Honey and Wound Healing

Abstract

Honey has been used to treat wounds throughout the ages. This practice was rooted primarily in tradition and folklore until the late 19th century, when investigators began to characterize its biologic and clinical effects. This overview explores both historic and current insights into honey in its role in wound care. We describe the proposed antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and physiologic mechanisms of action, and review the clinical evidence of the efficacy of honey in a variety of acute and chronic wound types. We also address additional considerations of safety, quality, and the cost effectiveness of medical-grade honeys. In summary, there is biologic evidence to support the use of honey in modern wound care, and the clinical evidence to date also suggests a benefit. However, further large, well designed, clinical trials are needed to confirm its therapeutic effects.

Bulgarian Bee Products and their Health Promoting Potential

“…Its beneficial properties as a wound-healing agent have been known and used since ancient times. Modern studies have confirmed the great potential of honey in healing of wounds and burns (reviewed in (34,26)). this potential is connected to the antibacterial properties of bee honey (35).…”

Effect of Topical Honey on Mandibular Bone Defect Healing in Rats

“…27,28 In a recent review, it was demonstrated that honey could prevent cancerogenesis through alteration of cell cycle molecular processes 19 and some studies reviewed the effectiveness of honey for wound healing. 18,29,30 Although several studies demonstrated the soft tissue wound healing effect of honey, 18,23,29,30 its effect on bone defects has not been evaluated. Hence, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of honey on healing of mandibular bone defects in a rat model.…”

Desenvolvimento e eficácia anti-inflamatória não-clínica de uma formulação anti-acne

“…O mel de abelha ativa a reparação tecidual [15] e vem sendo utilizado na composição de medicamentos para o tratamento de diversos tipos de ferimentos, queimaduras de primeiro e segundo grau, úlceras, pé diabético, feridas infectadas, atuando como antimicrobiano natural e cicatrizante [16].…”