Wound Care Market Report Shows Interest in Medicinal Honey

Honey, Silver Among Novel Wound Care Treatments
Medical News Today, 6/13/2008

Advancements in biotechnology, biomaterials and tissue engineering are driving growth in the worldwide wound care market -- which reached $12.3 billion in 2007 -- as new products and devices enter the market at lightning speed. Meanwhile, according to a new report by Kalorama Information, "World Wound Care Markets 2008," new research is shining a light on some very familiar substances that have powerful medicinal properties -- including honey and silver.

Using honey to treat wounds is not a new concept; it has served as an effective remedy for centuries. But recently, there has been renewed interest in and new products commercializing its medicinal properties.

Honey's positive effects on the healing process are myriad, from reducing inflammation, swelling and pain, to promoting the shedding of dead tissue and faster healing with minimal scarring. Honey is also an excellent antibacterial agent, and unlike other antiseptics, it is not harmful to tissues.

What is behind honey's powerful therapeutic and antibacterial properties? The hydrogen peroxide it generates stimulates the growth of new cells and blood vessels. Antioxidants prevent the formation of free radicals, which lead to inflammation. Vitamins, amino acids and minerals are vital to new tissue growth, since damage to the underlying circulation limits nutrients from reaching the wound.

"With clinical trials providing the evidence and rational explanations for its therapeutic efficacy, honey is finding acceptance in the mainstream medical field," notes Mary Anne Crandall, the report's author. Crandall explains that some companies are successfully commercializing honey-based wound care dressings and antibacterial gels…