Medical Honey for Wound Care—Still the ‘Latest Resort’?
Open Access
- 1 January 2009
- journal article
- website
- Published by Hindawi Limited in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Vol. 6 (2), 165-173
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nem175
Abstract
While the ancient Egyptians and Greeks used honey for wound care, and a broad spectrum of wounds are treated all over the world with natural unprocessed honeys from different sources, Medihoney™ has been one of the first medically certified honeys licensed as a medical product for professional wound care in Europe and Australia. Our experience with medical honey in wound care refers only to this product. In this review, we put our clinical experience into a broader perspective to comment on the use of medical honey in wound care. More prospective randomized studies on a wider range of types of wounds are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of medical honey in wound care. Nonetheless, the current evidence confirming the antibacterial properties and additional beneficial effects of medical honey on wound healing should encourage other wound care professionals to use CE-certified honey dressings with standardized antibacterial activity, such as Medihoney™ products, as an alternative treatment approach in wounds of different natures.Keywords
This publication has 64 references indexed in Scilit:
- RE: Visavadia BG, Honeysett J, Danford MH. Manuka honey dressing: An effective treatment for chronic wound infections. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2006 Nov 17; [Epub ahead of print]British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2008
- Bactericidal Activity of Different Types of Honey against Clinical and Environmental Isolates ofPseudomonas aeruginosaThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2007
- Understanding the role of proteases and pH in wound healingNursing Standard, 2007
- Are Users of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Sicker than Non-Users?Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2007
- Cost-Effectiveness of Complementary Therapies in the United Kingdom—A Systematic Review†Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2006
- Physicians' Attitudes Toward Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Their Knowledge of Specific Therapies: A Survey at an Academic Medical CenterEvidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2006
- Wound care with antibacterial honey (Medihoney) in pediatric hematology–oncologySupportive Care in Cancer, 2005
- The Effect of Dilution on the Rate of Hydrogen Peroxide Production in Honey and Its Implications for Wound HealingThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2003
- Honey stimulates inflammatory cytokine production from monocytesCytokine, 2003
- Honey-impregnated gauze versus amniotic membrane in the treatment of burnsClinical Dermatology and Surgery, 1994