Manuka honey an infected wounds

mynutmeg

mynutmeg

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Is Manuka honey suitable for use in infected wounds? I have a surgical wound that has developed a bit of an infection. It is superficial and not deep into the surrounding area so was thinking the honey would be ideal to help heal it. I have seen my practice nurse and am on appropriate antibiotics but she's kinda old fashioned about things like this. We have used it on te dogs previously with good results.
I know it's not horsey per se but you guys give good advice :-)
 
I shove high grade manuka honey on all manner of horsey things which it seems to sort. I use the 18 or (ouch on finances) the 22 UMF. That said a girl fell over during night out at a hen do recently and in morning it all raw. I had in car so I covered it in it then topped will clay powder to not sticky, she actually said it stung, which I hadn't anticipated, although the next day it was no longer angry. I tend to use Dena Schartz healing gel on injuries then manuka honey on hoof infection, me i eat if sore throat etc, Hannah
 
finally a human veterinary problem comes up (AKA medical one) and I'm stuck for words! Ironic.

I've no idea about this, but if you do try it, let me know how it goes on. I might be able to surprise a consultant one day on the ward...it'd make my month!

I should imagine the antibiotics and good wound care will knock off any infection (do you know which ones you are on?), but keep us in the loop if you decide to go for it :)
 
I'm on 500mg of flucloxacillin 4 times a day. It's about 3 weeks since surgery. I was in cast for the first 2.5 weeks, cast came off and stitches out. It looked ok on thursday when the stitches came out but has gradually gotten a bit pussy/mildly red in a few spots. The main concern is that there is metal work underneath so not something to be allowed to go untreated. Hence wanting to get on top of it with everything possible and get it to heal quickly.

I'm washing with hibiscrub and dressing change every day as well.
 
Hardly a week goes by when someone on here is extolling the wondrous virtues of Manuka honey. Why not just use sugar?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21457155


You only have to google it to read about how great it is for every ailment both internal or external (coincidentally by the people selling it :rolleyes:)

Manuka honey is all a load of old sales blurb; by New Zealand producers. All honey or other sugars will produce the same results. Honey and other inverted sugars are hygroscopic and will remove moisture from a wound. Manuka honey doesn't taste good , so to sell it they had to come up with a new sales approach. Lots of spurious data and false marketing. Lots of companies have had their wrists slapped. The difference between Manuka honey and other honeys are at the very best negligible.

Trust me I'm a beekeeper :p
 
This is quite interesting! I'd think that the sugar would indeed draw out the moisture, but runs the risk of providing a bountiful food source for bacteria if it's not kept on top of or not cleaned properly, which would make the problem worse.

Obviously the nurse doing that trial has a way of making sure that doesn't happen, and I'm now intrigued!

Sounds like you've got a good plan in place though OP, hopefully all should be well soon!
 
lazybee said:
Hardly a week goes by when someone on here is extolling the wondrous virtues of Manuka honey. Why not just use sugar?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21457155


You only have to google it to read about how great it is for every ailment both internal or external (coincidentally by the people selling it :rolleyes:)

Manuka honey is all a load of old sales blurb; by New Zealand producers. All honey or other sugars will produce the same results. Honey and other inverted sugars are hygroscopic and will remove moisture from a wound. Manuka honey doesn't taste good , so to sell it they had to come up with a new sales approach. Lots of spurious data and false marketing. Lots of companies have had their wrists slapped. The difference between Manuka honey and other honeys are at the very best negligible.

Trust me I'm a beekeeper :p
Click to expand...

Last person I'd trust to give unbiased opinion is a disgruntled bee-keeper ;)

I inevitably end up getting embroiled in food grade v medical grade manuka, because it's a subject that I have researched and written about extensively -and it fascinates me. I've seen the data from clinical trials, and I've seen the results of case studies. Yes - all honey does the job, but medical grade manuka has properties which make it more effective than normal honey. It's fact, and not just a myth put about by the people that sell it.

The sugar thing is a very very small trial on 35 patients. Yes, sugar is a drawing agent, so it will do that job. It will also turn to solution super-fast, be less effective at managing infection than honey (of any variety) and as it warms up in a wound environment, it's going to end up crawling with bacteria. I would lay money on the patients in that trial being fully loaded with antibiotics. No consultant in his right mind would allow patients with that sort of wound to be managed with just a bag of Tate and Lyle.
 
Auslander said:
No consultant in his right mind would allow patients with that sort of wound to be managed with just a bag of Tate and Lyle.
Click to expand...

This is very true. Wouldn't the honey do the same thing (providing a lovely breeding ground for bacteria), as it is basically just sugar?

Also, do you have any links to the research you were talking about? I'm interested to read it.
 
JackAT said:
This is very true. Wouldn't the honey do the same thing (providing a lovely breeding ground for bacteria), as it is basically just sugar?

Also, do you have any links to the research you were talking about? I'm interested to read it.
Click to expand...

All honey produces hydrogen peroxide on contact with fluid ie;exudate in a wound, which is why it is such a good antibacterial. Manuka has additional non-peroxide antibacterial activity, which makes it more powerful than other types. More info here Medical grade manuka is gamma irradiated, so it is completely sterile - food grade shouldn't be used because the production method (pasteurisation) de-activates any spores (botulinum etc) but doesnt kill them. As the honey warms up in an infected wound - spores can be re-activated, putting the patient at risk of botulism/other nasties. Thats why children under 1 shouldn't be fed the stuff.

Good report into recent research http://www.ijaaonline.com/article/S0924-8579(12)00129-X/abstract, but you'd need to find someone who can access this journal for the full paper. I did have the report, but will need to look on another computer for it. If I can find it, I'll send it to you. This article covers the basics quite well http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/10/26/3607086.htm
 
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