People who live with poorly healing wounds tend to spend most of their time at home, due to pain and mobility issues. As such, these folks tend to be at risk for social isolation. Unpleasant wound odor can add insult to injury by embarrassing the patient and discouraging visitors. For the most part, wound odor is the result of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria living within the necrotic (or rotten) wound tissue. The debridement properties of MEDIHONEY work to reduce the necrotic tissue Keep in mind that it’s best that MEDIHONEY be on the skin for 12-24 hours at a time for maximum effectiveness. If you or your loved one is having a hard time keeping the dressing intact, soak a gauze dressing in the MEDIHONEY (or use the MEDIHONEY square dressing) and apply it directly on the wound, then top with an abdominal pad dressing. When using MEDIHONEY will I need any extra supplies?

If you experience these symptoms, clean your skin of the honey and seek medical attention. Do not apply the honey again until you talk to a doctor. Risks with raw honey Kamaratos AV, Tzirogiannis KN, Iraklianou SA, Panoutsopoulos GI, Kanellos IE, Melidonis AI. Manuka honey-impregnated dressings in the treatment of neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers. Int Wound J. 2012 ; 9: 1-7. Medical-grade honey, most recognized under the brand-name MEDIHONEY by Derma Sciences, is derived from the flower of the Manuka plant ( Leptospermum) of New Zealand, the most studied of all honey types. The source of the nectar finely tunes the properties of the honey, determining flavor, color and, in this case, medicinal benefits. Manuka honey offers an antibacterial environment that is superior to ordinary honey. In some countries, sterilized MEDIHONEY is available as a prescription. MEDIHONEY is a registered medical device in the United Kingdom and Australia; in the US, medical-grade honey dressings are being used in healthcare settings more frequently than ever before. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. The gel sheet is helpful in treating a wide variety ofmild to moderately exudating wounds. ForDRY woundsthese should be managed withMedihoney Antibacterial Medical Honey.Second, Manuka honey contains a much higher concentration of methylglyoxal (MGO) than regular honey. MGO is an organic compound known for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. MEDIHONEY products are so gentle that they are suitable for even the smallest of babies. In a 2007 medical study, infants with wounds not responsive to conventional treatment showed marked improvement after 5 days of treatment with 5-10ml (about 2 teaspoons) of fresh, unprocessed honey applied topically to the wound twice per day. In all infants, the wounds were closed clean sterile after 21 days of the treatment. It should be noted that in one clinical study, two out of 150 children showed allergic reactions to sterilized medical honey. MEDIHONEY bandages are beneficial for all of the phases of the wound healing process. Silver dressings, another type of wound care product, can only be used for the short term due to concerns about toxicity. Medical-honey dressings can be used for long periods of time or changed frequently if needed. Due to the dressing’s low pH, some patients may notice a slight transient stinging. If stinging persists and cannot be managed with an analgesic, remove dressing, cleanse area, and discontinue the use of MediHoney dressing.

Lusby PE, Coombes A, Wilkinson JM. Honey. A potent agent for wound healing? J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2002;29(6):295–300.For severe wounds, it’s best a doctor or wound-care nurse shows you how to apply the honey the first time. This is because the amount of honey and the way the dressing is applied can impact how effective the wound-healing will be. Tips for applying honey on wounds Acidic pH promotes healing. Honey has an acidic pH of between 3.2 and 4.5. When applied to wounds, the acidic pH encourages the blood to release oxygen, which is important to wound healing. An acidic pH also reduces the presence of substances called proteases that impair the wound healing process. It’s always possible that honey or its container can become contaminated, or, a person could have an allergic reaction. Sometimes, this is to the bee pollen that’s naturally present in honey. Allergic reactions MediHoney dressings aids and supports autolytic debridement and a moist wound healing environment in acute and chronic wounds and burns, 5-8 through two key mechanisms – high osmolarity and low pH. The high sugar content of honey facilitates movement of fluid from an area of higher concentration, across a membrane, to an area of lower concentration. Osmotic potential draws fluid through the wound, to the surface, helping to liquefy non-viable tissue. Place a clean, dry dressing over the honey. This can be sterile gauze pads or an adhesive bandage. An occlusive dressing is best over honey because it keeps the honey from seeping out.