From the ArcaMax Publishing, Health & Fitness Newsletter:

HAMILTON, New Zealand (UPI) -- Honey, one of the oldest healing remedies known to medicine, produces effective results when used as a wound dressing, says a New Zealand researcher.

Dr. P.C. Molan of New Zealand's University Waikato said that although many randomized, controlled clinical trials strongly support the use the honey in wound care, the trials may not have been double-blind. However, double-blind testing would be difficult to achieve because honey is a very recognizable substance.

Molan wrote in a review article published in the International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds that scientists performed 22 trials involving 2,062 patients treated with honey, as well as an additional 16 trials that were performed on experimental animals.

Honey was found to be beneficial as a wound dressing in the following ways:

-- Its antibacterial quality not only rapidly clears existing infection, it protects wounds from additional infection.

-- It debrides wounds and removes malodor.

-- Its anti-inflammatory activity reduces edema and minimizes scarring.

-- It stimulates growth of granulation and epithelial tissues to speed healing.

Molan said honey is available in the form of various sterile products licensed for use in wound care.

http://www.arcamax.com/cgi-in/news/story/1002/1015/63813/527747