The use of Manuka Honey as a wound dressing material, an ancient remedy that has been rediscovered, is becoming of increasing interest as more reports of its effectiveness are published. The clinical observations recorded are that infection is rapidly cleared, inflammation, swelling and pain are quickly reduced, odour is reduced, sloughing of necrotic tissue is induced, granulation and epithelialisation are hastened, and healing occurs rapidly with minimal scarring.
The antimicrobial properties of Manuka Honey prevent microbial growth in the moist healing environment created. Unlike other topical antiseptics, Manuka Honey causes no tissue damage. In fact, in animal studies it has been demonstrated histologically that it actually promotes the healing process. It has a direct nutrient effect as well as drawing lymph out to the cells by osmosis. The stimulation of healing may also be due to the acidity of honey. The osmosis creates a solution of honey in contact with the wound surface which prevents the dressing sticking, so there is no pain or tissue damage when dressings are changed. There is much anecdotal evidence to support its use, and randomised controlled clinical trials that have shown that Manuka Honey is more effective than silver sulfadiazine and a polyurethane film dressing for the treatment of burns.
Many medical professionals are using Manuka Honey and getting good results in patients with wounds that have not responded to standard treatment. Clearing bacterial infection from a wound is essential to allow the healing process to occur. Recent tests on many strains of multi-antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA strains MRSA, VRE and Acinetobacter baumarii have shown that these bacteria have no resistance to Manuka Honey. These "superbugs" are a serious clinical problem as infections with them often cannot be treated at all with antibiotics.
The most common skin wound infecting species of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus has been found to be particularly sensitive to Manuka Honey. Studies indicate that Manuka Honey is very effective as a dressing for wounds, burns and skin ulcers for the following reasons:
* inflammation, swelling and pain are quickly reduced;
* malodor is reduced;
* shedding of dead tissue is induced so surgical removal is unnecessary;
* healing occurs rapidly with minimal scarring and with no need for skin grafting;
* infection is rapidly cleared.
Key Points:
1. Manuka Honey is a traditional topical treatment for infected wounds. It can be effective on antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.
2. The antibacterial properties of Manuka Honey include the release of low levels of hydrogen peroxide. Some honeys have an additional phytochemical antibacterial component.
3. Many authors support the use of Manuka Honey in infected wounds and some suggest its prophylactic use on the wounds of patients susceptible to MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
4. The viscosity of Manuka Honey provides a protective barrier to prevent wounds becoming infected.
5. Manuka Honey creates a moist healing environment that allows skin cells to regrow across a healing wound flush with the surface of the wound, preventing deformity of the skin. (If a dry scab forms on a wound, the skin cells can only grow across the wound deeper down where it is moist.)
6. Manuka Honey causes scabs and dead cells to lift off the surface of the wound, leaving a clean healthy wound bed in which re-growth of tissue can occur.
7. Manuka Honey stimulates the re-growth of tissue involved in the healing process. It stimulates the formation of new blood capillaries and the growth of fibroblasts that replace the connective tissue of the deeper layer of the skin and produce the collagen fibers that give strength to the repair. In addition, honey stimulates the growth of epithelial cells that form the new skin cover over a healed wound. Honey thus prevents scarring and keloid formation, and removes the need for skin grafting even with quite large wounds.
8. Manuka Honey does not stick to the underlying wound tissues, so there is no tearing away of newly formed tissue, and no pain, when dressings are changed.
9. Manuka Honey has an anti-inflammatory action, which reduces the swelling around a wound. This improves circulation and thus hastens the healing process. It also reduces pain. The amount of fluid exuding from wounds is also decreased by the anti-inflammatory action.
10. The high sugar content of Manuka Honey draws lymph out of a wound, which lifts dirt out of the wound bed.
11. Manuka Honey prevents the odor that is commonly associated with serious wounds and skin ulcers, by clearing bacterial infection, and more immediately, by providing sugar to any bacteria present. In this environment, lactic acid is produced instead of the smelly byproducts of the degradation of protein.
12. Manuka Honey rapidly clears infection from wounds. It is fully effective even with antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Unlike antiseptics and antibiotics, there is no impairment of the healing process through adverse effects on wound tissues.
13. Manuka Honey's antibacterial quality not only rapidly clears existing infection, it protects wounds from additional infection.
14. Manuka Honey cleans wounds and removes malodor.
15. Manuka Honey's anti-inflammatory activity reduces edema and minimizes scarring.
16. Manuka Honey stimulates growth of granulation and epithelial tissues to speed healing.
The antibacterial potency of honey of average level activity is well in excess of that needed to stop the growth of MRSA and VRE. Since honey is of proven effectiveness in clearing wounds of infection with other bacteria, and it gives many other benefits as a wound dressing material, there is good justification for trying it for the treatment of wounds infected with MRSA and VRE.
"The unusual antibacterial activity of Manuka Honey is about twice as great as the hydrogen peroxide activity of other honey against VRE, but against MRSA the activity of the two honeys is similar," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International, manufacturer of health care products containing Active Manuka Honey as a healing agent. "On wounds, some hydrogen peroxide may be broken down, so honey with hydrogen peroxide activity may be less effective."
To purchase wound care and other health care products containing Active Manuka Honey, go to www.Honeymarkproducts.com. Honeymark's First Aid Antiseptic Lotion has achieved amazing results in treating wounds and burns.
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