Letter on Use of Honey vs. Acyclovir

Comment to: Topical Honey Application vs. Acyclovir for the Treatment of Recurrent Herpes Simplex Lesions
Med Sci Monit, 2006 Aug 25;12(9):LE18

Dear Editor, The article titled 'Topical honey application vs. Acyclovir for the treatment of recurrent herpes simplex lesions' by Noori S. Al-Waili, published in the Medical Science Monitor, Aug 2004 issue, is extremely relevant for countries like India, where a considerable proportion of population are still struggling below poverty line. At the beginning of the new millennium, 260 million people in the country did not have incomes to access a consumption basket which defines the poverty line. Of these, 75 per cent were in the rural areas. India is home to 22 per cent of the world's poor [2]. Such low cost therapy will definitely be welcome to them. Every culture has developed its own system of traditional medicine, which still persists in many parts of the world…

Cost effectiveness and cost efficiency studies also should be done to evaluate the integration of such systems of medicine into the existing health care system. Sincerely, Dr. Bratati Banerjee, Diploma in Hospital & Health Management, 113 B, Lake Terrace, Kolkata 700 029, India, e-mail: bratatibanerjee1@hotmail.com