Honey has been used for its healing properties for thousands and thousands of years. For that reason, people seem to trust it thoroughly or think it's time to let technology take over and find more "effective" medicines. There's got to be a reason, though, that a medical practice has withstood the test of time, though, and in this case it's probably because the healing properties of honey are difficult to deny. Most widely renowned for being an antibacterial, there are wound care products on the market today that are honey-based and trusted by doctors everywhere.
A honey wound treatment, like Medihoney, for example, is often applied to deep wounds in order to kill bacteria and prevent infection, like several other synthetic options on the market. Along with the ointment, there also honey-based wound fill pastes and wound dressings to thoroughly treat a wound while providing consistent protection against infection.
But its antibacterial properties are just one of honey's medical benefits. Honey has also been known to help prevent or reduce the risk of scarring by creating a moist environment around a forming scab, softening the tissue and promoting the ability for newly generated skin to grow flush with the old skin.
If you've got a particularly large wound, you may notice that due to the bacteria, it could produce an odor. The sugar in honey treatments is also great for preventing this undesirable side-effect, which is why it's often used for diabetic wounds, ulcers, lesions, and more.
Finally, honey has anti-inflammatory properties which help to reduce swelling, promote faster healing, and reduce the amount of pain around an open wound. Applying a honey ointment or wound filler soothes wounds as it heals them, giving the injured person a more comfortable dressing and healing process.
So, it's not just mythology that honey is a great antidote for certain types of wounds. Its medical benefits are manifold for treating wounds as well as other types of irritation (that's why they tell you to put it in your tea when you have a sore throat!), which is why so many companies still incorporate it in their treatments.
If you're interested in more wound care products, browse our collection at saveritemedical.com.
Sources
Honey as a topical treatment for acute and chronic wounds
Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity
Objective and subjective scar aesthetics with topical Manuka honey post-thyroidectomy
