Humans have used honey to treat multiple conditions since ancient times. But researchers discovered its natural anti-bacterial properties in the late 19th century.

Today, people use honey ointment to protect their skin and hair against damage caused by bacteria and repair tissue damage. Several studies have found manuka honey ointment to have anti-inflammatory qualities that help ease pain and inflammation for its users.

However, it is important to note that not all honey is the same. Its anti-bacterial quality depends on several factors, like when and how it was harvested and the type of honey you’re using. That’s why some kinds of honey can be more potent and effective than others.

Using Honey on Wounds

As mentioned earlier, humans have used honey on wounds for thousands of years. And while we now have more effective wound-healing alternatives, honey is still an excellent alternative for healing some types of wounds.

Its anti-bacterial properties and unique pH balance allow it to promote oxygen and healing compounds on the wound. However, before you reach out into your cabinet, you must note that professionals used medical-grade honey to heal chronic wounds.

So, the honey in your cabinet might not produce the wound care results you’re hoping for.

Does Honey Have Other Healing Properties?

Honey is a sugary and syrupy substance with bioactive components that may help heal wounds. There are many benefits of using honey, including healing wounds.

Below are reasons to use honey on your wounds:

●        Anti-bacterial effect – several studies show that honey has an anti-bacterial effect on certain bacteria that’s commonly present in wounds. These include vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

●        Sugar has an osmotic effect – honey has natural sugar that can draw water out of damaged tissues (a process known as an osmotic effect). By drawing out of the damaged tissues, the sugar reduces swelling in and around the wound, thereby encouraging lymph to flow and heal the affected area. Sugar also draws water from bacterial cells, preventing them from multiplying

●        Acidic pH promotes healing – honey’s acidic pH of between 3.2 – 4.5 also encourages blood to release oxygen around the affected area, which is important for healing. The acidic pH also minimizes the presence of proteases (a substance that impairs the healing process)

Other instances where you can use honey ointment include boils, burns, pilonidal sinus, non-healing wounds and ulcers, and venous.

How to Use Manuka Honey

The main use of manuka honey is to heal wounds and burns. Generally, this product is great for treating minor wounds and burns. Studies show that manuka honey can treat other conditions as well, including:

●        Digestive health

●        Soothing a sore throat or cough

●        Skincare including dermatitis and eczema

NOTE: the honey used in the wound-healing process is medical-grade. It is specially sterilized and prepared for wound dressing.

The Takeaway

Using medical-grade honey to heal wounds has been known to help patients with chronic or non-healing wounds. Manuka honey has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-odor properties that make it the best ointment for helping people with chronic wounds.

Ultimately, it is always best to have your wounds checked by a wound-care professional before applying manuka or any other type of honey on your wounds.