Radical Operation for Carcinoma of the Vulva. A New Approach to Wound Healing

Parallels between zootherapeutic practices in ethnoveterinary and human complementary medicine in northeastern Brazil

“…(Molan, 1999), and researchers have achieved complete inhibition of important species of infectious bacteria (Willix et al, 1992) using concentrations of honey ranging from 1.8% to 11% (v/v). The antibacterial activity of honey has also been demonstrated in vivo, with reports of infected wounds dressed with honey becoming sterile in 3-6 days (Cavanagh et al, 1971;Branicki, 1981), 7 days (Efem, 1993), and 7-10 days (Armon, 1980). A recent study found that the honey of Melipona subnitida reduces the healing time of wounds, and was effective in eliminating Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella sp., Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter sp.…”

Why honey is effective as a medicine

“…It has been reported by many clinicians that honey promotes the formation of clean healthy granulation tissue (the clusters of fibroblasts around new capillary beds that is the regenerating connective tissue) 17,25,31,46,49,50,55,74,132,143 . It has also been reported that honey hastens epithelialization of the wound (coverage with a new outer layer of skin) 49,50,70,130,132 , making skin grafting unnecessary 31,50,70,91,132 . This growth-stimulating property of honey has been confirmed histologically in many studies of wounds in animals 20,30,63,85,113 , as has a stimulation of the synthesis of collagen fibres 134 and other connective tissue components 133 , and improvement of the strength of collagen 134 .…”

“…Over the thousands of years honey has been used on open wounds and in the eyes it has not gained any reputation for adverse effects, and this is borne out by histological examination of wound tissues that have been treated with honey 20,52,63,113 . In papers describing the application of honey to open wounds it is reported to be soothing 129 , to relieve pain 129 , be non-irritating 28,31,131 , cause no pain on dressing 91 , and give no secondary reactions 101 . Although allergy to antibiotics is fairly common, allergy to honey is rare 82 .…”

“…Reference has been made to dehydration of tissues if too much honey is applied to an open wound, but it has been stated that the hydration of the tissues is easily restored by saline packs 23,31 . It has also been pointed out that although a piece of flesh removed from the body would dehydrate if exposed to a highly osmotic sugar solution, when blood is circulating in it this replaces from underneath any fluid withdrawn by osmosis 33 .…”

“…In a clinical trial of honey for the treatment of diarrhoea it was found that administering honey halved the duration of diarrhoea caused by bacterial infection 64 . There are also reports of infected wounds dressed with honey becoming sterile in 3-6 days 25,31 , 7 days 49,50,108 or 7-10 days 17 , and the advance of infection through tissues halted 50,70 . Also it has been reported that honey provides a protective barrier that prevents wounds from becoming infected 20,49,91,128,129 , and thus protects patients in hospital from cross-infection 55 .…”