Clinical reports

The topical application of honey has been reported to rapidly clear existing wound infection (Cavanagh et al, 1970; Efem, 1988 and 1993; Phuapradit and Saropala, 1992; Armon, 1980; Sofka et al, 2004): to facilitate healing of deeply infected surgical wounds (McInerey, 1990; Vardi et al, 1998; Al-Waili and Saloom, 1999; Cooper et al, 2001; Ahmed et al, 2003): and, halt spreading necrotising fasciitis (Hejase et al, 1996). In some cases, the application of honey has promoted healing in infected wounds that were not responding to conventional therapy (such as antibiotics and antiseptics: Wood et al, 1997; Harris, 1994; Dunford et al, 2000a,b; Ahmed et al, 2003) including wounds infected with antibioticresistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (Natarajan et al, 2001; Dunford et al, 2000; see Chapter 2 for details of antibacterial activity). Honey rapidly deodorises wounds (Molan, 2002; Subrahmanyam, 1991; Kingsley, 2001; van der Weyden, 2003; Stephen- Haynes, 2004) and promotes autolytic debridement to facilitate the rapid development of a clean, granulating wound bed (Subhramanyam, 1998; Stephen-Haynes, 2004). A rapid rate of healing has been reported in wounds treated with honey (Hejase et al, 1996; Blomfield, 1973; Ahmed et al, 2003); this also serves to kick-start the healing process in otherwise ‘dormant’ wounds (Efem, 1988; Wood et al, 1997; Somerfield, 1991; Bloomfield, 1976; Stephen-Haynes, 2004). Also, honey has been reported to stimulate the growth of epithelium (Efem, 1993; Hejase et al, 1996; Subrahmanyam, 1994 and 1998), thus occasionally making plastic surgery unnecessary (Molan, 2001). It also is reported to minimise scarring (Efem 1993; Dunford et al, 2000a; Subrahmanyam, 1993 and 1994; Molan, 2001).

Honey reduces inflammation (Subrahmanyam 1998), oedema and exudate levels (Efem, 1993 and 1988; Hejase, et al 1996) and can have a ‘soothing’ effect when applied to wounds, including burns (Subrahmanyam 1993; Keast-Butler 1980) and donor sites (Misirlioglu et al 2003). However, some patients report a stinging sensation upon application (Vandeputte and Van Waeyenberge, 2003.

*Note: not all medical honey dressings are advocated for the treatment of full-thickness burns, always read the manufacturer’s instructions before use.

In addition, honey has been used successfully on skin grafts, infected skin graft donor sites (Misirlioglu et al, 2003), infected traumatic wounds (Green 1988) and paediatric oncological lesions (Sofka et al 2004), necrotising fasciitis (or Fournier’s gangrene: Hejase et al, 1996) abscesses, pilonidal sinuses, pressure ulcers, leg ulcers, diabetic ulcers (Tovey, 1991), tropical ulcers, sickle cell ulcers, and malignant ulcers (Efem, 1988) Honey is also claimed to be a reliable alternative to conventional dressing for managing skin excoriation around stomas (ileostomy and colostomy), and facilitating epithelialisation of the damaged surface (Aminu et al, 2000). This aspect of skin care is supported by reports of the beneficial effects of honey on paediatric (napkin/diaper) dermatitis (Al-Waili, 2005), and on atopic eczema and psoriasis (Al-Waili, 2003).

Back to top