Honey as Medicine: Manuka Honey for Fast Natural Wound Healing
Honey: Ancient Remedies Accepted By Medical Science
The USA has been looking into the possibility of using honey more frequently for the treatment of wounds. However, New Zealand has used certain honeys as a traditional treatment for some time.
The Waikato University Honey Research Unit in New Zealand has made a large and comprehensive study of the medical advantages of honey, an ancient food and medicinal item since at least the late 1980s The University of Bonn (Germany) has added evidence for honey in wound healing in 2006.
Some related personal experience tells me that honey is extremely important in these two areas. My experience comes from once knowing a farmer that was hurt in the barn far from his farmhouse at the time that he cut his forearm deeply with a sickle.
A Natural Miracle
This farmer has been cut before and knew what to do on the farm in such accidents. He poured several pounds of sugar into the wound (he was out of honey) and doused it with kerosene, thus saving his own life. He claimed to have not needed stitched to close the wound and that if he had had honey in the barn, the healing would have been quicker, since honey fights off "germs."
He kept turpentine, kerosene, honey, and sugar in the barn for first aide purposes as well as for fuel of the machine and human kind.
Why Honey?
Several reports of honey in successful wound management include controlled studies showing quick clearance of infection by the antibacterial effects of the honey. Honey examined has to slow-release hydrogen peroxide to fight infections (additional actions of honey operate toward this end as well).
The researchers at Waikato and elsewhere have learned that in ancient times, physicians recognized the different types of honey had specialty treatment properties, some being best suited for wound treatment. These include types for eye salves, skin ointments, and burn treatments. It turns out that sugar does, in fact, clear away infections, but sugar dressings must be changed more frequently than do honey dressings. The farmer of old was right and telling the truth, so it seems.
Wound Treatment USA
In America, honey is being used to treat chronic wounds of the diabetic, elderly, and other patients. Honey is thick enough to protect wounds while they heal and is antibacterial as well. Honey uses natural body-produced fluids for moisture in the wound for healing. In addition, it does not irate skins as antibiotics are prone so to do.
For wound treatment, unpasteurized honey is best and should be kept in a cool place, protected from light - a cool pantry or even a cool closet or basement is fine.
Mankua Honey is the best honey in New Zealand known for treating and curing wounds, according to Waikato University. It is collected from manuka bushes that grow wild. One additional similar honey was found only in very limited parts of Australia, growing wild.
In New Zealand, "active manuka honey" and the small amount of the related Australian variety available is the only honey on the NZ market that has been tested for antibacterial action. Specifically, it contains an additional antibacterial factor found only in honey produced via Leptospermum plants and this has been named Unique Manuka Factor or UMF. Together, the two antibacterial factors may produce a positive synergistic action (towards healing) greater than either of the two alone.
All this gives hope to the chronic diabetes patient that suffers non-healing wounds and/or large water blisters on the lower extremities. In parts of the USA, the need has arisen for specialized wound-healing treatment centers, and even mobile wound treatment vans, because some of these patients can no longer walk, because of their wounds. Honey may also be effective for treating bed sores, rashes, and perhaps even (and hopefully) the lesions suffered by some AIDS patients.
Perfect pads for applying honey.
Step by Step Application
These are directions I have written for using honey (especially manuka honey) for wound treatment, based on the findings of the Waikato University Honey Research Unit, the Ohio State University, OhioHealth System, and Mt. Carmel Health:
1. Wash the wound with sterile water or saline. Spread the honey on a thick or multi-layered cotton-gauze pad, not on the wound itself, because this is more efficient. In New Zealand, you can purchase ready-soaked honey pads - cut them a bit larger than the wound area for complete treatment. The more fluids are oozing from the wound, the more honey you need to use and the more often you must change the dressings. Dilution of the honey kills its effectiveness. In the UK, Activon Tulle pads are available.
2. For most wounds, use about 1 ounce of honey on a 4" X 4" gauze dressing pad. If you use a 8" x 8" pad, you will need at least 4 oz. of honey. In this larger a wound, see your doctor as soon as possible. A 4" x 8" pad requires 2 oz. of honey.
3. In case of an abscess, a depression, or a hole in the tissue, a) fill that area with honey first and then b) place a honey-prepared pad over top of it. COnsult a doctor as soon as possible in these cases.
4. Cover the honeyed pad that is on the wound with a waterproof covering, such as a larger adhesive bandage. Cover this all with a plastic bag if you need protest it while showering or bathing, or if you will be in the rain, washing dishes, etc.
5. Check the wound ever 3-4 hours and change the dressing daily, up to three times in a day early on. Check the dressings to make sure they are still moist and not too dry.
A dressing that sticks to the wound means that you need to change it more often. Discard old dressings in such a manner as children and pets will not have access to them.
6. As the honey works, you should need less frequent dressing changes because of its anti-inflammatory action that reduced the amount of fluids oozed from the wound in infection defense. You may go from 2 dressings daily down to one, then down to one every 2 days, then 1 twice a week, and so on until healing is completed.
Watch for Adverse Effects
Allergic reactions to honey can occur because of a specific allergy to a specific pollen in the honey. These pollens are almost always filtered out via filters in wound-treatment honey. Occasionally, a slight stinging sensation results from honey used in the eyes as a salve.
Additionally, food-honeys may contain spores. For wound treatment, use gamma-irradiated honey that you can purchase, unless you need to stop a large wound in an emergency and pressure alone is not working. Use your best judgment in this decision.
If the wound victim is allergic to bee stings, consult a physician before attempting to use honey on a wound.
Summary
Manuka is a hand item to keep on hand . Another item from the same sector of the world is Tea Tree Oil. I keep a bottle of this in the hosue at all times. It medicinal properties include in toothpastes and mouth rinses, as well as the relief of aches and pains in topical applications.
Honey in the Hospital
© 2008 Patty Inglish MS
Comments
AUTHORThanks for reading and commenting! I hope you enjoy a variety of flavors of hiney as well as healing properties.
Another amazing Hub Patty! I only started liking honey a few years ago, but now I see that it has more applications than just a sweetener. I will definitely be keeping some honey on hand in case of emergency!
Voted up and shared!
Stay Excellent!
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Manuka honey has been adopted by record numbers of hospitals and mobile wound units in Ohio during 2012.
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Medical grade honey is now being used by our local Mobile Wound Healing Units connected with hospitals.
Interesting hub, very useful! Honey has long been used for its preservative, antibacterial & healing properties, but nowadays the emphasis has shifted from natural therapies to conventional, synthetic medications - all of which have side effects...
Thank you for bringing this to light :) Voted up, useful & interesting!
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In your area, do you have the mobile would treatment units? We are beginning to have a few in Ohio that travel from the hospital to nursing homes to treat bedsores and other types of wounds with a variety of methods and it seems to be a step forward. Thanks for visiting, kelleyward!
As a nurse I really enjoyed reading this article. I wish we would add more natural healing therapies into our Western approach to medicine. I am also diabetic so thanks for the information on the healing effects of honey on wound healing!
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David -
The larger problem is the glaring fact that the national health care failed you by different divisions not communicating, not coordinating treatment, and actually working against each other. Thanks for pointing that out.
On another point, you receive no benefit from honey; I receive no benefit from silver compound for wounds - that's what medical individual differences are about, and are to be expected. In fact, this is already well known. National health care is the one to shout at about poor care as well as low-quality cheapest-grade, though still medical-grade honey, not us.
Thanks for commenting.
I started with an ulcer at xmas 2010. It was approx 5x4cm in diameter. I started going to a health centre every week to get compression bandages put on. Firstly I started with something which I can't remember the name of. Then I started with the 'Medihoney' for around 6months. They insisted that it would cure my ulcer. But it wasn't working on me. I then went to see a dermatologist and she stopped the medihoney and she said that I shouldn't be using it. When I went back to the health centre, they put straight back on again. I think they were useless and they should go on training again (also for putting the compression bandaging on). I got totally fed up with them so I asked my doctor if I could be referred to a hospital. These are MORE experimental with dressings. And my ulcer is just about healed by using a silver compound and by using a steroid cream.
Manuka Honey DOESN'T WORK for everyone!!
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Ask a physician or nurse practitioner before applying any honey to a surgical wound. The Safest honeys to use are pictured in the Amazon.com products above, but jot down their names and check your local drug store for them. In addition, find a local clinic that specializes in WOUND HEALING; this is a fairly new specialty and in parts of the USA, we have some mobile units that will come to the house or for seniors, the nursing home, to help with wound healing.
I have had a post-operational infection of ankle surgery where they had to open to debride inside and have had an open wound since then which is slooooow in closing ( since MAy 2010) though it is considerably smaller it still does not close. We have tried everything. I am wondering if I apply my store-bought honey which is unpasteurized (as that is the only kind I buy since I know the other is worthless) or must it absolutely be the gamma-irradiated kind? I am about to try my honey because am going nuts. And where can one purchase the gamma-irradiated one? I live in Montreal, Canada. Thank you.
honey is good for health .honey is used as antiacid
Oh my goodness, thank you! I think I have found an answer.
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Get well soon!
This is excellent! I have Dyshidrotic eczema that got infected with a staph and strep infection. I now have very dry, cracked, oozing fissures, which is very debilitating. I am going to do more honey research for my hands and try it....any tips or knowledge. Until then, wish me luck.
What a super informative hub! I love learning about alternative treatments for injuries or illnesses. So glad I found this! Keep up your great work!
Some fascinating reading here. Excellent stuff!
I've heard that if you eat locally produced honey it can alleviate or prevent hayfever. I haven't tried it though and don't know how local it needs to be, but it would be an interesting thing to try.
Rusky
hey guyz thanx 4 sharing the info. plz tell that is honey also helpful in healing the post surgery infected wound of pilonidal sinus. and can we apply pure raw honey on the wound?
Thanks Patty for sharing such informative information. I have heard of this before, but have never tried it. I do use Tea Tree oil all the time for wounds or to use as a bug killer. It is amazing to see how many different types of everyday foods have such healing properties.
Thanks again!
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patti - Back again to let you know that I tried honey on a fresh wound. The cut would not close - kept opening up and bleeding. After reading this hub, I covered the cut with honey and it began healing right away. Again, thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!
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Hi evrone, thanks for the cooments! Some friends just alerted me that they began using honey on small wounds and it works!
ehhhhhhhh honey honey
I have like a quarter circle wound on my left leg because of skin boil so i have been searching for natural fast healing med.Thank God i found this. I am from Philippines and we do have pure honeys *FOR SALE* in every part of the country and been ignoring those never thought it's a MUST, big bottle of pure honey is like $5 VERY cheap.
THANKS for this VERY Helpful Tips. I will keep you guys posted,off to the main road now to get bottles of honey.
The benefits of honey continue to amaze me. Using it to help heal a wound makes a lot of sense. Great history on the use of honey in ancient times. The photos help to bring it all together. Rated up and across the board with an extra heap of appreciation.
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ycyl - The directions are in the Hub! :)
bacteria can not live in honey or vinegar. is something that a not many people know
hey patty, I am so much interested with this honey remedy for a diabetic wound. I just wanna know if honey should be directly applied to the wound or on top of the gauze??
Wow!!! Honey??? i will like to know the secret
Hello everyone I would like to say all ppl here in this world honey on wounds it work and works so I try it my self,I was in pain with a big ugly wound with infaction in it, but now I am really clean happy walkin normal so good day all of you and thanks alot, I learn many things frm internet I use to vist hospital for many years and see many different doctor"s and non of them tell me to put honey on my wound for my infaction,just gel,and silver dressing and that's all so I am the doctor of myself now[ talk much ]he he he wink
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Thanks for all the great comments, and congratulations to all of you that have healing come out of the info!.
I have to say something that is a miracle for me,it work's on me honey on wound,its just another treatment for me,wow..I should tell people about this,I was with infected sore wound on my left leg that makes me very nevers and not walkin for long years and as well I was very ill,I looked this up on the internet and I make it myself,so I have good report..
I got a huge blister (that opened)on my foot from snowboarding, and it was looking pretty infected even though I was using hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic ointment twice daily. It also hurt a lot! Then I started soaking it in salt water and putting honey in the wound instead, and it started healing right away!
Beforehand, I looked this up on the internet, and it seems that there are quite a few studies that show honey heals wounds faster than conventional medication like silver, antibiotic cream, etc.
What a vewry interesting concept. I enjoyed reading this HUB, I have heard of the benefits of honey but not as a treatnment for wounds. God to know.
I had fallen in my pe class, and i got a pretty bad scrape on my leg. using honey healed it fast. thanks
THIS IS SOME GREAT INFORMATION,I'AM SO Happy you wrote this one of my co workers put honey on a kitchen burn I got years ago. It work great.God Bless our wonderful earth. Babushka
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Iris, call your local drug store or hospital Nurse's Help Line for the public and ask them what's best in your locale.
I have a wound on my ankle and would like to try this method, but don't which honey is better and where to get it!
Honey is the one of the best medicine, it proved by medical science. It has wonderful test and amazing features.
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Thanks for the comment and link, Dr. Meyer.
I'm so often trying to get my patients to reduce their glucose and overall carb intake but I particularly like the topical applications for wound healing you talk about.
AWESOME Hub Sweet Patty. I use honey for other medicinal purposes daily. As an MSer (Multiple Sclerosis victim) I am committed to restoring my health. Cancer is cured by honey and baking soda. (see cancer is a fungus info' on the net) The most difficult aspect I have experienced is attempting to maintain honey bee hives in a city. Bee Sting (BVT) Bee Venom Therapy has been used to help a variety of medical conditions for thousands of years. Even Hypocrites used Honey.
Aaahhh, now to become your fan...
Fascinating remedy! I had no idea of the use of honey. This is just another testament to me of the incredible usefulness of HubPages and the people's willingness to share knowledge. Thanks again!
This is SO GREAT! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
another miracle of the quran honey. Muslims knew about this 1400 years ego read the quran, chapter the bees to find out more .
I didn't know that honey is good for wounds. Wow, I should be telling people about this.
Thanks for this very useful hub, Patty.
Thanks, good to know
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And a sweeter comment from you! :)
Sweet hub Patty! ;)
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I think you are right! It tends to crystalize, but turning the bottle upside down every so often helps to eliminate that. Or heat slightly in a microwave.
Wonderful Information about Honey, I think that if honey is left out and not refrigerated it never spoils, Great Article.
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Thanks for that good report already, Catherine. It seems to be doing its work well. Could be a great remedy!
i am trying manuka honey on my coldsore (which is a huge painfiul one), it came up on fiday morning and turned into a blister by saturday evening, now sunday i have been manukering all day ( about four times just dabbing it on) and it made it look better and moistened it to stop the scab cracking and already a bit of the sore has fallen off which usually takes at least four/five days. the honey is soothing and seems to be speeding up the process...i will report back on what happens.
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Amazing, C.C. Riter! I'm glad to hear about the sugar and turpentine again. Did you see the film "Medicine Man" with Sean Connery, in which ants played a part in a cancer cure?
I've always liked ants, except the red ants that once bit me.
Great hub! My wife will add that to her 'honey-do' list; "Please rub some honey on my cracked feet honey." ;-)
My parents used to use that along with sugar and turpentine. The Aboriginals (forgot how to spell it) of Australia use the ants for healing. They have healling properties in the form of an antibiotic that is on a certain part of their little bodies.
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Marline! - Thanks for commenting. Honey is certainly a powerful alternative treatment. Have you seen the medical grade honey in pharmacies?
Wow. I work as a microbiologist and am used to seeing many infected wounds. If everyone knew this I might be out of a job. LOL. Great Hub, I am going to try this the next time my daghter gets a cut or abrasion.
That was so informative, thanks.
We tend to use a lot of honey as medicine in India but I've never used it as a salve or to heal - I will henceforth!
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Thank you, prasadjain - What you are saying makes a lot of sense. Home and natural remedies should be used whenever possible, I agree.
very fine. There are many things in kitchen which could be used for medicinal purposes. Like-onion, turmeric, garlic, etc. Honey occupies very important place in Ayurveda-the Indian medicine sysetem .
Let's stop going to doctor and allopathic medicines even for small problems like headache, simple fever, etc. Learn about home medicines and use them.
amazing article from a all star
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Hi Pam - Nature is full of miracles, I think. When the young daughter of Jack Hanna, Columbus Zoo and TV famous person, contracted cancer, a search for a cure came up with a small blue flower - and it worked. I think it was from Kentucky but am not sure I remember that correctly. At any rate - Ms. Hanna is still a cancer-free adult! How fortunate you were able to see your dad-in-law's hives!
Remember "Medicine Man" with Sean Connery - cancer cures from ants and sugar in South Amerca. Just a story, but you never know, in future...
Thanks for commenting!
This is an amazing hub Patty. I never knew any of this about honey. My father-in-law used to have bees, and the honey was scrumptous. Now I'll keep it in mind for wounds as well. How incredible! I think more and more people are starting to think about ways to save money these days, and natural remedies like this are on the list for sure. :)
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The Panama Canal workers were likely far from a clinic or hospital, so the honey saved their lives, didn't it? We need to use more natural products like this. :)
Very interesting. I read (in Readers Digest, I think) about a doctor who treated injured workers with honey during the building of the Panama Canal. Wounds became infected very quickly and thousands died but this doctor never lost a patient to infection and he claimed it was the honey.
Since I read this, years ago, I have often used honey to treat infections. It seems to draw them right out. I just put honey on a pad and tape it on.
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I have several friends coping with diabetes; some are gaining good benefit from the honey for wounds and blister, letting their doctors know about their use of it. I hope it proves useful for you as well. Thanks for visitng, and let me know if you find it beneficial. Best wishes, RGraf!
Very very interesting. I knew honey was helpful to help cure sore throats and the such, but never thought of wounds. I'm going to have to get enough on hand for just such a thing because I am diabetic.
Thanks.
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It's surprising just how much it can do! Glad you like the info, bradrl.
Wow, is there anything honey can't do? I will have to pick up some of the gamma-irradiated honey to keep on hand.
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Hi Joseph! - That semi-proposal is very nice of you. Tell your wife I say Hi! :) Let' stay in touch and be fans on Hub Pages!
Patty, That's great. I was just looking at the fact that you are a Martial Artist. Then I found this, Wonderful article.. You will see and hear more of me. I'd ask you if you wanted to get married. But I don't think my wife will approve. LoL Just Kiddin.
Peace, Love, Light, Health, Happiness and Massive Success
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I think it brings a lot of hope to diabetics and other wound sufferes! Thanks for commenting and encouragement!
WOW! Very informational! Honey, hmmmm. I will always remember this Hub! Thank you Patty!!
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That's wonderful news and another great testimony, Anamika S!
Wonderful Hub Patty! I personally have used Honey on my burns year back and can vouch that it works. My Grannie who is a master of all Home Remedies did that and I don't even have a scar of that burn!
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I think the zoos should begin a bee breeding program and farmers might be offered grants to raise bees. What do you all think?
Are you kidding me? That is pretty cool. However, I keep reading articles and information about the bee population dying relative fast and the honey supply being reduced greatly every day. We would need to up the supply some how if this catches on as a great way to heal a wound.
Great Hub - interesting and informative! This is another example that supports the idea that sometimes the best solutions are the the most natural ones. Thank you for sharing.
gypsydancer55 ... im sure it would, the first patient i used it on had ulcers on his feet from being diabetic. His Dr. told me to try it, and let him know how it worked. I was amazed at how fast they healed. So give it a try.
tbar56...you mentioned using sugar and betadine on bedsores...would this treatment work on leg ulcers??
I used Manuka honey on my leg ulcers, sadly I had to quit using it because it stung so badly. One thing though...it did clean and took the infection away. One point to make I do not think regular eating honey has the same healing properties as Manuka honey.
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Isn't that amazing? - fast acting on something that needs quick action. Thanks!
I just wanted to let everyone know that other than using honey for wound care, that making a paste with granulated sugar and betadine works super fast. especially on bedsores. i put it on the gauze pad AM and PM. The shock to me was that when you change the dressing, the betadine and sugar have been completely absorbed into the wound, and the gauze is white again.
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I'll need to look up a recipe for flies, now.
It's also handy for catching large quantities of flies. Or so Ive been told.
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For some people, one tablespoon of honey mixed into a little apple cider vinegar daily seems to help them avoid colds an dflu and get well faster if they catch them. Other people use bee pollen daily (1/2 tsp.) for the same effects.
Wow! Very informative! I will most definitely have to try it. Does honey have the same effect when injested? Like for a cold or flu?
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One of my feidfns with diabetes is beginning to use hiney foir wounds and I will post the restuls on this thread. Thanks, Moon Daisy, for letting us know about Manuka's other uses, which I did not realize.
Thanks, that's a most interesting hub. I've heard that eating manuka honey is great for hay fever and other allergies, and my favourite shampoo of all times is also made from honey. It leaves my hair shiny and soft, and it smells delicious! But I didn't know that honey was so good for healing wounds.
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Marisa - That is an inspiring story, especially that eating the Manuka honey helps as well. What a wonder it is and thanks for telling us more about it.
Shirley - Yes, that will be a good joke, but we're happy she avoided the botulism.
dreenamoore - I di dnot know about the cosmetics, but it sounds like honey can be used for 1000 different things. Thanks!
My ex had an ulcer and the specialist told him he would probably have to go on ulcer medication. However, he told him to try something first - give up caffeine and eat as much Manuka honey as he could on a daily basis.
When he went back for a checkup, he was cured and never needed the medication.
Hi Patty Inglish..
This i s very interesting..i had heard that honey is used for its medicinal effects, sweetening additive and also used in alternative medicines and various ayurvedic cosmetics. Its very interesting and useful that we can use honey to heal wounds because of its natural healing effects. Thanks for mentioning step by step how it should be applied to wounds.
Wow Patty, it's a wonder my youngest sister didn't get infant botulism. She was colicky, so her soother was always being dipped in honey and popped into her mouth by mom or grandma.
Now, I'll be able to kid her about what happened to her to make her the crazy woman she is today. :)
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Thanks, Zsuzsy! Another great sharing experience.
Patty amazing hub! My grandma made a "first aid salve" in which she added calendula, german chamomile and honey and I'm positive that it made all the scatches and cuts heal faster. Even though I follow her recipe to the tee I just never get the texture as perfect as hers was.
great hub regards Zsuzsy
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Here's a good article: Honey dressings in wound care, by Irene Anderson in the journal NURSING TIMES in 2006:
Abstract: Honey can be used as an anti-microbic for treating various wounds like acute, chronic, non-healing wounds, wounds colonized with MRSA, infected wounds or on red, excoriated skin. Honey can prove useful in dressings of these types of wounds, as it is antimicrobial and anti inflammatory in action.
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Here's another answer to Shirley's question about infants and honey, from Dr. John Moore of Northern Ireland Public Health Lab:
"One spore-forming contaminant may be Clostridium botulinum. Therefore newborns and young children should avoid ingesting natural honey to avoid getting infant botulism. There may be a temptation for young children to “taste the cure.”
So botulism is one result fomr ingesting the spores I was mentioning.
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broalexdotinfo - Great testimony to honey - Thanks for telling us about it.
Michelle - I was overwhelmed by the amount of research about Honey via EbscoHost. Will read more closely and add some references from the latest findings. Applause to you for going into Nursing! You are much needed and sure to do well. Every best thought and prayer to you!
Promotion - Thanks for visiting! I'll surely keep at it.
Steph - It awesome that honey can help you - always glad when you visit my Hubs. I have told a couple diabetics about honey and they are using honey now as well. It's a miracle for all of you - and for us with dry skin.
Patty - last winter, our pediatrician said to give our daughter a tablespoon of honey instead of cough syrup to quiet her cough. I can say that it worked fairly well - at least as well as over-the-counter-medications (with no sleepy side effects). This article on treating wounds is very interesting. As a diabetic, I will definitely keep it in mind! Steph
There is actually a lot of medical research on the antibiotic properties of honey and propolis. If you have access to Ebsocohost (I do as a nursing student through the University of Maine), you can find pages upon pages of peer reviewed journal articles that back this hub up.
I use honey to heal my sour neck in the cold season. Thanks for sharing these other uses of honey.
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