Dating back to ancient civilizations,
honey has been known to be a sweetener as well as a medicine. Studies have
recently evaluated many added health
benefits of honey. One benefit is that honey is a great source
for an all-natural energy boost. Another is that bees carry many of the pollens that
instigate allergies; by consuming honey two months before allergy season you can
boost your immune system by exposing your body to traces of these pollens
transferred during the production of the honey; ultimately, this will allow you
to have fewer allergies. Honey is also a great skin moisturizer because it
attracts water and is able help your skin absorb and retain the water.
What many people may not know, however,
is honey’s ability to help wounds heal. Such wounds include burn wounds,
surgical wounds, topical, sickle cell, diabetic and malignant ulcers, and
infected wounds. How is this possible? First, honey has several antibacterial
properties. Its high osmolarity (high sugar concentration, low water
concentration; highly attracts water) starves bacteria of the water necessary
for proliferation. Thickness of honey can keep bacteria from entering the wound
as well. During honey production bees add an enzyme called glucose oxidase to
the honey. This enzyme becomes activated when the honey is diluted by the fluid
released by the wound (exudate); glucose oxidase then takes the glucose in the
honey and adds oxygen to it to produce low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (Lay-flurrie, 2008).
Second, when a wound is dressed with
honey it provides a moist environment which promotes the removal of dead tissue
from the wound (debridement) which is thought to be a result of hydrogen
peroxide activation of proteases (enzymes that break down proteins). Not only
does honey promote necrotic tissue removal, but it also creates the perfect environment
to support new tissue growth. The high nutritional content of honey including
glucose, amino acids, vitamins and minerals is believed to promote the creation
of collagen fibers and blood vessels (angiogenesis); the acidity of honey can
promote the release of oxygen from hemoglobin to the tissues as well (Lay-flurrie, 2008).
Third, along with infection comes the
awful odor, but no worries, honey can help with that too! Honey gives the
bacteria a metabolic substitute to the amino acids which bacteria normally use
to produce odorous fatty-acid, ammonia and sulphur compounds (Lay-flurrie, 2008).
Lastly, although the exact mechanism is
not well known, honey has anti-inflammatory actions. By reducing the
inflammation around the wounded area, vasodilation can occur more easily which
allows for better transfer of immune cells, oxygen and other bodily nutrients
to this area (Lay-flurrie, 2008).
So next time you get a cut or a burn,
consider putting a dab of honey on it.
References:
Lay-flurrie, K. (2008). Honey in wound care: Effects,
clinical application and patient benefit. British Journal of Nursing, 17(11),
S30-S36.
I did not know we could use honey for so much! I usually use it for desserts or tea, but did not think to use it for wounds, such as burns, sickle cells, ulcers, and infections. I thought this was a new finding and went to look for more articles about honey and wound healing and found an called "Medical Honey for Wound Care - still the 'Latest Resort'" by Arne Simon, Kirsten Traynor, Kai Santos, Gisela Blaser, Udo Bode, and Peter Molan. It brings up many of the same points you did. I've had burns before, including a burn that could have been classified as a third degree burn. In regards to burns, I wonder if honey only works on minor burns rather than severe burns that would been skin transplants..
ReplyDeleteA review on the literature of honey in wound care that I came across cited a study that examined full tissue burns that were either treated with either honey or early tangential excision and skin grafting. The researchers determined that honey may be a better adjunct to treatment post-surgery to these patients than as an alternative treatment. The reason being that in three of the patients who were treated with honey died from sepsis (an infection) whereas none of the patients who underwent the alternative treatment did not. However, the unique manuka factor (UMF), or the rating of the antimicrobial activity of the honey's components, was not taken into account during this treatment. It is possible that using honey with a high UMF may better support patients with third-degree burns (Lay-flurrie, 2008). Further research still needs to be done to support this hypothesis, but the effects could be very beneficial to patients with third-degree burns.
ReplyDeleteReference
Lay-flurrie, K. (2008). Honey in wound care: Effects, clinical application and patient benefit. British Journal of Nursing, 17(11), S30-S36.