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Infectious Diseases Current Topics in Infectious Diseases
Honey can be more effective at healing wounds than antibiotics.
While slathering a little honey on wounds to help them heal was a trick of the ancient Egyptians, doctors today are just beginning to discover the healing properties of this sweet substance. Researchers have even found that “medihoney” is more effective at killing antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria than some new antibiotics. The reason? When bees make honey, they add a special enzyme to the substance that causes the honey to generate hydrogen peroxide. This hydrogen peroxide is much stronger than the solution available in your local pharmacy and is constantly regenerating, causing most forms of bacteria to quickly die. In addition to its antibacterial properties, explains Dr. Kai Sofka, wound specialist from Bonn University’s Children’s Clinic, the liquid honey makes bandage changing less painful and even covers up the smell of unpleasant, infected wounds while they heal. “Even wounds which consistently refused to heal for years can, in our experience, be brought under control with medihoney,” Sofka said.
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