Using Manuka Honey As A Natural Antiseptic

The next stage in advanced wound care is the use of a special type of honey known as "Manuka Honey" which has been found to have extraordinary antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties.

Before antibiotics were invented, it was not uncommon for medical professionals to use honey on a wound to prevent infection and to quicken the healing process. Recent studies are now showing that a special type of honey called Manuka Honey is extremely effectiveness in treating cuts, wounds, burns, insect bites, various skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and other forms of dermatitis. Fungal infections are also being treated with Manuka Honey, including ringworm, athlete's foot, jock itch and nail fungus. Clinical trials have proven that the medical use of Manuka Honey is an effective way to clear even the most heavily infected wounds quickly, without the negative side effects and potential for overuse of antibiotics. It is so effective that it is even being successfully used to treat Staph infections by destroying MRSA.

The healing properties of Manuka honey are due to several components. Hydrogen peroxide is produced by an enzyme in all types of honey. Doctors have used hydrogen peroxide to disinfect and heal damaged skin. It also has the ability to clear infections due to its antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. Scientific evidence has proven that most strains of harmful bacteria cannot survive in the presence of oxygen or hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is one of the many components that help regulate the amount of oxygen getting to cells and increases oxygenation of tissues.

Manuka Honey also creates a moist healing barrier around the wound, preventing the dressing from sticking to bandages and causing additional tissue damage. When using a Manuka Honey dressing on wounds, scarring is reduced because it allows skin cells grow without forming a scab. The antibacterial properties and viscosity of Manuka Honey also provide a barrier to prevent cross-infection of wounds.

It is now known that Manuka Honey supplies nutrients necessary for healthy tissue regeneration and stimulates the growth of new blood capillaries. It contains a wide range of amino acids, vitamins, trace elements and high levels of sugar. The Vitamin C content in honey plays a role in collagen synthesis.

The acidity of Manuka Honey also contributes to the healing process in wounds. The high sugar content present in Manuka Honey draws lymph out to the cells while absorbing moisture. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce swelling and therefore pain. It also lifts dirt and debris out the wound bed and removes any remaining dead skin tissue. It has also been proven in scientific studies that Manuka Honey is more effective than silver sulfadiazine and polyurethane film dressings for the treatment of burns.

"Manuka Honey is relatively new to the U.S. markets but gaining a lot of notoriety within the medical industry as a viable alternative to antibiotics," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International, a manufacturer of health care products containing Active Manuka Honey as a healing agent. "Our Manuka Honey products are achieving results on patients when no other products have worked and it has to do with the powerful healing properties of this natural ingredient."nn nnnn