USING SUGAR OR HONEY TO HEAL WOUNDS

by Dr. Lawrence Wilson

All information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

We don’t recommend eating sugar or honey, but they can help heal open wounds and ulcers on the skin. This article is about the research of Richard A. Knutson, MD of Greenville, Mississippi and other researchers on this important topic.

WHY SUGAR OR HONEY?

These substances have an osmotic action on bacteria that removes the water from bacteria, which weakens them.

The body may also be able to metabolize the sugars and improve its energy level, which can also help close the wound.

Studies of honey indicate that sugar is anti-inflammatory, debrides the wound, speeds up the growth of epithelial and granulation tissue, and is antibacterial.

PROCEDURE

Dr. Knutson’s procedure. Dr. Knutson recommended mixing 3 or 4 parts confectioner’s sugar (powdered white sugar) with one part vegetable oil such as canola oil. Mix until it is a smooth mixture. The oil is needed so the sugar will stay in the wound.

Make sure the wound is cleaned with soap and water. Then apply a thick layer of the sugar mixture once or twice daily.

Reapplying. When reapplying it, first wash the old sugar off completely. Then apply some more.

Most wounds will begin to heal in a few days.

The honey procedure. Some researchers claim they get better results using honey instead of sugar. The honey is already sticky, so it stays in the wound a little bit better.

Use manuka honey. Apply it to a clean wound. The only trouble with honey is that it is sticky to clean off. However, it can stay in the wound and just add a little, if needed.

WHY DON’T DOCTORS USE THIS METHOD MORE OFTEN?

Because it is too simple and inexpensive. That is my guess. It is used a little more in Europe than in America, but in both cases the drug companies reign supreme and would rather the doctors use antibiotics and other methods that often don’t work well.

References

J Wound Care. 2007 Jul;16(7):317-9.

Jull, A, Rogers, A and Walker, N., Honey As a Topical Treatment For Wounds, The Cochrane Library, Issue 4, 2009. This is a review of 22 clinical studies involving 2554 people.

"The Evidence Supporting the Use of Honey as a Wound Dressing", The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds', 2006. This is also a review of over 2000 patients experience with honey. It is at http://ijlew.sagepub.com.

Other references are on the internet.

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