leg ulcers
- Foot ulcers (diabetic)
- Infected wounds
- Pressure ulcers
Many people have found that conventional treatments along with the use of anti-septic or antibiotics can be unsuccessful in the treatment of the above conditions. Also, by their very nature, these wounds are very painful, and more so when the wound is shallower because of the nerve endings. Honey dressings have been used very successfully. They help to reduce inflammation and swelling, to lessen any unpleasant odors and to ease pain. In addition, the honey dressings remove any dead tissue easily and painlessly and importantly, do not damage the cells that are re-growing. In essence, honey can promote rapid healing and there is likely to be less scarring.
It is common knowledge that different types of honey have different levels of antibacterial property. Although much more expensive, Manuka honey which is native to New Zealand has incredibly high antibacterial activity. In New Zealand, medical professionals there use Manuka honey with a UMF 10 rating or even higher. So a good quality honey is important for medicinal purposes.
Of course all wounds should be seen by your local doctor rather than self-doctoring but if you prefer natural remedies, then Manuka honey is a good place to start. It is always best to spread the honey directly to the dressing rather than apply directly to the wound but if you have any deep wounds or cavities, then it’s important to add additional honey deep into the wound before adding the dressing. Change as required. The honey will keep the wound clean while it starts to promote healing.
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