Pharmacy Today - Show Me the Honey
By Ellen Campbell–Grizzle, Jamaica Gleaner, 10/3/2007
Honey is an ancient remedy that is attracting new attention. Science has turned up evidence to support some of its traditional uses.
Now, we know that honey contains, among other constituents, glucose oxidase. This substance breaks down into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide, when exposed to oxygen and water. This accounts for its excellent antiseptic properties. After careful cleaning practitioners apply honey to wounds to promote healing, prevent infection and reduce swelling and pain. The viscosity of honey provides a protective barrier to prevent wounds becoming infected….
There are now well documented claims that honey:
· Creates a moist healing environment that allows skin cells to regrow across a healing wound flush with the surface of the wound, preventing deformity of the skin. (If a dry scab forms on a wound, the skin cells can only grow across the wound deeper down where it is moist.)
· Causes scabs and dead cells to lift off the surface of the wound, leaving a clean healthy wound bed in which regrowth of tissue can occur.
· Stimulates the regrowth of tissue involved in the healing process.
· Does not stick to the underlying wound tissues, so there is no tearing away of newly formed tissue, and no pain, when dressings are changed.
· Has an anti-inflammatory action that reduces the swelling around a wound. This improves circulation and thus hastens the healing process. It also reduces pain.
· The high sugar content of honey draws lymph out of a wound, which lifts dirt out of the wound bed.
· Is acidic and retards bacterial growth.
· Prevents the odour that is commonly associated with serious wounds and skin ulcers by rapidly clearing bacterial infection. In this environment, lactic acid is produced instead of the smelly byproducts of the degradation of protein.
· There is no impairment of the healing process through adverse effects on wound tissues…
By Ellen Campbell–Grizzle, Jamaica Gleaner, 10/3/2007
Honey is an ancient remedy that is attracting new attention. Science has turned up evidence to support some of its traditional uses.
Now, we know that honey contains, among other constituents, glucose oxidase. This substance breaks down into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide, when exposed to oxygen and water. This accounts for its excellent antiseptic properties. After careful cleaning practitioners apply honey to wounds to promote healing, prevent infection and reduce swelling and pain. The viscosity of honey provides a protective barrier to prevent wounds becoming infected….
There are now well documented claims that honey:
· Creates a moist healing environment that allows skin cells to regrow across a healing wound flush with the surface of the wound, preventing deformity of the skin. (If a dry scab forms on a wound, the skin cells can only grow across the wound deeper down where it is moist.)
· Causes scabs and dead cells to lift off the surface of the wound, leaving a clean healthy wound bed in which regrowth of tissue can occur.
· Stimulates the regrowth of tissue involved in the healing process.
· Does not stick to the underlying wound tissues, so there is no tearing away of newly formed tissue, and no pain, when dressings are changed.
· Has an anti-inflammatory action that reduces the swelling around a wound. This improves circulation and thus hastens the healing process. It also reduces pain.
· The high sugar content of honey draws lymph out of a wound, which lifts dirt out of the wound bed.
· Is acidic and retards bacterial growth.
· Prevents the odour that is commonly associated with serious wounds and skin ulcers by rapidly clearing bacterial infection. In this environment, lactic acid is produced instead of the smelly byproducts of the degradation of protein.
· There is no impairment of the healing process through adverse effects on wound tissues…
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