Manuka Honey creates a moist healing environment that allows new skin cells to grow across a healing wound flush with the surface of the wound, preventing deformity of the skin and scaring

Honey as a Antimicrobial Agent

1. Introduction

That honey has antibacterial properties has been known for more than a century 1. Although it has been used as a medicine since ancient times in many cultures 2,3, in its ancient usage there was no recognition of its antibacterial properties - it was just known to be an effective remedy. This is not surprising considering that it is only since the latter part of the last century that it has become known that many ailments are the result of infection by microorganisms. Now it can be seen that the effectiveness of honey in many of its medical uses is probably due to its antibacterial activity. It is well established that honey inhibits a broad spectrum of bacterial species. There are many reports of bactericidal as well as bacteriostatic activity. There have also been reports of honey having antifungal activity. These numerous reports of the antimicrobial activity of honey have been comprehensively reviewed 4: the collation of data shows that honey is active against a wide range of bacterial and fungal species, many of which cause infections. However, there are ailments which may be treated with honey which have not had the infectious agents tested for their sensitivity to the antimicrobial activity of honey. Also, there has not been much distinction made in the different types of antimicrobial activity in honey to which the various microbial species are sensitive. For serious consideration to be given to the use of honey as a therapeutic agent it is necessary that these aspects be further investigated.