Bee honey

Honey is bactericidal, hygroscopic, anti-inflammatory (upregulated prostaglandins in the wound are reduced), has a low pH of 3.5-5.5 and is widely and readily available. Honey applications to painful wounds resulted in a greater reduction in pain than silver sulphadiazine or pure sugar.

The hygroscopicity of honey is due to its high sugar content. This removes fluid from the wound without drying it out. This leads to a reduction in edematous swelling.

Bactericide: Hydrogen peroxide and methylglyoxal (MGO) are mainly responsible for the proven bactericidal effect of honey. Melanoidins are also formed during glycation, a non-enzymatic reaction between reduced sugars and amino groups (so-called Maillard reaction). Furthermore, bee honey contains relevant amounts of vitamin C (15-35mg/kg) as well as defensins produced by the bees themselves.

Not to be underestimated are the various physical properties of honey which, for example, prevent wound dressings from sticking. Dressings can therefore be changed largely painlessly. Furthermore, the application does not lead to maceration of the wound edges. Due to its viscosity, the honey forms an almost insurmountable barrier. Bacteria cannot get onto and into the wound from the outside.

Contraindication is a previously known sensitization to propolis

Bee honey has played an important role in wound treatment for humans and animals for many years. Honey therapy of wounds has receded into the background with regard to "modern" wound therapeutics. The honey was already used in ancient Egypt, ancient Greece and China.

1. Braithwaite I et al (2015) Randomised controlled trial of topical kanuka honey for the treatment of rosacea. BMJ Open 5: e007651.
2. Goharshenasan P et al (2016) Topical Applicationof Honey on Surgical Wounds: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Research Complement Medicine 23:12-15.
3. Halstead FD et al. (2016) In vitro activity of an engineered honey, medical-grade honeys, and antimicrobial wound dressings against biofilm-producing clinical bacterial isolates. J Wound Care. 25:93-94.
4. Mashood AA et al (2006) Honey compared with 1% silver sulfadiazine cream in the treatment of superficial and partial thickness burns. J Pakistan Assoc Dermatol 16: 14-19
5. Singer A et al (2016) Honey in modern wound treatment. Act Dermatol 42: 25-30
6. Tsang KK et al (2015) The Anti-Inflammatory and Antibacterial Action of Nanocrystalline Silver and Manuka Honey on the Molecular Alternation of Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Comprehensive Literature Review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med doi:10.1155/2015/218283.