ABSTRACT
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 126 Molecular Mechanism Underlying the Role of Honey in Wound-Healing Process ................................................................................................................... 126 Scientic Evidence for the Role of Honey in Wound Management ...................... 129
Evidence in Animal Studies .............................................................................. 130 Evidence in Clinical Studies ............................................................................. 131 Evidence in Clinical Trials ................................................................................ 132 Role of Manuka Honey in Wound Healing ....................................................... 135
Types of Wounds and Burns Cured by Honey ....................................................... 137 Infected Wounds and Burns .............................................................................. 137 Wound Infection and Biolms .......................................................................... 138 Surgical Wounds ................................................................................................ 139 Pressure Sores and Skin Ulcers ......................................................................... 139 Burns ................................................................................................................. 139 Fournier’s Gangrene .......................................................................................... 140
Types of Dressings ................................................................................................. 140 What Makes Honey Ideal for Wound Care? .......................................................... 141
Wound Bed Preparation .................................................................................... 141 Dealing with Exudate ........................................................................................ 142 Devitalized Tissue ............................................................................................. 142 Reducing the Risk of Maceration ...................................................................... 143 Preventing Infection .......................................................................................... 143 Anti-Inammatory Effect .................................................................................. 143 Regulating Oxidative Stress .............................................................................. 145 Providing Moisture ............................................................................................ 146 Deodorizing and Debriding ............................................................................... 146 Pain Management and Reduction in Scarring ................................................... 147
Getting Honey Accepted as Wound Healer ............................................................ 147 Benets of Wound Dressing with Honey ............................................................... 148 Practical Considerations for Honey Application on Wounds ................................. 148 Adverse Effects and Limitations ............................................................................ 149 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 150 References .............................................................................................................. 150
All civilizations on the globe have relied on natural therapeutic agents to meet their primary health care needs at some point in time. Honey is one of the oldest topical wound-healing herbals and has been used for thousands of years. The use of honey as a wound dressing extends some 4500 years into the past. The ancient Egyptians were among the earliest recorded beekeepers and regularly used honey as a primary wound treatment. Honey has even been found in Egyptian tombs to help preserve body parts. Ancient papyrus documents have recorded that honey was used as an integral part of the “Three Healing Gestures” that included cleaning the wound, applying a salve made from honey, lint (vegetable ber), and grease (animal fat), and bandaging the wound. These three steps of ancient wound care are very similar to how wounds are still treated today. Honey and honey dressings applied directly to the skin were commonly used to relieve pain, promote wound healing, and treat sores, boils, cuts, abrasions, insect bites, burns, and skin disorders. Despite the long history of honey being used for medical conditions, it largely fell out of favor in conventional medical practice during the era of modern antibiotics in the 1970s. However, due to the development of antibiotic-resistant wound infections, the use of honey for wound care has undergone a renaissance in the last few years. Now, the use of honey in wound care is regaining popularity again, as researchers are determining exactly how honey can help ght serious skin infections. According to their ndings, certain types of honey might be “more effective” than antibiotics. Until the rst part of the 20th century, honey dressings were part of everyday wound care practice. The misuse of antibiotics, the emergence of resistant bacteria, and an increasing interest in therapeutic honey have provided an opportunity for honey to be reestablished as a broad-spectrum, antibacterial agent that is nontoxic to human tissue. The present chapter discusses the usefulness of honey in wound management and skin care.
