Honey Natural Treatment for Wounds and Burns
by: Junji Takano
Honey is a highly concentrated sugar solution produced by honeybees.
It is commonly used as substitute for sugar or a flavor enhancer.
But other than that, honey is also effective in treating burns
and wounds and it has been used for this purpose for many centuries.
Now it is known that the secret of honey lies on its antibacterial
activity.
How Can Honey Stop Infection?
We know that bacteria love sugar, but why most bacteria and
other microorganisms cannot grow or reproduce in honey? Here are
the reasons:
1. Acidity Honey is acidic, and acids prevent the growth
of bacteria. 2. Hydrogen Peroxide When honey is applied
as a wound dressing, it is diluted with fluids from the damaged
tissue and combines with an enzyme added by the bee to form hydrogen
peroxide, the same antiseptic found in drugstores. Diluted honey
can serve as an excellent antiseptic because the naturally occurring
hydrogen peroxide won't harm the tissues and no scarring will
occur.
Applying Honey as a Wound Dressing
1. Usually, 20 ml of honey (25 - 30 g, 1 ounce) is enough on
a 10 cm X 10 cm (4 inch X 4 inch) dressing. The honey dressings
should be cut to a size that extends beyond the edges of the wound.
2. To prevent honey oozing out from the wound dressing, waterproof
dressings are needed. Absorbent dressings are not recommended
as they soak the honey making it less effective. Adhesive tape
or bandages can be used to hold the dressings in place. 3. It
is better to spread the honey on the dressing first before applying
it on the wound area. 4. If there are abscesses in the wound area,
fill it with honey before applying the dressing pad, so that there
is honey in contact with the wound. 5. The amount of honey required
on the wound depends on the amount of fluid it exudes. Honey will
be useless if it is diluted by large amounts of fluid. Also the
frequency of dressing changes depends on how fast the honey is
being diluted by fluid. 6. On deeper infections, more honey is
required to get an effective antibacterial activity. 7. Daily
dressing changes up to three times daily may be needed. 8. Exudation
of fluid should be reduced after few days use of honey dressing.
During this time, less dressing changes will be needed.
Honey Used as Medicine
Below are some common problems which can easily be prevented
from the use of honey:
1. Allergies - Raw honey is an excellent treatment for 90%
of allergies. 2. Anemia - Honey is a great blood enricher. The
darker the honey the better. Take 1 ripe banana with 1 tablespoon
of honey, 1-2 times a day. 3. Appetite - Honey improves appetite
in children suffering from appetite loss. 4. Conjunctivitis
Dissolve honey in equal amount of warm water. When cooled, apply
as lotion or eye bath. 5. Fatigue and exhaustion - Honey is the
best ingredient to remove tiredness and fatigue almost instantly
because it is easily absorbed in the blood. Dissolve 1 teaspoon
of honey in warm water or quarter honey balance of water in a
jug and keep in the fridge. 6. Headaches and Migraine - Take 2
teaspoons at meals to prevent headache. For migraines, take 1
dessertspoon of honey dissolved in a half glass of warm water.
Repeat in 20 minutes if migraine persists. 7. Heart Diseases -
Honey can fight against cholesterol. Pure honey taken with foods
daily instead of sugar relieves complains of cholesterol. This
is helpful for old people, especially sufferers of diabetes, heart
disease, high blood pressure and others. 8. High Blood Pressure
- Take mixed 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of ginger juice and
1 teaspoon of cumin powder 2 times a day. 9. Insomnia (Sleeplessness)
Take 1 teaspoon of honey mixed in lukewarm water or milk
and drink before going to bed. 10. Poor Digestion Mix 1:1
honey with cider vinegar and dilute with water. 11. Skin - Honey
is a good moisturizer. It also helps in reducing skin problems
like pimples. 12. Sore Throat - Let 1 teaspoon of honey melt in
the back of the mouth and trickle down the throat. 13. Stomachache
- Take 1 teaspoon of honey, juice of a 12 lemon with a hot glass
of water first thing in the morning. 14. Teeth - Although honey
is sweet, it helps to maintain and protect teeth.
Important: Honey contains a certain bacterium that might be
harmful in infants; it should never be fed to children younger
than one year old. Otherwise it could lead to food poisoning.
Now you know that when honey is applied properly to a wound,
it can promote healing just as good as or often better than, over-the-counter
ointments and dressings. It is also a great preventive medicine
on common ailments.
About The Author: Junji Takano is a Japanese health researcher
and has been studying the causes of viruses since 1960s. In 1968,
he invented Pyro-Energen, the first electrotherapy device that
eradicates viral diseases in a non-narcotic way. Visit him at:
http://www.pyroenergen.com
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