Honey on Wounds: When, How, Safety, and Effectiveness

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People have used honey for thousands of years for wound healing. While we now have other very effective wound-healing options, honey may still be good for healing certain wounds.

Honey has antibacterial properties and a unique pH balance that promotes oxygen and healing compounds to a wound.

Before you reach into your cabinet, know that wound-care professionals use medical-grade honey for healing chronic wounds and other injuries.

Read on for more information on the right and wrong times to use honey for wound healing.

Honey is a sugary, syrupy substance that has been shown to have bioactive components that can help heal wounds.

According to a literature review published in the journal Wounds, honey offers the following benefits in healing wounds:

If you have a wound or burn that won't heal, it's important to check with a doctor before using honey on the wound. Ask the doctor if honey is a possibility for treatment.

For severe wounds, it's best a doctor or wound-care nurse shows you how to apply the honey the first time. This is because the amount of honey and the way the dressing is applied can impact how effective the wound-healing will be.

If you’re applying honey on wounds at home, here are some general tips for application.

If you have any questions about applying honey to your wound, follow up with a physician.

Ideally, a person should use medical-grade honey, which is sterilized and therefore less likely to cause immune system reactions.

In addition to Manuka honey, other forms sold for healing include Gelam, Tualang, and MediHoney, which is a brandname for a product where the honey has been sterilized by gamma irradiation.

It's always possible that honey or its container can become contaminated, or, a person could have an allergic reaction. Sometimes, this is to the bee pollen that's naturally present in honey.

Signs you could be having an allergic reaction to the honey include:

If you experience these symptoms, clean your skin of the honey and seek medical attention. Do not apply the honey again until you talk to a doctor.

Some researchers have raised concerns regarding the use of raw honey, which is made from honeycombs and unfiltered, for wound treatment. They theorize that there's greater risks for infection using this honey type.

While this is more of an idea than something that is proven, it's important to be aware of the risks, according to the journal Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.

It's also possible honey may not work to heal your wound. Frequent applications are required to see a benefit. This could take a week or more. If you aren't seeing any improvement, talk to a doctor or nurse.

Medical grade honey on wounds has been shown to help people with chronic and non-healing wounds. Medical honey has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and even anti-odor properties that can help people with chronic wounds.

You should always check with their doctor before using this honey type to ensure it's safe to apply to the wound.