Honey: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications
Other name(s)
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Family or group:
Super Food
Active ingredients:
Glucose
Fructose
Amylase
Potassium
Vitamin C
Glucuronic Acid
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Burns ✪✪✪✪✪
The application of honey on minor burns seems to enhance the formation of granulation tissue and accelerate healing. The benefits of honey are comparable to those of topical antibiotics, including silver sulfadiazine and moisture-permeable polyurethane dressings. Studies use honey under dressings or impregnated in gauzes, changing them at varying intervals. A 2013 Cochrane review indicates that honey dressings could reduce average healing times of partial burns by 4.68 days compared to some conventional dressings. However, the effectiveness of honey compared to silver sulfadiazine remains uncertain due to the heterogeneity of clinical trials. The review suggests that for deeper or more extensive burns, surgical excision and skin grafting are more appropriate treatments. Current evidence recommends the use of honey primarily for minor burns.
Posologie
Topically
Antiseptics for burns
Systematic review of the use of honey as a wound dressing
Honey compared with silver sulfadiazine in the treatment of superficial partial-thickness burns
Honey as a topical treatment for wounds
Honey in the treatment of burns: a systematic review and meta-analysis of its efficacy
Cough ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical research shows that taking honey, from 2.5 to 10 mL, before bedtime reduces the frequency and severity of nocturnal cough and improves sleep in children aged two and older with upper respiratory tract infections. Honey is as effective as dextromethorphan, a common over-the-counter cough suppressant. A 2012 Cochrane review concludes that honey might be more effective than no treatment and diphenhydramine (an antihistamine) for relieving cough symptoms in children, but not more than dextromethorphan. A randomized study of 105 children showed that buckwheat honey, administered 30 minutes before bed, significantly reduced cough severity and improved sleep quality compared to no treatment. Other controlled studies confirmed the effectiveness of honey in improving nocturnal cough symptoms and sleep quality in children with respiratory infections.
Posologie
Orally
1 - 2 cc
Effectiveness of honey for symptomatic relief in upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Effectiveness of honey for symptomatic relief in upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis
A comparison of the effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and diphenhydramine on nightly cough and sleep quality in children and their parents
Multicenter, randomized study found that honey had no pharmacological effect on nocturnal coughs and sleep quality at 1-5 years of age
Leg Ulcer ✪✪✪✪✪
A meta-analysis primarily involving clinical trials, including between 267 and 616 patients with diabetic foot ulcers, shows that applying honey-impregnated dressings for 1 to 2 weeks reduces wound debridement and healing time, and moderately to significantly increases healing rates compared to other types of dressings. Individual clinical studies also reveal that using manuka honey-impregnated dressings (Medihoney Tulle Dressing) reduces healing time of diabetic foot ulcers by 11 to 12 days and decreases the need for antibiotics compared to saline-soaked gauze.
Posologie
Topically
Effectiveness of honey dressing in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Manuka honey-impregnated dressings in the treatment of neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers
A comparative study between honey and povidone iodine as dressing solution for Wagner type II diabetic foot ulcers
A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial of Honey-Impregnated Dressing for Treating Diabetic Foot Ulcer
Herpes ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical research indicates that applying honey to cold sore lesions can accelerate healing by 2 to 4 days compared to conventional treatments. A meta-analysis of three clinical trials shows that applying honey 4 to 5 times a day reduces healing time for lesions by about two days, although it does not improve pain compared to acyclovir cream 5%. Additionally, a small crossover trial in patients with recurrent cold sores reveals that applying medical grade honey three times a day at symptom onset reduces healing time by nearly four days and improves symptoms such as pain and itching compared to conventional treatments. For oral and gum herpes in children, slowly swallowing honey proves beneficial. Clinical research in children aged 2 to 8 years with herpes gingivostomatitis shows that the use of topical honey, 5 mL every four hours with slow swallowing, combined with acyclovir, accelerates the disappearance of oral lesions by three days compared to acyclovir with a placebo syrup, also more rapidly improving salivation and eating difficulties, while reducing pain and the need for analgesics.
Posologie
Topical, oral
Honey can help in herpes simplex gingivostomatitis in children: Prospective randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical trial
Medical-Grade Honey Outperforms Conventional Treatments for Healing Cold Sores-A Clinical Study
Skin healing, Wound ✪✪✪✪✪
Numerous clinical studies highlight the effectiveness of honey in wound healing, including partial burns, chronic ulcers, and post-operative wounds. Applying honey reduces healing time by nearly 5 days compared to conventional treatments and also accelerates the healing of surgical wounds compared to antiseptic washes followed by gauze dressings. Honey promotes granulation and epithelialization, helps clean the wound, reduces odors, purulent exudate, pain, and increases infection eradication. It is often compared in effectiveness to hydrogels, hydrocolloid dressings, and even nanocrystalline silver in some studies. The honey used in these trials varies, from manuka honey, treated to inactivate bacterial spores, to untreated honey. Honey-impregnated dressing changes are generally made every 24 to 48 hours, although some treatments allow for a longer interval, up to twice a week. In terms of dosage, 15-30 mL of honey are typically applied directly to the wound and covered with sterile gauze, with applications renewed every 12 to 48 hours, depending on the case. A recent study, however, did not show a significant difference between the honey-treated group and the placebo group in terms of wound healing, but revealed a significant reduction in pain and the use of painkillers among women who had cesarean sections, episiotomies and/or tears treated with honey. The study's results support the use of honey to reduce pain and accelerate wound healing. However, the variability in honey composition and the difference in wound types may affect the outcomes.
Posologie
Topical
15 - 30 mL
Use of honey as an adjunct in the healing of split-thickness skin graft donor site
Wound care with antibacterial honey (Medihoney) in pediatric hematology-oncology
Evaluation of a honey-impregnated tulle dressing in primary care
The effect of honey-coated bandages compared with silver-coated bandages on treatment of malignant wounds-a randomized study
The Use of Honey for Cicatrization and Pain Control of Obstetric Wounds: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Can postoperative pains following tonsillectomy be relieved by honey? A prospective, randomized, placebo controlled preliminary study
Dry eye ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical research shows that some honey-based products can be beneficial for dry eye symptoms. Preliminary studies indicate that applying specific manuka honey eye drops (Optimel Manuka Plus Dry Eye Drops) two to three times a day for 14 to 28 days reduces certain symptoms of eye discomfort. Among contact lens wearers, these symptoms were reduced by about 18%. In another study, mild dry eye symptoms were decreased by 52% compared to the beginning of the study, with significant improvements compared to the use of lubricating drops.
Posologie
Ocular
Randomised controlled trial of topical antibacterial Manuka (Leptospermum species) honey for evaporative dry eye due to meibomian gland dysfunction
Effect of a formulated eye drop with Leptospermum spp honey on tear film properties
Mucositis ✪✪✪✪✪
Rinsing the mouth followed by the slow ingestion of honey appears beneficial for the prevention or treatment of oral mucositis, although most research is of low quality. A meta-analysis of eight trials indicates that honey application reduces the development of intolerable oral mucositis lesions by about 52%. Honey application on lesions also appears to reduce the pain associated with oral mucositis. However, these analyses present significant quality issues. Study patients rinsed their mouth then slowly swallowed up to 20 mL of honey three times a day or more, generally before radiotherapy, 15 minutes after and 6 hours after or at bedtime. Some studies have used honey topically or in the form of lozenges. In pediatric intensive care, preliminary clinical research shows that topical honey application reduces the severity and development of oral mucositis compared to chlorhexidine use, although honey is not as effective as topical vitamin E.
Posologie
Oral
20 mL
Topical application of honey in the management of chemo/radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis
Prophylactic and therapeutic effects of honey on radiochemotherapy-induced mucositis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
The Effect of Oral Care with Chlorhexidine, Vitamin E and Honey on Mucositis in Pediatric Intensive Care Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Properties
Antibacterial
Honey demonstrates remarkable antimicrobial activity thanks to several complementary mechanisms. First, the glucose oxidase in honey produces hydrogen peroxide, well known for its antibacterial properties. Although this hydrogen peroxide production contributes to antimicrobial activity, research suggests that the main antibacterial effects of honey come from other mechanisms. One of the important features of honey is its high osmolarity, which can dry out bacteria by drawing water from their environment, thereby inhibiting their growth. Furthermore, its low pH creates an unfavorable environment for many microbes. This acidity can significantly reduce wound size when applied as a dressing, and a reduced pH is associated with a reduction in wound size. Honey is also rich in phenolic compounds like quercetin and caffeic acid, which are powerful antioxidants and also contribute to the antibacterial activity of honey. Methylglyoxal, found in large quantities in manuka honey, offers sustained antibacterial action that is not affected by catalase present in body fluids, unlike hydrogen peroxide.
Usages associés
Antioxidant
Honey is well-known for its antioxidant properties attributed to its phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, which give it the ability to neutralize free radicals resulting from inflammatory processes. In vitro tests have established a significant link between honey absorbance and its antioxidant power, with dark and opaque honeys showing superior activity compared to light honeys. In particular, manuka honey is identified as a specific superoxide anion scavenger. Various studies have measured the ability of different honey samples to reduce reactive oxygen species, with buckwheat honey being the most effective due to its rich concentration of phenolic compounds. Regular consumption of honey also increases serum levels of vitamin C, beta-carotene, uric acid, and glutathione reductase, highlighting the direct impact of its consumption on endogenous antioxidants.
Wound Healing
Honey stimulates blood capillary growth and cytokine production, thereby promoting tissue regeneration. Honey's high viscosity and absorptive capacity allow it to form a physical barrier that maintains a moist environment, essential for quick and effective healing. This feature also reduces local edema, accelerating the process of epithelialization, particularly between the sixth and ninth day after application. The healing properties of honey include promoting angiogenesis, granulation, and epithelialization, which are clinically observed. The low pH of honey inhibits proteases that degrade growth factors and protein fibers essential for healing. Moreover, glucose oxidase present in honey produces gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide, aiding in wound debridement while exerting an antibacterial effect without tissue damage.
Usages associés
Mucolytic
Honey, with its pleasant taste, stimulates salivation and mucus secretion, facilitating lubrication of the respiratory tract and thinning of mucus.
Safety dosage
Adult from 12 years: 35 g - 75 g
Honey is most often used at a dosage of 35-75 g per day, in one or more divided doses, for 1 to 4 weeks. For mucositis: 20 ml of honey in a rinse applied to the oral mucosa then swallowed.
Child from 1 to 12 years:
Cough in children: 2.5 to 5 ml in a single dose up to 30 minutes before sleep.
Precautions
Type 2 diabetes: avoid
Although honey is a natural source of sugar, it is important to consume it in moderation, just like other carbohydrate-rich foods.
