quick summary
Manuka honey is a powerful wound healing agent, due to its high MGO content, which gives it stronger antibacterial activity than other honeys.
Several studies have shown manuka honey was effective against both staph and MRSA infections when prescription antibiotics had failed.
Manuka honey with a high UMF rating is considered "medical grade" and is used in hospitals in various countries.
Manuka honey can be applied to wounds straight from the jar, or you can use creams and gels made specifically for wound treatment.
The higher the UMF rating, the more effective the treatment will be.
Manuka Honey is known for its rich antibacterial properties, which has made it somewhat of a superfood in the realm of general everyday wellness. However, these properties have been shown to be so strong that these uses have extended to the world of medicine.
All around the world, doctors specifically request the use of Manuka Honey in wound and burn treatment, as this is known to increase not only the speed of healing but also reducing the risk of infection and scarring.
Why Manuka Honey Is So Effective In Wound Treatment?
Manuka Honey gets its strong antibacterial properties from its high levels of methylglyoxal or MGO. These levels are only possible due to Manuka Honey's unique creation process. Bees pollenate a specific species of flower known as the Manuka Flower, which is found only in certain places in New Zealand. The nectar from these flowers, when used to create honey, result in extremely high levels of MGO.
MGO has been shown in numerous studies to be an effective antibacterial agent, particularly in the treatment of wounds.
For example, this study conducted in 2017 concluded that "In addition to bacterial growth inhibition, glyoxal (GO) and MGO from Manuka honey can enhance wound healing and tissue regeneration by their immunomodulatory property."
Some other interesting studies:
- Manuka Honey helps inhibit and treat MRSA infections [1, 2, 3]
- Manuka Honey effective in healing eyelid wounds [4]
- Manuka Honey successful in treating diabetic foot ulcers [5]
- Success with 40 patients treating wounds with Manuka Honey [6]
- Manuka Honey a potential agent for treating diabetic wounds [7]
Is It Safe To Put Honey On An Open Wound?
Yes, honey has been used for centuries as a wound treatment.
Even hospitals use manuka honey regularly for dressing wounds.
However, you want to make sure you use a fresh jar of honey, and not a jar that people have been eating out of and putting dirty knives and forks into.
Similary, you want to make sure you use a clean, sterile fork or spoon when applying the honey.
Only use the spoon once. Using the same spoon after you've already used it to apply some honey to the wound could contaminate the jar.
How do you use it?
For treating wounds, we recommend using the highest potency manuka honey you can afford.
The highest UMF graded honey is currently UMF 28+. Our top recommendation is this UMF 28 product from NZ Honey Co.
When applying honey on wounds, a few precautions should be made before you start:
- Make sure your hands are clean
- Have sterile gauze and cotton tips
- Have a bandage ready to cover the dressed wound.
- Make sure you are in a clean and quiet setting - for example, a doctors clinic or a clean bathroom, rather than a gym or by the side of a football field.
The next thing you want to do is apply the honey to the wound. Follow these steps:
FOR BASIC SCRAPES AND CUTS
- Clean the wound first. You can use an alcohol based antiseptic or basic Dettol.
- Using clean hands or applicators, apply the Manuka Honey to the dressing first, rather than directly to the skin (this is because honey is messy to deal with, so applying it to the skin first can be difficult).
- Apply the dressing to the skin.
- Cover the dressing with a clean piece of gauze or bandage. Occlusive dressings are best to avoid the honey leaking.
- Replace the dressing every few days, or whenever the fluids from the wound starts to saturate the dressing.
For burns
(It's important to note that only minor burns should be treated at home. For serious burns, see a doctor or hospital as soon as possible)
- Get the patient to an area that is safe and quiet. Preferably far away from the place they suffered the burn.
- Wash the burn gently. Do not use ice or ice water. Cold water from a tap will be fine.
- Gently pour a small amount of honey over the wound. It is best not to touch the wound directly, as burns result in very sensitive skin, especially if blisters are present.
- Place a piece of gauze over the wound, and repeat three or four times or until the wound is bandaged and covered.
- Do not pop and burn blisters and peel away the skin. Leave the burn covered with honey for several days, and monitor the pain. If the pain reduces, let the dressing sit and only change if it becomes saturated or starts to leak. If the pain starts to increase, see a doctor.
In both cases it is also recommended that you use a jar of Manuka Honey that is new or is kept specifically for wound treatment. Do not use a jar of Manuka Honey that you or others have been eating out of and dipping potentially contaminated utensils in.
Using manuka honey products specifically for wound treatment
One of our top recommended brands of Manuka Honey, Comvita, also makes products that are designed specifically for treating wounds.
For example, their MediHoney Wound Gel is designed for household use and a great way to dress wounds to encourage faster healing and lower infection risk.
One thing that is interesting about Comvita is they are also a supplier of medical honey to hospitals in New Zealand and other countries, which is a testament to the purity and safety of their honey for medicinal use.
The FDA has also approved Manuka Honey for use in treating wounds, which shows how effective it can be when used properly.
Manuka Honey is sometimes considered better for wound treatment, as it's a natural treatment that is less likely for patients to be allergic to, and is much harder for bacteria to grow resistance to. Even nursing schools are now taught in New Zealand that Manuka Honey should be considered and encouraged as a method of dressing wounds.
Where to get good quality Manuka Honey for dressing wounds?
Our top recommendation for wound treatment is the NZ Honey Co UMF 28+ Manuka Honey.
This is the highest potency manuka honey on the market today, and if your budget allows it, will give you the best results.
If you need something more modestly priced, we would recommend at a minimum the UMF 24+ graded product, which should still give you satisfactory results at a slightly lower potency.
Under UMF 24+ and the honey becomes much less effective when used for infection/medicinal purposes.
Our Where To Buy page is a resource that lists our top recommended Manuka Honey brands and where to buy them.
