Honey is known for its natural sweetness. Most people use it in many cooking procedures and it can be used in recipes served either hot or cold. Surely, keeping honey on hand is really a good idea.
While honey’s food uses seem to be infinite, some of us may not be aware of its medicinal uses, particularly its wound-healing capabilities.
Why Choose Honey For Wound Care?
Honey can help an infected wound properly heal in an orderly fashion.
In a study, it was found that the healing properties of honey are mainly due to its acidity, hydrogen peroxide content, osmotic effect, nutritional and antioxidant contents, stimulation of immunity, and to unidentified compounds. Prostaglandins and nitric oxide play a major role in inflammation, microbial killing, and the healing process. These explain why honey is considered to be an antibacterial agent or wound healer.
Moreover, several positive effects were revealed in a study published in the International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds after conducting 22 trials involving 2,062 patients who were subjected to honey as a wound dressing. The results showed that:
- Honey promoted anti-inflammatory activity
- Honey was able to control and eliminate strong odors from wounds
- Permanent scarring was dramatically reduced
- Infections were not only cleared, but wounds were protected from spreading bacteria
Properly Using Honey To Treat Wounds
Applying honey appropriately on the wound is necessary for quick healing. It is even more effective to rub honey all over a wound dressing then carefully wrap it around the infection. For deeper wounds, honey should be smeared over the area before administering the dressing, to properly allow the honey to work its way into the infection.
In particular, raw honey consumption and topical application can treat the following infections:
Burns
According to experts, raw honey has a high viscosity, which acts as a protective barrier to prevent infection. It is a viable treatment for burns, wounds, sores, and ulcers. Raw honey accelerates the growth of new tissue, clears infection, and facilitate faster healing. Simply apply raw honey to fresh burns and wounds for maximum benefits.
Stomach Infections
Since this superfood is a powerful antibacterial and antioxidant agent, it can greatly help reduce inflammation, infections, and ulcers caused by pathogens.
A study revealed that raw honey consumption was linked to a lower risk of infections caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacteria. Their bacteria enter our bodies and live in our digestive tract. After many years, they can cause sores, called ulcers, in the lining of the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine. Infection caused by these bacteria can sometimes lead to stomach cancer.
Mouth Blisters
Honey can help reduce the appearance of sores and blisters in children with herpes simplex gingivostomatitis (HSGS) – an infectious disease caused by the herpes simplex virus. This condition is usually associated with painful oral lesions, ulcers, swollen gums, and damaged skin around the mouth.
For this condition, regular use of a raw honey-based mouthwash can help relieve painful sores and facilitate rapid healing.
