I’m often surprised by how our generation believes we’ve stumbled upon remedies, only to realize that our grandmothers and great-grandmothers have been using them for ages. A perfect example is honey’s use in healing wounds. Recently, I’ve come across studies highlighting honey’s role in hospitals for treating wounds and burns, and I’ve even known vets who use it on animals, so I decided to explore it further.
I chatted with several people about it, and those with long memories recalled honey being a common remedy. It seems like what’s old is new again. Personally, I’ve used honey internally for digestive issues and mixed it with cinnamon during illnesses, so it’s great to see research supporting its topical use for wound healing as well.
There’s often this gap between natural remedies and conventional medicine, but honey seems to bridge it. There’s solid research backing certain types of honey in medical settings, and it’s been a natural remedy for centuries. Studies are even showing honey’s potential to help with MRSA and MSSA, which are resistant to antibiotics.
According to research, honey doesn’t target bacteria like antibiotics, which attack cell walls or disrupt metabolic pathways. Instead, honey is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture and dehydrates bacteria. Its high sugar content also hampers microbial growth, but that’s not the only reason for its antibacterial properties. Even when honey’s sugar content is reduced by dilution, it still inhibits several bacteria causing wound infections.
Besides its antibacterial abilities, medical honey speeds up wound healing due to its anti-inflammatory effects. This reduces swelling and fluid buildup by moderating the local inflammatory response, which in turn eases pain connected to inflamed nerve endings and tissue pressure.
Studies also highlight the benefit of using certain types of honey for burn treatment. One study revealed that none of the nine common burn wound organisms could survive a 30% concentration of raw honey. Another showed that 28 antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains were all eliminated by raw honey.
In medical settings, honey has been used for various applications. For instance, several midwives I know recommend honey to aid healing post-c-section. My husband once had a severe foot cut, and while I initially forgot about honey, applying it later showed significant improvement within a couple of days. Now, we use raw manuka honey at home instead of antibiotic ointments for cuts and burns.
Regular raw honey can help with healing, but Manuka Honey, made from bees that pollinate manuka flowers, is particularly potent due to its additional antibacterial properties. It’s crucial to use raw (preferably manuka) honey for wounds and burns, as store-bought honey is often heated or chemically altered, reducing its effectiveness.
At home, I keep both regular raw and manuka honey, along with medical-grade honey, which has a high concentration of manuka for extra antibacterial benefits. This ensures we’re prepared for any cuts and burns.
Have you ever tried honey as a natural remedy? How did you use it?
