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When it comes to supplements and other unregulated foods, many claims are made by greedy producers eager to make a quick (and large) profit from an unknowing publi9c. Honey does have many health benefits. Honey is an ancient remedy for the treatment of infected wounds. The first written reference to honey, a Sumerian tablet writing, dating back to 2100-2000 BC, mentions honey's use as a drug and an ointment. Aristotle (384-322 BC), when discussing different honeys, referred to pale honey as being “good as a salve for sore eyes and wounds”. . In addition to important role of natural honey in the traditional medicine, during the past few decades, it was subjected to laboratory and clinical investigations by several research groups and it has found a place in modern medicine. Honey has been reported to have an inhibitory effect on around 60 species of bacteria, some species of fungi and viruses. Antioxidant capacity of honey is important in many disease conditions and is due to a wide range of compounds including phenolics, peptides, organic acids, enzymes, and Maillard reaction products. Honey has also been used in some gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, inflammatory and neoplastic statesBelow, we separate the hype from the proven benefits.

Antibacterial properties

Honey has been reported to have an inhibitory effect to around 60 species of bacteria including aerobes and anaerobes, gram-positives and gram-negatives [15]. Research published by the US National Library of Medicine [1] concludes that honey:

does offers antibacterial activity,
maintains a moist wound condition, and
its high viscosity helps to provide a protective barrier to prevent infection.
Its immunomodulatory property is relevant to wound repair

Helping to heal external wounds

Honey has been used from ancient times as a method of speeding the healing of wounds[2]. This has been substantiated by modern reserarch. [3],[5],[6]. The healing properties of honey is due to its antibacterial activity, maintaining a moist wound environment that promotes healing, and has a high viscosity which helps to provide a protective barrier to prevent infection[7]. There are many reports of honey being very effective as dressing of wounds, burns, skin ulcers and inflammations; the antibacterial properties of honey speed up the growth of new tissue to heal the wound[7]. Manuka honey (see this page for more information) has been shown to be effective for the treatment of ulcers, infected wounds and burns[6],[8].

These active honeys, when applied topically, have been shown to rapidly clear wound infections and to help in healing of infected deep surgical wounds[8]. Honey has been shown to be effective even when antibiotics and antiseptics[8] did not work. This includies wounds infected with methicillin-resistant S. aureus[9],[10]. and on skin grafts and infected skin graft donor sites [11].

Helping with ulcers

Both traditional holistic approaches and modern medicine have found that honey can be effective in the treatment of for peptic ulcers and gastritis [12]. Honey may promote the repair of damaged intestinal mucosa, stimulate the growth of new tissues and work as an anti-inflammatory agent[12],[13]. Raw honey contains copious amounts of compounds such as flavonoids and other polyphenols which may function as antioxidants[14]. Clinical observations have been reported of reduced symptoms of inflammation when honey is applied to wounds. The removal of exudate in wounds dressed with honey is of help in managing inflamed wounds[8]

How strong are the effects of honey?

It depends on the type, quality and grade of honey. Medical grade honeys have potent in vitro bactericidal activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.Be carefull buying honey to avpoid scams.

The manuka, jelly bush and pasture honeys are more active than standard honeys, like clover or alfalfa.

Which are the best honeys to buy for their antibacterial properties?

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Honeys sold with standardized levels of antibacterial activity are:

Manuka honey(Leptospermum)
Tualang (Koompassia excelsa) honey.