Glossary
The clinical use of honey as a topical wound treatment, supported by extensive research demonstrating its effectiveness for burns, surgical wounds, chronic ulcers, and infected wounds. Medical-grade honey products (such as Medihoney) are FDA-approved wound care devices used in hospitals worldwide.
Honey promotes wound healing through multiple simultaneous mechanisms: osmotic dehydration of bacteria (the high sugar concentration draws water out of bacterial cells), continuous hydrogen peroxide production through glucose oxidase enzyme activity, maintenance of a moist wound environment (which promotes faster healing than dry dressings), anti-inflammatory action that reduces swelling and pain, and stimulation of new tissue growth.
A 2015 Cochrane Review (the gold standard of medical evidence reviews) analyzed 26 clinical trials and concluded that honey is superior to conventional dressings for partial-thickness burns, achieving faster complete healing times. Additional studies have shown effectiveness for diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, and post-surgical wound infections.
For clinical wound care, medical-grade honey (irradiated for sterility, standardized for antimicrobial activity) should be used. Apply a 3-5mm layer directly to the wound or to the dressing, cover with a secondary dressing, and change daily. The honey maintains a moist environment and continuously delivers antimicrobial compounds to the wound bed.
For minor home wounds (small cuts, scrapes, mild burns), raw, unprocessed honey can be applied directly. Clean the wound first with water, apply a thin layer of raw honey, cover with a clean bandage, and change daily. Raw honey has not been sterilized like medical-grade varieties but its antimicrobial properties are genuine and effective for minor wound care.
Medical-grade honey is standardized for antimicrobial activity and sterilized through gamma irradiation, making it appropriate for clinical wound care. Raw honey has genuine antimicrobial properties but has not been sterilized or standardized. For minor home wounds, raw honey is effective. For serious or chronic wounds, medical-grade products are preferred.
Manuka honey has the most clinical evidence due to its non-peroxide antimicrobial activity (methylglyoxal). However, any raw, unprocessed honey with active glucose oxidase provides wound-healing benefits through hydrogen peroxide production. Dark honeys generally have higher antimicrobial activity than light honeys.
Studies have shown honey is effective against many wound pathogens including MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and E. coli, even in biofilm form. However, clinically infected wounds should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. Honey can complement professional wound care but should not delay medical treatment of serious infections.
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