For centuries now, honey has been used in wound healing as a topical antibacterial agent. Honey wound dressings are biologic wound dressings with multiple bioactivities which promote healing. Research has shown that honey is immensely therapeutic with an enhanced rate of healing. Medical grade honey is found to work against bacteria and fungi by creating a moist healing environment that is antibacterial in nature. However, not all types of honey are recommended dressing options. Manuka honey is known to be most therapeutic in nature and received US FDA approval in 2007 as a wound treatment option.
Features of Medi Honey Dressings
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
Encourage autolytic debridement
Reduces swelling and pain
Provides a moist wound environment
Effective on malodorous wounds
Reduces permanent scarring
Manuka Honey Benefits
Hydrogen Peroxide - Hydrogen Peroxide provides the antibiotics found in most honey as well as Medihoney
Methylglyoxal - The main antibacterial component in Manuka honey is derived from the conversion of dihydroxyacetone found in the flowers of Manuka-tree
Sterile - Medihoney is sterilized and prepared as a dressing applied directly to the wound.
No Superbug - Use of Medihoney does not create these anti-biotic resistant strains or superbugs
Types of Medical Grade Honey Dressings
Honey dressings for wound care are available with different features. You can choose from absorbent honey dressings, adherent honey dressings, alginate honey dressings, non-adherent honey dressings and wound filler honey dressings.
Base your selection on the following factors:
Location of the wound
Exudate volume - whether minimal, moderate or high
Skin condition – whether healthy or fragile
Whether to be used under compression
Whether there is infection
There are several popular manufacturers which produce high quality honey wound dressings. These include Dumex/Derma Sciences, Medline Industries and Manukamed which offer trusted brands like MEDIHONEY and TheraHoney.
The Derma Medihoney calcium alginate dressing has 95% active Manuka honey which forms a gel on coming in contact with wound exudate. This dressing type can be used in all stages of wound healing. The TheraHoney Gauze honey sheet dressing from Medline has 100% sterile and medical-grade Manuka honey. It allows exudate to pass into a secondary dressing and can be used for wounds with any drainage level.
How Does Medihoney Dressing Work?
When honey comes in contact with wound exudate, it gets diluted and releases hydrogen peroxide which has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Honey is also found to trigger lymphocytic and phagocytic activities which are important body immune responses against infection.
Honey dressings for wounds help in autolytic debridement by removing necrotic tissues from the wound bed. They make dressing change painless and do not disturb tissue growth thus allowing healing to continue unabated. These dressings are found to be effective on hard-to-heal wounds and reduce inflammation and swelling. Honey wound dressings also control unpleasant odors from malodorous wounds.
Does Honey Have Wound Healing Properties?
Honey has bioactive components that can help in wound healing. For healing wounds, honey provides the following benefits:
Acidic pH - Honey Contains acidic pH (between 3.2 and 4.4) that promotes wound healing when applied to the wounds. Acidic pH help promote the release of oxygen from the blood, which is necessary for wound healing. An acidic pH also decreases the protease enzyme that slower the wound healing process.
Sugar - Sugar substances in honey has osmotic effects. osmotic effect draw liquid from the injured tissues that will help decrease the swelling of the wound and also promotes lymph flow.
Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Properties – Honey has antibacterial property that help reduce the growth of bacteria on the wound. Its anti-inflammatory effect reduces inflammation such as swelling, redness, and pain.
What are Honey Dressings used for?
Honey dressings are found to effectively treat burn wounds, bacterial infections and pressure ulcers. Medical grade honey can be used in skin graft fixation while Manuka honey is found to be effective on venous ulcers with a lot of slough. Honey Dressings are used for -
Superficial burn/first-degree burn
Surgical/post-operative wounds
Venous ulcers/foot/leg ulcers
Diabetic ulcers
Partial-thickness burn /second-degree burn
Acute/traumatic wounds
Donor sites
Arterial ulcers
Pressure ulcers
Partial-thickness wound
Full-thickness wound
Laceration/abrasion
Contraindications of Honey Dressings
It is recommended not to use honey dressings for diabetic foot ulcers. Also those with allergies to pollen, honey or bee venom should not opt for honey dressings for wound.
How Often Should Medi Honey Dressings be Changed?
Dressing change will depend on the levels of exudates. Usually, dressings are changed once a day. For heavy exudate or contaminated wounds, the dressing can initially be changed up to 3 times a day. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects reduce the dressing change frequency.
