Manuka honey’s use has been extolled in many types of wounds. It is primarily used for wound debridement and decontamination, and it has also been shown to have a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity.

Some of the applications and successes are described below:

•  Honey has been used successfully in acute wounds such as first- and second-degree burns, surgical wounds, contaminated wounds that cannot be surgically debrided,4 and a wide variety of traumatic wounds, (bite wounds, lacerations, abrasions, etc.).

• It has also been useful in non-healing wounds such as ulcerated wounds, dehisced surgical sites, antibiotic resistant wounds (including MRSA and other multi-drug resistant bacterial strains), and wounds with suspected biofilms or risk of biofilm formation.

• Honey has been used medicinally across diverse species: from humans to small animals, horses, birds, and farm animals.

These healing powers of honey stem from its osmotic, acidic, and enzymatic properties that make it a great wound dressing during the inflammatory phase of healing. Honey creates an osmotic force that draws out edema and exudate while bringing nourishment and cytokines to the wound from the underlying vessels and lymphatics. This process also reduces swelling and pain associated with sites of soft tissue injuries.

Honey moreover provides an optimal, moist environment for healing, which in the later days of the inflammatory phase promotes both fibroblastic activity and angiogenesis. As a result, granulation tissue formation and re-epithelialization are enhanced, and the wound healing process is accelerated.

 Medicinal honey has shown a broad and unique antimicrobial effect, including efficacy in treating antibiotic-resistant infections. Manuka honey (as compared to other honey varieties) contains higher levels of methylglyoxal, which gives it superior antimicrobial activity. It has been found that multi-drug resistant bacteria are not any less susceptible to honey than are naïve strains of bacteria, demonstrating honey’s unique effect. Furthermore, there have yet to be any documented acquired bacterial resistances to honey, creating further interest in it’s medicinal potential.

Ultimately, each wound is unique and requires a nuanced approach. Although the use of manuka honey is versatile, there are a few contra-indications for its use. It should not be used for actively bleeding wounds, wounds with a healthy granulation bed, or in wounds already showing epithelializing activity.

When used appropriately, medicinal honey can be a powerful tool. Although there remains a need for controlled, clinical studies regarding the healing benefits of honey, its vast medical potential is supported by a wide array of positive case studies and clinical impressions.

References:

1.     Carter DA, Blair SE, Cokcetin NN, Bouzo D, Brooks P, Schothauer R and Harry EJ (2016) Therapeutic Manuka Honey: No Longer So Alternative. Front. Microbiol. 7:569. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00569.

2.     Epperley LA. Jump Starting the Healing with Manuka Honey – manuka honey worked a miracle in healing the horse’s horrific wound. Veterinary Practice News. 2012. https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/jump-starting-the-healing-with-manuka-honey/

3.     Hollis, G. Makuna Honey – Is it still the bee’s knees? Veterinary Practice. 2017. https://veterinary-practice.com/article/manuka-honey-is-it-still-the-bees-knees

4.     Kennedy CR. The Role of Makuna Honey in Seond Intention Healing of Wounds in the Equine Distal Limb. Veterinary Ireland Journal. Vol 8, No 11. 2018. http://www.veterinaryirelandjournal.com/images/pdf/large/la_nov_2018.pdf

5.     O’Connell K, Wardlaw JL. Unique Therapies for Difficult Wounds. Today’s Veterinary Practice. 2011. https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/unique-therapies-for-difficult-wounds/

6.     Stanley BJ. Honey and Wound Healing. Vetfolio NAVC Conference Proceedings 2012. 2019. https://www.vetfolio.com/learn/article/honey-and-wound-healing