All about Skin: The Wonders of Honey for Your Wounds

Honey has been a staple ingredient in our kitchens. Its sweet and delectable taste is something that we can’t resist but add to our favorite desserts and drinks. However, the wonders of honey do not stop with our tastebuds, as this natural sweetener has been used for centuries to help heal wounds due to its natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. As a natural skincare ingredient, honey exerts long-term protection to keep your skin healthy and protected. 

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Historical Background of Honey
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The medicinal use of honey has been dated back to 8000 years ago and was used by the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Greeks, Assyrians, and Romans, who made use of honey to manage wounds and gastrointestinal problems.₁  Interestingly, the Vedic civilization thought honey was one of the most remarkable gifts of nature to humans, owing to its benefits in treating cough, keeping your teeth and gums healthy, treating your wounds and burns, regulating your heartbeat, and even helping you get quality sleep at night! The Egyptians, on the other hand, combined almost all of their medicines with honey and even offered this staple to their gods for sacrifice!₁ 

Effects of Honey for the Skin
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The important role of honey for the skin primarily stems from its antimicrobial properties, which not only help protect the barrier that protects our body, but also helps repair it. Honey can inhibit almost 60 species of bacteria, most of which can cause disease or complications to an already damaged barrier.₁ Additionally, honey can prevent the excessive bacterial growth of Staphylococcus aureus, which is the most common pathogen causing wound infections, reducing your chances of developing skin and soft tissue conditions. The antimicrobial effects of honey depend on the type and concentration used, with greater concentrations of manuka honey effectively killing bacteria. Pasteurized honey, on the other hand, can only prevent bacterial growth but not entirely kill these pathogens!

Mechanism of action

The abilities of honey to kill bacteria or prevent their growth are different from antibiotics, which are synthetically made to destroy the bacterial cell wall or inhibit the processes within the bacteria that allow them to reproduce and cause disease. Honey naturally inhibits bacterial activity in several ways₁:
1.   Honey is hygroscopic, meaning that it draws moisture from its environment. This allows it to dehydrate the bacteria within the wound.
2.   The acidic property of honey is between 3.2-4.5 pH (so close to the pH level of your stomach!) which prevents the growth of most microbiomes, since not all thrive in highly acidic environments.
3.  Honey contains hydrogen peroxide, which is a famous topical  solution to clean wounds or cuts and prevent further infection. The hydrogen peroxide in honey has oxidative properties which can damage the processes inside the bacteria, preventing their growth and reproduction.
 
These healing properties give honey the unique ability to clean wounds, clear infections, reduce inflammation, prevent unwanted scarring, and regenerate blood vessels and cells, helping wounds fully heal and recover. 

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Wound Support

Intestinal Support

For Delicate Skin

Safety Considerations

Although with many beneficial properties, honey should not be given to children less than one year of age due to possible risks of botulism, especially since the immune system that is meant to protect these infants from harm is still not fully mature and developed. Additionally, the amount and type of honey for your wounds also depends on the type and severity of your condition. The amount of honey applied to your wound should still be enough to exert its antimicrobial properties even if it gets diluted with wound fluid. Additionally, you should make sure that all the wound cavities are adequately covered with honey and reinforced with occlusive dressing to prevent oozes that may come out of the wound.₁​ Talking to your naturopathic doctor about exploring the benefits of honey for your skin health is important to ensure that you are able to fully receive the benefits of honey and prevent unwanted reactions that may happen if you are not eligible or are allergic to one of its components

Improving Your Skin Health

Honey, aside from being a kitchen staple, contains holistic properties that not only helps heal your wounds, but also protects your skin from further infections. When using honey for your health, you should also be responsible and knowledgeable about its proper use, amount, timing of application, and intervals, all of which should be guided by your healthcare providers. Exploring the benefits of honey for your skin is best done with the guidance of your naturopathic doctor, who is an expert in using the healing power of nature to help your body as it heals and recovers. Talk to your naturopathic doctor today!
 
 
 
REFERENCES:
1.        Eteraf-Oskouei T, Najafi M. Traditional and modern uses of natural honey in human diseases: a review. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2013;16(6):731-742.

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