Top Bar Beekeeping Forum

[biobee]

Honey a ‘Broad Spectrum Antimicrobial Agent’

Nursing Times; 104: 3, 46–49, January 23, 2008

http://apitherapy.blogspot.com/2008/02/honey-broad-spectrum-antimicrobial.html


This article reviews the laboratory and clinical evidence that relates to the antimicrobial properties of honey. Observations show it is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent with efficacy against bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses…
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The Barefoot Beekeeper www.biobees.com

[zaunreiter]

For anyone interested, there is an active apitherapy-group working internationally:

http://www.apitherapie.de/
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[GarlyDog]

It works. I tried some organic honey on a small cut on my hand.
It is kind of messy so it needs a dressing. The cut healed without getting an infection.

However, I prefer Clorohexiderm for treating cuts and scraps. It seems to help cuts scab over faster for me.
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[Baymair]

I used to work as a nurse, and we used honey on wounds that couldn't be stitched. Only about 10 years ago, so not the dark ages or anything It worked brilliantly, we had no infections that I can remember. And these patients were usually elderly and immuno compromised.

[il volpe]

http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2001/november/Molan/honey-as-topical-agent.html

Note that the floral source makes a significant difference in how well it works.

[professor]

My table saw and my thumb had a short encounter and my thumb is now missing a portion of it's end, including the bone. The doctor stitched the cut off piece back on but it didn't take and was beginning to become infected even with the antibiotic cream that they gave me to dress it with everyday. I finally took scissors and (look away now) cut off all the rotten tissue, washed it with soap and water and then applied honey with a new bandage daily in place of the other stuff. It immediately began to heal and new tissue began forming. After a month of this it was was back to "normal", somewhat shorter and crooked, with no feeling on the tip but nearly as good as new.
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[il volpe]

You may get the sensation back in a few months, or not.

I'm not suprised it worked. The World Wide Wounds article shows the active Manuka honey doing some amazing stuff, like curing gangrene without dermabrasion. Depending on the efficacy of the particular honey you used, you might have done it without having to cut off the rotten tissue. Which would have, if one extrapolates from the article, caused it to heal more slowly but with less scarring.