Manuka Honey – Nature’s Antibiotic Wound Healer
September 9, 2009 Written by JP
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No one looks forward to the prospect of an extended hospital stay. The best case scenario is a brief visit with few or no complications. Unfortunately, one of those complications is frequently a hospital borne bacterial infection, MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) which greatly minimizes the chances of a speedy recovery. As indicated by its name, this menacing form of Staph infection is immune to many commonly used antibiotics. In addition, it generally strikes those who are the most vulnerable – the elderly and immune compromised patients.
In November 2009, a scientific review will be published that is entitled, “Rediscovering the Antibiotics of the Hive”. It discusses the potential of honey and other bee byproducts as anti-infectives whose effect sometimes even extend to threatening bacteria such as MRSA. The basis for this review is easily found by searching recent entries in the medical literature. What’s also becoming apparent is just how honey may pack such a potent anti-bacterial punch. (1,2,3)
A presentation given this week at the Society for General Microbiology meeting explains precisely how a special form of honey (manuka honey) inhibits protein production within MRSA cells and ultimate leads to their death. A study from June of this year appears to support these findings. That experiment utilized a similar “medical-grade honey” and determined that all of the bacteria tested could not form resistance to honey in the same way that they did to prescriptive antibiotics. A separate investigation appearing in the December 2008 edition of the journal Alternative Medicine Review found that four different varieties of honey demonstrated considerable activity when applied to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The impact of the honey was magnified when it was combined with another bee product called royal jelly. (4,5,6)
The above findings are of particular interest in the management of topical wounds. The presence of such injuries greatly increase the likelihood of hospital-borne and community-associated CA-MRSA infections. The latter term refers to infections that are found in otherwise healthy individuals who are not in a hospital setting. The fact that both forms of MRSA conditions are occurring more frequently than in the past is great cause for concern for medical professionals worldwide. (7)
A standardized, medical-grade honey (Medihoney) was recently compared to standard care in the management of wound healing. 105 patients were provided with either conventional wound dressing or the medicinal honey. On average, those treated with honey demonstrated a healing time of 100 days. Those given the conventional care required 140 days to mend. A British review from 2008 also validates the potential of this specific form of honey in the treatment of wounds. Medihoney is a form of manuka (Leptospermun) honey which is indigenous to Australia and New Zealand. It’s been approved for select topical use by Health Canada and the US FDA. (8,9,10)
Another manuka honey product (Woundcare 18+) underwent testing in an Irish trial that focused on healing outcomes in venous leg ulcers. Once again, the honey product was compared to a form of standard care (hydrogel therapy). The total length of this experiment comprised 12 weeks and involved 108 participants with leg ulcers. Both treatments were applied for 4 weeks and a follow-up assessment was provided 8 weeks afterward.
- At the 4 week mark there was a 67% reduction in slough (dead tissue) in those using the honey compared to a 53% reduction in those receiving conventional care.
- 4 weeks in, only 29% of the ulcerated areas were still covered in slough in the honey users compared to 43% in those using the hydrogel.
- The wound size was also reduced by 34% vs. 13%, once again favoring the honey preparation after 4 weeks.
The 12 week results were even more impressive. 44% of the honey users were fully healed (vs. 33% in the conventional group). Only 6 of the honey patients developed infections. 12 of the hydrogel patients were diagnosed with bacterial infections. (11)
The Bioactivity of Honey |
|
| Bioactivity of Honey* | Suggested Rationale* |
| Prevention of cross-contamination | Viscosity of honey provides a protective barrier |
| Provides a moist wound healing environment | Osmolarity draws fluid from underlying tissues |
| Dressing doesn’t adhere to wound surface
Tissue does not grow into dressings |
The viscous nature of honey provides an interface between wound bed and dressing |
| Promotes drainage from wound | Osmotic outflow sluices the wound bed |
| Removes malodor | Bacterial preference for sugar instead of protein (amino acids) means lactic acid is produced in place of malodorous compounds |
| Promotes autolytic debridement | Bioactive effect of honey |
| Stimulates healing | Stimulation of healing has been observed together with objective measurements in animal wounds |
| Anti-inflammatory | Number of inflammatory cells (histologically) found to be reduced in honey-treated wounds |
| Managing infection | Antiseptic properties found to be effective against a range of microbes including multi-resistant strains |
| * Not necessarily research-based. Adapted from the literature. | |
| Source: Journal of Ostomy/Wound Management – VOLUME: 53 Issue Number: 11 (a) | |
A meta-analysis from May 2009 summarizes the results found thus far in the management of another form of injury: burn wounds. A total of 8 studies, involving 624 volunteers, were used in assessing the value of honey in burn treatment. Most of the comparative trials looked at the performance of honey vs silver suphadiazine. Honey was deemed as having a superior effect when the results were based on 15 days of treatment. In fact, every measure of healing indicated a better response when honey was employed. The authors of this review concluded that, “available evidence indicates markedly greater efficacy of honey compared with alternative dressing treatments for superficial or partial thickness burns.” However, it’s important to note that they also call for more research to support and verify their limited findings. (12)
The problem of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a relatively new phenomenon. Unfortunately, it appears that this modern medical challenge will likely become a bigger issue in the coming years. I’m not suggesting that honey is the entire solution to getting this health threat under control. But I am encouraged that we now appear to have one more natural resource with which to battle back.
Be well!
JP
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Tags: Honey, Wound
Posted in Alternative Therapies
September 10th, 2009 at 1:50 am
Oh JP,
Manuka Honey! I bought Manuka Honey – the active one with UMF 25 – for years. I also use Rewarewa and Wild Flower, both are also active ones with UMF 10+. This helps always through fall and winter, tastes delicious.
The only negative thing is: the poor bees! Because of we eat the honey, they have less for their own. Non organic honey farmers use sugared water to feed the bees, the get ill, because in sugared water is nothing with vitamins, enzymes etc. Thats a critical point we should think of when we take the honey from the bees.
Despite that that sort of honey is a wonderful present for us and we should be grateful to the bees for their work.
Nina K.
September 10th, 2009 at 5:46 am
In the UK and Europe the specialist sterilised manuka honey product Woundcare 18+ (from Comvita) is called Manukacare 18+.
This has recently been approved (in the UK) to make a claim about its help for MRSA, and the new packaging mentioning MRSA is due out near the end of this year.
September 10th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Thanks, Nina!
I agree that we should try to purchase from manufacturers that practice responsible beekeeping. The careful treatment of the bees likely results in a healthier product. Better for the bees and better for us.
The pollination source is also important. Several studies have found pesticide-residues and other potentially harmful substances in honey coming from polluted areas.
Be well!
JP
September 10th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Thanks for sharing that, Robin. Much appreciated!
Be well!
JP
September 10th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Wow – this is a great and up to date article on Manuka honey. Thank you for writing it and sharing your expertise.
I’m a huge proponent of using natural medicinal products (from nature’s bounty) for addressing infections, especially MRSA and Staph where many prescription antibiotics no longer work.
The Tea Tree is where many of the bee’s harvest pollen in Australia (the Leptospermun tree as you mention above). Tea tree is very antibacterial and is also made into an essential oil, so it’s fabulous to have a honey with tea tree properties.
Thankfully, the medical establishment is starting to recognize more of the wonderful and powerful alternatives all around us.
PS – have you researched to find reputable sources of Manuka honey – those that do practice good bee keeping and also have “natural” unpolluted trees? Thanks.
To your health,
Michelle Moore
Microbiologist, Staph Researcher and Natural Health Advocate
September 10th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Thank you, Michelle.
I haven’t had the time to investigate and verify the various claims (re: practices and purity) of the many different manufacturers of manuka honey.
Some of the recent inquiries into pesticide residues in honey can be found at the bottom of the following analysis:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/67lql705j84w7407/
If I were looking for manuka honey, I would personally seek out certified organic varieties and/or products that can provide proof (via certificates of analysis) that their products are free of such potentially harmful substances.
Be well!
JP
September 11th, 2009 at 2:54 am
Good Morning @all,
i purchase active manuka honey from this brand, they offer also organic active manuka honey (thats what i buy)but here is a international homepage:
http://www.shopnewzealand.co.nz/en/cp/Green_Tea_Extract
Nina K.
September 11th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Thank you, Nina!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Be well!
JP
September 12th, 2009 at 4:08 am
JP,
i wish you a very wonderful weekend too
Stay healthy!
Nina K.
September 15th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
They say all nurses have MRSA, just from exposure to infections.
I’ve also seen honey for wound care.
You’re a good guy, JP!
September 15th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Thank you, Anne!
My niece is a nurse. The whole MRSA issue is of great concern to me and my family. I know she’s very conscious about trying to take every precaution possible. I hope you’re doing the same. I’ll bet you are.
Be well!
JP
September 15th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Then again, anyone who has ever pushed a cart around at walmart has a ton of creepy things as bad or worse than MRSA!
But don’t put honey on the carts – they don’t like it!
September 15th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Now you tell me!
Be well!
JP
January 30th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Thanks for a very helpful article. Have very heard of these manuka honey products before and never knew anything about what they can do. Thank you for the info
July 15th, 2010 at 7:46 am
Hello,
I love manuka honey. I consume it daily. One thing which I always do with manuka honey, besides putting it on bread, is put it into a cup of hot tea. However, recently i have begun to wonder whether the hot water in tea ruins some of the health benefits of manuka honey. I mean, you often hear that heat destroys nutrients. I wonder is this the case also with manuka honey. Hopefully you can advise.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Andrew
July 15th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Andrew,
There hasn’t been any scientific study of this topic – as far as I can tell. So the best I can offer is an educated guess. I suspect that the naturally occurring enzymes in raw manuka honey would not survive in hot tea. On the other hand, I doubt that the antioxidants and other healing properties would be significantly altered. The best analogy I can think of is boiling vegetables. Boiling leads to a dramatic decline in the phytochemical content of vegetables. However, this is largely due to the fact that most people don’t drink the water that the vegetables are boiled in. In the case of tea, you obviously drink the liquid.
The best advice I can think of would be to add the honey at the last possible moment before drinking. Lesser exposure to high temperatures may result in a greater preservation of the therapeutic properties.
Be well!
JP