Wound Care

Leg and Skin Ulcers, Diabetic Ulcers, Pressure Sores, Burns, Boils, Cracked Skin, Eczema, Psoriasis

UMF Manuka Honey provides an optimum germ-free moist wound-healing environment which supports and facilitates the natural healing of varicose and skin ulcers, diabetic ulcers, pressure sores, wounds, burns, boils, cracked skin, cuts and grazes, eczema and psoriasis.

Medical studies are showing that a moist wound environment produces the best healing results.

A moist wound environment speeds up the healing process.

Tissue regrowth is slowed if a wound dries.

Moist healing results in less scarring.

A scab is the body's natural attempt to keep a wound moist.

However, the type of cell growth that occurs under a scab results in a pitted scar. A totally moist environment prevents the development of scabs.

A moist wound environment is less painful, requires fewer dressing changes and produces better cosmetic results.

If dressings stick to the scab of a dry wound, when the dressings are changed the scab is torn off, causing pain and also the tearing away of newly re-grown skin tissue.

However bacteria can thrive in moist environments - creating inflammation and infection.

Honey provides a moist and germ-free healing environment.

What determines the potency of honey's anti-bacterial property:
Honey heals primarily because of a hydrogen peroxide antibacterial activity. When honey comes into contact with body moisture the glucose oxidase enzyme introduced to the honey by the bee slowly releases the antiseptic hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen Peroxide is released at sufficient levels to be effective against bacteria but not to damage tissue.

The hydrogen peroxide antibacterial activity in honey can vary widely according to:

Honey floral type (some nectars contain a catalase which destroys the hydrogen peroxide)

How the honey has been handled, especially during processing (the glucose oxidase enzyme which produces hydrogen peroxide is easily destroyed by heat, fluid and sunlight).

The hydrogen peroxide can be broken down by a catalase enzyme present in body tissue and serum, so reducing the antibacterial potency when used on a wound or infection.

The UMF antibacterial property found in UMF Manuka honey is more stable than the hydrogen peroxide activity found in other honeys.

Laboratory research has shown that:

The UMF antibacterial property is very stable and not easily destroyed.

The UMF property is not affected by the enzyme catalase present in the tissues and serum of the body (this catalase breaks down the hydrogen peroxide).

In the laboratory the UMF property has been found to be more effective than the hydrogen peroxide activity against the most common bacteria infecting wounds

UMF Manuka Honey has both the hydrogen peroxide antibacterial activity common to most honeys as well as the UMF antibacterial activity.

There is evidence that the two antibacterial components (hydrogen peroxide and UMF together may have a synergistic action their combined effect is greater than the sum of the parts - making UMF Manuka Honey doubly potent and effective.

UMF Manuka Honey can assist wound healing because:

Antibacterial - rapidly clears infecting bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains.

The UMF antibacterial property can diffuse deeply into skin tissues, so that it can reach deep-seated infections - the hydrogen peroxide property cannot penetrate tissues.

The glucose oxidase enzyme which produces hydrogen peroxide needs oxygen, but the phytochemical UMF does not. This makes it ideal for healing deep wounds, or wounds that are covered in wound dressings.

Cleans wounds. Honey has a debriding effect. Lifts out dirt and dead cells.

Dressings do not stick to the surface of the wound allowing easy removal of dressings. The osmotic effect of the honey keeps the wound moist, clean and prevents the dressing sticking to the wound - reducing tissue damage and pain when dressings are changed as there is no tearing away of newly formed tissue.

Reduces scarring. The honey draws body fluids and nutrients to the wound area and so assists cell growth and prevents a scar forming as the wound is kept moist.

Honey provides nutrients (vitamins, minerals and amino acids) to tissue aiding the healing effect.

Promotes more rapid healing because the honey stimulates tissue regeneration.

Honey is acidic. This causes honey to release oxygen from the haemoglobin, providing it to the new tissue cells.

Honey stimulates white blood cells

Hydrogen peroxide in honey has an insulin-like effect and promotes wound healing. Insulin is a growth hormone.

Anti-inflammatory action of honey soothes and promotes healing, reduces pain and swelling.

Honey forms a protective barrier to prevent cross-infection of wounds.

Honey removes malodour from wounds by killing the bacteria which produce ammonia

Honey does not damage the surrounding tissue.

Honey minimizes the need for grafting.