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Dr. Mercola
August 13 2007
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Honey as Medicine is Making a Comeback

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration approved Manuka honey to be used in wound and burn care in the United States. Manuka wound dressings have already been used for several years in Great Britain, Australia, and its native New Zealand. Canada also cleared it for use as an antimicrobial dressing earlier this year.

Honey was a conventional therapy in fighting infection up until the early 20th century, at which time its use slowly vanished with the advent of penicillin.

Compared to other types of honey, Manuka has an extra ingredient with antimicrobial qualities, called the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF). The level of UMF can vary between batches, so each batch is ranked and priced accordingly. The higher the concentration of UMF, the darker, thicker and more expensive it is.

In July 2007, the FDA gave Derma Sciences, a New Jersey-based manufacturer of wound-care products, clearance to sell Manuka wound and burn dressings as medical devices. It’s the first honey-based product approved for medical use in the United States.

Washington Post August 7, 2007



Dr. MercolaDr. Mercola's Comments:

Going back to basics, using natural therapies like bee products including honey, is a step in the right direction. Especially considering the fact that traditional antibiotics are increasingly ineffective against certain microbes. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “nearly all significant bacterial infections in the world are becoming resistant to the most commonly prescribed antibiotic treatments.”  

Clearly we need alternatives that do not add to the problem. One thing to remember here though, is that not all honey is appropriate for use in wound care.

The specific Manuka honey now approved for use as a medical device is believed to have special anti-infection and anti-inflammatory properties. If you're considering using honey to treat a mild burn, sunburn, or small wound at home, make sure to use raw honey.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of honey consumed in the United States is processed or refined. And, like most refined foods, it can promote disease and damage your health. It also will not have the same topical wound-care benefits as raw honey.

On Vital Votes, Russ Bianchi, a biochemist from California reminds us: 

“Of course all naturally derived Manuka Honey works for this application -- just don't try this with domestic (USA) Grade A Honey, which has over 75% probability of being force-fed and regurgitated High Fructose Corn Syrup, or Invert Sugar, flavored and colored "honey", which increases infection, based on pH and lack of any naturally occurring enzymatic or anti-bacterial, or anti-microbial characteristics… How can you tell the difference as a consumer?  Invariably REAL HONEY costs two to three times more than the supermarket or generic mass-produced brands in the plastic honey bear packaging.” 

That said, any time you can treat yourself without resorting to antibiotics, the better. Honey has several functions that add to its topical wound-care benefits:

    • It draws fluid away from the wound.
    • The high sugar content suppresses microorganism growth.
    • Worker bees secrete an enzyme (glucose oxidase) into the nectar, which then releases low levels of hydrogen peroxide when the honey makes contact with the wound.
    • A chemical reaction between the honey and tissue also makes healing wounds smell good.

Another natural wound dressing that offers impressive results without drugs is Duoderm and  HemCon’s bandages, which are made from a natural protein found in shrimp shells, which promotes clotting.

Other bee products, such as Royal Jelly, bee venom, and propolis, have also been shown to help combat everything from dental plaque to Lyme disease.

Honey can also help with diarrhea, insomnia, and sore throats. Eating raw honey is likely to promote health as long as it’s used in moderation and you do not suffer from signs of elevated insulin such as:

    • Overweight
    • High blood pressure
    • High blood cholesterol
    • Diabetes
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Community Comments ( 38 )
 Comment on this Article
  
  
Bridestein
 [ Joined on 12/06 ] [ Posted on August 10, 2007 ]
14 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
He nuked it? And didn't check the temperature before he applied it to his wife? Can you say dichotomy?
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Reesacat
 		[ Joined on 01/07 ]  [ Posted on August 10, 2007]
3 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Can you say OOUCH!:)
Mercola
  
Laserman
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on August 11, 2007]
5 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
I'll bet she called him some choice names after he unthinkingly burned her butt. Perhaps now he calls her honeybun(s) or stickybun(s).
Mercola
  
Reesacat
 		[ Joined on 01/07 ]  [ Posted on August 11, 2007]
1 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
LOL@Laserman ! 
  
  
singshelby
 [ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on August 31, 2007 ]
8 Points        
   
 
Novice User

I just thought I would post about some amazing success I had with raw honey.

About a year ago - I cut the outside of my hand deeply with a sharp knife.  I am certain that most doctors would have considered stitches necessary for the wound to close and heal properly.  However - no insurance at the time - and little extra money in the budget for ER.  About two days after the injury - my wound was gaping open and was hurting badly.  I was afraid that I had made a bad decision to not get stitches.  I went to our local raw milk farmer and just happened to show him my injury.  He recommended that I use their raw honey (harvested from a local bee farmer) on the wound topically.  I did and within one day my wound sealed together and stopped hurting altogether.  Guess what - no scar either.  I thought it was a miracle!  Thank God for our land flowing with RAW Milk and RAW Honey!

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Musica
 		[ Joined on 06/07 ]  [ Posted on September 1, 2007]
2 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Wow singshelby, this really is a miracle!!!

I didn't know about this use of the raw honey. We have a jar of raw Chilliwack honey all the time on the cupboard, but we only used it for eating. One more use, wow again!
Mercola
  
ccintl
 		[ Joined on 09/06 ]  [ Posted on September 1, 2007]
5 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

I have a great Raw-Honey-Story too:

Last year I had bumped my ankle on something and developed an open sore that was quite painful. Being a holistic person, I tried various natural remedies for several days, but it got worse and bigger. I was seeing my Osteopath for something else and mentioned it to him. He was very concerned, determined it was a staph infection, and "scared me into taking antibiotics" for 10 days, plus soaking twice a day in Epsom salt bath. After I finished the antibiotics, the sore was still open and not healed in the least.

I had been enjoying a wonderful raw honey from www.stakich.com for some time and just happened to read on their site about the medicinal value of honey: www.stakich.com/.../honeyinmedicine.htm - Great info!! I put a mixture of honey and cinnamon on the wound, left it open during the day and put a loose band-aid on at night. After just one day I could see the edges of the sore closing in and becoming smaller. You could literally watch it heal. After just 2 - 3 days it was totally closed and healed, no scar!

Make sure you get fresh ground BULK cinnamon from a supplier that has good turnover, not that stale supermarket stuff. I get mine at www.bulkfoods.com. I don't think the honey I get from Stakich is Manuka, but it is totally raw and unprocessed, has a great aroma and taste, and best of all, they have the most reasonable prices for raw honey anywhere! I'm enjoying this honey, with my own cinnamon added, on almost a daily basis (usually on my BED-approved seeds/grains or some Genesis bread). For a special treat I often add some raw Cacao Nibs (raw chocolate bean, no sugar) - YUUMMMM! I get my Raw Cacao Nibs here: www.wildernessfamilynaturals.com/.../merchant.mvc

You don't have to spring for the expensive Manuka. I use my raw honey-cinnamon mixture to heal pimples, cuts/wounds, insect bites, and any other skin problem that comes up, and it works wonders!
  
  
shiva
 [ Joined on 10/06 ] [ Posted on August 10, 2007 ]
7 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
This is the kind of news that I really love to see in the major media. .... It is really something to see the main stream being humbled by discovering that the natural approach does in fact work and is in the long run, superior to the synthetic, pharmaceutical approach of "attacking" disease symptoms rather than naturally bringing things back into balance.

The following quote from the article points to the crux of the problem at hand:

"Molan suggests there may be another reason the United States has been slower than some other countries to adopt medicinal honey: the scientific establishment's resistance to traditional remedies.

He believes it's not customers or patients who need convincing, "it's the medical community. They find it difficult to accept anything that has an ancient lineage, whatever the scientific evidence," he says. "But manuka is catching on fast."

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
madhus108
 		[ Joined on 09/06 ]  [ Posted on September 6, 2007]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Are you the same shiva that posts on Dandavats?
  
  
seg
 [ Joined on 11/06 ] [ Posted on August 16, 2007 ]
6 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Wait until big pharma get their hands on this then you'd  need a prescription for it and they'll likely call it MANUKA MONAY
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Health 1
 		[ Joined on 03/07 ]  [ Posted on September 8, 2007]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Some of you are so witty. Good point(s) Thx so much! :))

Blessings

Dr. Trudy
  
  
Pookietooth
 [ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on September 1, 2007 ]
5 Points        
   
 
Novice User

How do you force feed a bee? I could see how they could force feed a goose for that fancy French delicacy (pate du fois gras), but a be? Aren't their mouths pretty tiny? And wouldn't it take a lot of people to force feed that many bees? Not to mention how delicate the bugs are and how their legs fall off. You couldn't exactly nail their feet to a board or anything.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Musica
 		[ Joined on 06/07 ]  [ Posted on September 1, 2007]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

:))
  
  
Russ Bianchi
 [ Joined on 09/06 ] [ Posted on August 10, 2007 ]
5 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Of course all naturally derived Manuka Honey works for this application, just don't try this with domestic (USA) Grade A Honey which has an over 75% probability of being force fed and regurgitated (BEE BARF) High Fructose Corn Syrup, or Invert Sugar, flavored and colored "honey", that increases infection, based on pH and lack of any naturally occurring enzymatic or anti bacterial or anti microbial characteristics.

The dirty BIG secret in the USA is the VAST majority of honey produced in late Summer, all of Fall, all of Winter, and early Spring, is NOT real honey from botanical sources (pollen, sap, nectar, etc.) converted by bees, but rather force fed man made refined and HARMFUL sugars, irrespective of USDA certification or organic certification!!!

How can you tell the difference as a consumer?  Invariably REAL HONEY cost two to three time more the supermarket or generic mass produced brands in the plastic honey bear packaging. 

Price is also a indicator of real maple syrup versus economically cut with other sweeteners or water or preservatives (many times not declared and way under policed).
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Russ Bianchi
 		[ Joined on 09/06 ]  [ Posted on August 12, 2007]
       
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
There is massive and unpoliced economic adulteration in the maple syrup business also, with both invert sugar and water, and other fake solids.
Mercola
  
Daes
 		[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on September 5, 2007]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Russ, bees cannot be force-fed, but are fed whenever there is no natural source of food just to keep the colony from starving to death. They do not store an emergency food supply, but they eat it themselves to stay alive. If they are fed more than they need, however, they may store the surplus with the honey. ALL honey is what you call BEE BARF... regurgitated flower nectar, which MAY be mixed with anything that was OVERfed to the bees. The season of harvesting is critical to the purity of the honey.

Hives are also commonly treated with miticides and other chemicals. This is another example where it pays to know the farmer and his practices.

  
  
DizzyIzzy1
 [ Joined on 06/07 ] [ Posted on August 13, 2007 ]
4 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Being a New Zealander, and having grown up eating fresh raw Manuka honey straight from the apiary by the spoonful, this comes as no surprise to me.
What does surprise me, though, is the branding of this honey I see in health food shops. You can get UMF +10 or +30 or whatever Manuka, which to me is ludicrous, and seems to be a way of charging huge amounts of money for something that shouldn't be adulterated and changed. Manuka (and it's cousin Kanuka) - or New Zealand Tea-trees - will be organic anyway as is everything from NZ. Certainly no GM materials involved. The tree is so common it's almost a weed!!

Manuka has been used by the tangata whenua of Aotearoa New Zealand for centuries and its health benefits are no big secret in NZ. Why? Because it's tasty, and it works. It was always my one-stop instant cure for colds and sniffles and sores from my Mum or Grandma as a child. But I refuse to spend 15 GBP for one tiny jar of the stuff when I could get a kilo from the apiary down the road for $5 back home!! Grrr!!
 [ Reply ]