Why 'super honey' is the bees knees for wounds and
infections
The Guardian, 1/1/2014
Surgihoney is cost-effective and speeds healing of
hard-to-treat injuries. Can it become the ultimate wound-care product?
The healing powers of honey have been known about for
thousands of years. But Surgihoney, whose natural antibacterial properties have
been boosted, is proving highly effective at treating infected wounds and
superbugs.
The honey is believed to work by killing the bugs, removing
dead tissue and pus, and then providing a moisture barrier as well as local
nutrition.
Honey contains vitamins, minerals, enzymes and sugars – all
of which help in the healing of wounds. Manuka is generally regarded as the
most potent honey, but it relies upon nectar from a particular tree in New
Zealand, limiting its supply.
That's precisely the problem which has been solved by the
developers of Surgihoney. They have created a product that can be made from
organic honey from any floral source. They hope it will ultimately become a
global wound-care product that will improve lives in poorer countries.
Lead researcher Dr Matthew Dryden, an NHS consultant
microbiologist, is optimistic that the sterile, medical honey can revolutionise
wound care around the world, reduce the use of antibiotics and provide an
alternative to harsh chemical antiseptics.
Surgihoney speeds the healing of hard-to-treat leg and foot
ulcers, pressure sores, trauma injuries and infected surgical wounds, according
to the research. Potential benefits include less pain and fewer amputations.
Dryden says: "Surgihoney is active against all the bacteria
we find in soft tissue wounds. The important extra is that it kills the bugs
but doesn't damage the tissue. Honey is a fantastic natural medicine."
Surgihoney can even tackle wounds infected with strains of
bacteria resistant to antibiotics, he says, including MRSA, E coli and
pseudomonas. He describes honey as "turbo-boosted"…
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