Manuka Honey as a Topical Antibacterial Agent for the Treatment of Infected Wounds

There are now many published reports describing the effectiveness of honey rapidly clearing infection from wounds with no adverse side effects. A particular type of honey found in the New Zealand region called, "Manuka Honey" seems to have the highest potency of healing properties and is being widely used for medical purposes. Evidence suggests that Manuka Honey actively promotes healing. In laboratory studies, it has been shown to have an antimicrobial action against a broad spectrum of bacteria and fungal problems such as athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm.
Honey was used to treat infected wounds as far back as 2000 years before bacteria were found to be the cause of infection. More recently, honey has been reported to have an inhibitory effect to around 60 species of bacteria including aerobes and anaerobes, gram-positives and gram-negatives. An antifungal action has also been observed for some yeasts and species of Aspergillus and Penicillium, as well as all the common dermatophytes. The current prevalence of antibiotic-resistant microbial species has led to a re-evaluation of the medical use of honey.

A recent study on the successful usage of Manuka Honey as a dressing on infected wounds shows that many doctors support the use of Manuka Honey in infected wounds, particularly in patients susceptible to MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Manuka Honey has been used to treat infections in a wide range of wound types. These include burns, venous leg ulcers, leg ulcers of mixed aetiology, diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, unhealed graft donor sites, abscesses, boils, pilonidal sinuses, infected wounds from lower limb surgery, necrotising faciitis and neonatal postoperative wound infection. In many of these and other cases, Manuka Honey has been used to heal wounds not responding to treatment with conventional antibiotics and antiseptics.

"Individuals with wounds infected with antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, not responding to antibiotic therapy, results have been achieved after applying our First Aid Antiseptic Lotion with Manuka Honey," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International, a manufacturer of health care products containing Manuka Honey. "Wounds infected with MRSA have also been cleared of infection and healed by application of our products." To purchase high-end, health care products containing Manuka Honey as a healing agent, go to www.HoneymarkProducts.com.