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Seeds for Change Wellness
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A Honey of a Cure
A Honey of a Cure!
Dr. David Williams Source: Alternatives Newsletter
For the longest time it was taught that wounds heal better if they’re exposed to the air once
they’ve been cleaned and the bleeding has stopped. New research shows differently. The
latest finding supports the idea that keeping a wound moist and covered allows it to heal
more quickly with less chance of infection. Apparently, the local blood vessels regenerate
faster and the number of cells known to cause inflammation also decrease in number if
wounds are not allowed to dry out. The research indicates that a wound should be kept
moist for at least five days.
Companies selling antibiotic ointments and creams may try to capitalize on these findings.
Keep in mind, however, that there is a potential downside. While these ointments may help
keep the wound moist, they also increase swelling in the tissue and can cause a localized
allergic reaction—canceling out any positive effects.
Researchers have found that one of the best and most effective methods of keeping a
wound safely moist is by applying Vaseline. While it’s true that Vaseline is a good
alternative there is another solution that I have been telling my readers about for years that
may be even better—honey.
Honey is one of many natural substances that have been used for hundreds of years in
other countries to treat burns and a variety of other ailments. And, despite these hundreds
of years of success and research studies to support its use, since it can’t be patented and
used as a drug, you’d be hard-pressed to find honey in any ambulance, fire truck,
emergency room, hospital, or doctor’s office here in the US. So if you don’t have a honey
jar, after reading this report, I certainly hope you add one to your kitchen pantry, medicine
cabinet, first-aid kit, et cetera.
Use Honey to Treat Burns
Burns are one of the most difficult problems to treat, because this type of wound provides
the perfect breeding and feeding ground for many organisms. As such, burn wounds can
easily become infected, and the infection often spreads rapidly into the bloodstream, which
can kill the victim. That’s why, if you have a burn wound, it’s important to act fast and do all
you can to protect yourself.
Numerous studies have shown honey’s amazing bacteria-fighting powers when used in
dressings to treat burns. One study evaluated the effects of using unheated raw, local
honey on nine different pathogenic organisms found in burn wounds. When cultured, none
of the organisms was able to survive a 30-percent concentration of the honey.
In another, somewhat similar study, doctors compared the effects of raw, unheated honey
to numerous antibiotics on 28 different strains of pathogenic, multi–drug resistant bacteria
associated with burns. Only three of the strains were inhibited at all by any of the 11
antibiotics used in the study; every single one of the 28 strains was inhibited by a 25-
percent concentration of honey. Plain, simple, raw honey worked.
… and Many Other Ailments
Honey has to be one of the most underutilized therapeutic tools for treating burns, as well
as ulcers, and other wounds. Research shows it has been used successfully to treat all
types of wounds, including:
Amputations
Bedsores
Leg ulcers (diabetic foot and leg ulcers, varicose ulcers, leprosy ulcers, sickle cell ulcers, et
cetera.)
Malignant ulcers
Fistulas
Cracked nipples
Surgical wounds
Gunshot and trauma-induced wounds, including those to the skull and abdomen
Cuts, abrasions, and puncture wounds
Why Honey Is So Effective and Easy to Use
There are a couple of things you need to know about the use of honey. Its antimicrobial
activity is due to several factors. Honey is what’s called a super-saturated sugar solution. In
chemistry terms, it has what is known as a very high osmolarity. When it comes into contact
with microbes it “sucks” the water from their cells and destroys them. The same thing
happens with sugar dressings on wounds. It draws the water from inside the bacteria cells
and kills them through dehydration. Unlike sugar, however, honey has several other
characteristics that are lethal to various microbes.
Honey is somewhat acidic. On the pH scale, with 0.0 being the most acidic, 7.0 being
neutral, and 14.0 being the most alkaline, the pH of honey ranges from about 3.2 to 4.5.
Honey’s acidic nature helps destroy certain microbes. Honey also has the unique ability to
produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). As I’m sure you know, hydrogen peroxide can kill
pathogens on contact. Honey doesn’t actually contain hydrogen peroxide but instead
produces it through a chemical reaction when conditions are just right. First, the pH of the
honey must rise to between 5.5 and 8.0. Second, a small amount of sodium (or salt) must
be added to the mix. This is exactly what happens when honey comes into contact with
human skin or a wound. The glucose or sugar molecule in honey starts to break down and
produce hydrogen peroxide.
If you’ve ever tried to store hydrogen peroxide, you know how unstable it is and how easily
it loses its effectiveness over time. Honey remains stable for long periods, however, and
retains its ability to produce bacteria-killing hydrogen peroxide upon demand. Honey also
contains dozens of other antioxidants, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, fats, and
compounds that aren’t yet fully understood but which aid in the elimination of microbes and
speed healing.
Best of all, honey is so easy to use. For deeper wounds and abscesses, honey is generally
used to fill the cavity after it has been cleaned. On smaller wounds and on larger ones that
have been filled with honey, a top dressing is applied. This is done using approximately 1
ounce of honey on a 4-inch square dressing pad. The pad is then applied directly to the
wound. A second, dry dressing is placed on top of the first dressing and secured with
adhesive tape.
Changing the dressing once daily is usually all that is required. If the wound initially
produces a large amount of exudate (the fluid that can ooze out of wounds), then more
frequent changes may be necessary. Once no exudate is being produced, the honey
dressing may only need to be changed once every five days to a week.
Honey is inexpensive, readily available, and one of the best-tasting burn and wound
remedies I know of. It’s foolish not to have a jar in your kitchen pantry and first-aid kit. The
gauze dressing pads will probably cost you more than the honey. (Keep in mind that some
of the best and least expensive dressing pads are panty liners and sanitary napkins. Many
brands now have adhesive backing, which makes them even more convenient.) And,
remember, your doctor probably won’t be familiar with any of this information, so I also
recommend keeping it handy for future reference.
Dr. David Williams Source: Alternatives Newsletter
For the longest time it was taught that wounds heal better if they’re exposed to the air once
they’ve been cleaned and the bleeding has stopped. New research shows differently. The
latest finding supports the idea that keeping a wound moist and covered allows it to heal
more quickly with less chance of infection. Apparently, the local blood vessels regenerate
faster and the number of cells known to cause inflammation also decrease in number if
wounds are not allowed to dry out. The research indicates that a wound should be kept
moist for at least five days.
Companies selling antibiotic ointments and creams may try to capitalize on these findings.
Keep in mind, however, that there is a potential downside. While these ointments may help
keep the wound moist, they also increase swelling in the tissue and can cause a localized
allergic reaction—canceling out any positive effects.
Researchers have found that one of the best and most effective methods of keeping a
wound safely moist is by applying Vaseline. While it’s true that Vaseline is a good
alternative there is another solution that I have been telling my readers about for years that
may be even better—honey.
Honey is one of many natural substances that have been used for hundreds of years in
other countries to treat burns and a variety of other ailments. And, despite these hundreds
of years of success and research studies to support its use, since it can’t be patented and
used as a drug, you’d be hard-pressed to find honey in any ambulance, fire truck,
emergency room, hospital, or doctor’s office here in the US. So if you don’t have a honey
jar, after reading this report, I certainly hope you add one to your kitchen pantry, medicine
cabinet, first-aid kit, et cetera.
Use Honey to Treat Burns
Burns are one of the most difficult problems to treat, because this type of wound provides
the perfect breeding and feeding ground for many organisms. As such, burn wounds can
easily become infected, and the infection often spreads rapidly into the bloodstream, which
can kill the victim. That’s why, if you have a burn wound, it’s important to act fast and do all
you can to protect yourself.
Numerous studies have shown honey’s amazing bacteria-fighting powers when used in
dressings to treat burns. One study evaluated the effects of using unheated raw, local
honey on nine different pathogenic organisms found in burn wounds. When cultured, none
of the organisms was able to survive a 30-percent concentration of the honey.
In another, somewhat similar study, doctors compared the effects of raw, unheated honey
to numerous antibiotics on 28 different strains of pathogenic, multi–drug resistant bacteria
associated with burns. Only three of the strains were inhibited at all by any of the 11
antibiotics used in the study; every single one of the 28 strains was inhibited by a 25-
percent concentration of honey. Plain, simple, raw honey worked.
… and Many Other Ailments
Honey has to be one of the most underutilized therapeutic tools for treating burns, as well
as ulcers, and other wounds. Research shows it has been used successfully to treat all
types of wounds, including:
Amputations
Bedsores
Leg ulcers (diabetic foot and leg ulcers, varicose ulcers, leprosy ulcers, sickle cell ulcers, et
cetera.)
Malignant ulcers
Fistulas
Cracked nipples
Surgical wounds
Gunshot and trauma-induced wounds, including those to the skull and abdomen
Cuts, abrasions, and puncture wounds
Why Honey Is So Effective and Easy to Use
There are a couple of things you need to know about the use of honey. Its antimicrobial
activity is due to several factors. Honey is what’s called a super-saturated sugar solution. In
chemistry terms, it has what is known as a very high osmolarity. When it comes into contact
with microbes it “sucks” the water from their cells and destroys them. The same thing
happens with sugar dressings on wounds. It draws the water from inside the bacteria cells
and kills them through dehydration. Unlike sugar, however, honey has several other
characteristics that are lethal to various microbes.
Honey is somewhat acidic. On the pH scale, with 0.0 being the most acidic, 7.0 being
neutral, and 14.0 being the most alkaline, the pH of honey ranges from about 3.2 to 4.5.
Honey’s acidic nature helps destroy certain microbes. Honey also has the unique ability to
produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). As I’m sure you know, hydrogen peroxide can kill
pathogens on contact. Honey doesn’t actually contain hydrogen peroxide but instead
produces it through a chemical reaction when conditions are just right. First, the pH of the
honey must rise to between 5.5 and 8.0. Second, a small amount of sodium (or salt) must
be added to the mix. This is exactly what happens when honey comes into contact with
human skin or a wound. The glucose or sugar molecule in honey starts to break down and
produce hydrogen peroxide.
If you’ve ever tried to store hydrogen peroxide, you know how unstable it is and how easily
it loses its effectiveness over time. Honey remains stable for long periods, however, and
retains its ability to produce bacteria-killing hydrogen peroxide upon demand. Honey also
contains dozens of other antioxidants, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, fats, and
compounds that aren’t yet fully understood but which aid in the elimination of microbes and
speed healing.
Best of all, honey is so easy to use. For deeper wounds and abscesses, honey is generally
used to fill the cavity after it has been cleaned. On smaller wounds and on larger ones that
have been filled with honey, a top dressing is applied. This is done using approximately 1
ounce of honey on a 4-inch square dressing pad. The pad is then applied directly to the
wound. A second, dry dressing is placed on top of the first dressing and secured with
adhesive tape.
Changing the dressing once daily is usually all that is required. If the wound initially
produces a large amount of exudate (the fluid that can ooze out of wounds), then more
frequent changes may be necessary. Once no exudate is being produced, the honey
dressing may only need to be changed once every five days to a week.
Honey is inexpensive, readily available, and one of the best-tasting burn and wound
remedies I know of. It’s foolish not to have a jar in your kitchen pantry and first-aid kit. The
gauze dressing pads will probably cost you more than the honey. (Keep in mind that some
of the best and least expensive dressing pads are panty liners and sanitary napkins. Many
brands now have adhesive backing, which makes them even more convenient.) And,
remember, your doctor probably won’t be familiar with any of this information, so I also
recommend keeping it handy for future reference.