Using Honey To Heal Diabetic Foot Ulcers
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it. Molan, P. C. & Betts, J. A. (2008). Using honey to heal diabetic foot ulcers. Advances in Skin & Wound Care, 21(7), 313-316. Permanent Research Commons link: Diabetic ulcers seem to be arrested in the inflammatory/proliferative stage of the healing process, allowing infection and inflammation to preclude healing. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a major cause of infections, including diabetic foot infections. It is proposed here that the modern developments of an ancient and traditional treatment for wounds, dressing them with honey, provide the solution to the problem of getting diabetic ulcers to move on from the arrested state of healing. Honeys selected to have a high level of antibacterial activity have been shown to be very effective against antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria in laboratory and clinical studies. The potent anti-inflammatory action of honey is also likely to play an important part in overcoming the impediment to healing that inflammation causes in diabetic ulcers, as is the antioxidant activity of honey. The action of honey in promotion of tissue regeneration through stimulation of angiogenesis and the growth of fibroblasts and epithelial cells, and its insulin-mimetic effect, would also be of benefit in stimulating the healing of diabetic ulcers. The availability of honey-impregnated dressings which conveniently hold honey in place on ulcers has provided a means of rapidly debriding ulcers and removing the bacterial burden so that good healing rates can be achieved with neuropathic ulcers. With ischemic ulcers, where healing cannot occur because of lack of tissue viability, these honey dressings keep the ulcers clean and prevent infection oc Continue reading >>
Topical Honey For The Treatment Of Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Systematic Review.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016 Aug;24:130-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.06.003. Epub 2016 Jun 15. Topical honey for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer: A systematic review. Department of Medicine, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal University, India. Electronic address: [email protected]. Department of Medicine, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal University, India. Electronic address: [email protected]. Department of Surgery, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal University, India. Electronic address: [email protected]. Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal University, India. Electronic address: [email protected]. Topical honey has been used for the treatment of wound since ancient time. But the medical evidence proving it is limited. Hence a systematic review was planned. An exhaustive literature search was done in PUBMED, COCHRANE, GOOGLE using 'topical honey', 'diabetic foot ulcer', 'chronic wounds' as key words. Literature search showed total of five clinical trials and about ten observational studies in various part of world. Out of five clinical trials three concluded that honey dressing is better than conventional dressing, all the clinical trials proved safety of honey for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer. Observational studies included total of 320 patients which also showed safety of honey but efficacy cannot be considered from observational studies. This review showed that honey dressing is safer for treatment of diabetic foot ulcer but there is insufficient good quality data to realistically conclude on the efficacy of honey on diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetic foot ulcer; Topical honey; Wound dressing Continue reading >>
Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal
1 Department of Persian Medicine, School of Persian and Complementary Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran * Corresponding Author: Malihe Motavasselian, Department of Persian Medicine, School of Persian and Complementary Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Tel: +98-5138552188, E-mail: [email protected] Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal: March 2017, 19 (3) ; e41939 Published Online: December 31, 2016 To Cite: Delshad E, Tavakkoli-Kakhki M, Motavasselian M. Successful Repair of Diabetic Foot Ulcer with Honey-Based Treatment: A Case Report, Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2017 ;19(3):e41939. doi: 10.5812/ircmj.41939 . Introduction: As a common diabetic complication, foot ulcers may cause a huge burden both on the patient and healthcare system. The current study aims at investigating the effectiveness of honey dressing in the presence or absence of olive oil in diabetic foot ulcer. Case Presentation: The study attempted to report a 70-year-old female with the history of diabetes undergoing high doses of oral antidiabetes drugs (OADs). Following a car accident, she developed a neuropathic ulcer categorized as Wagner grade-II. The case was admitted in Imam Reza General hospital, Mashhad, Iran in August 2014. A combined regimen of cephalexin, cefixime and anti-inflammatory drugs was started after hospitalization. Since granulation formation and tissue repair did not occur, honey dressing with and without olive oil was used to repair the ulcer. The whole treatment period lasted a month. Conclusions: To sum up, honey dressing with and without olive oil could successfully prevent the risk of amputation in case of diabetic foot ulcers. Keywords: Diabetic Foot; Ulcer; Honey; Olive Oil; Traditional Medicine Copyright: Copy Continue reading >>
How To Heal Diabetic Foot Ulcers?
Are Diabetic Foot Ulcers bothering you, I am so sorry to be harsh on you but the reality is we dont take blood glucose monitoring seriously , as a result we end up having high blood glucose levels which lead to long-term complications like Diabetes Foot Ulcers. Foot ulcers are one of the most common complications diabetics have to face. According to some estimates, at least 15% diabetics develop these ulcers at some point during the course of their disease. These ulcers can be debilitating and can have serious consequences and can even lead to amputation if not taken care of well in time. This article discusses why diabetics get these ulcers and how to deal with them? If you have long-standing diabetes, you are more likely to develop these ulcers. People who have a kidney or eye related problem have a higher risk of diabetic foot ulcer as do people who use insulin. Being overweight and use of alcohol can also worsen your condition. There are two main reasons why diabetics develop foot ulcers. First, uncontrolled blood sugar severely damages the blood vessels in your body. As the blood vessels supplying to your feet get damaged, your feet do not get the right amount of oxygen and nutrients they need. This makes them prone to injury and ulceration. Secondly, diabetics also suffer serious nerve damage, which further accelerates the process of ulcer formation. Statistics reveal thatOnly 54% were aware that diabetes could lead to reduced foot sensation and foot ulcers. Nearly 53% and 41% of the patients had good diabetes awareness and good diabetes care respectively. Only 22% of the patients had their feet examined by a health worker or doctor. you may refer the figure below Some major signs and symptoms of diabetic foot ulcer are: There have been a lot of improvements in t Continue reading >>
A Sweet Alternative: Topical Honey Shows Promise In Healing Diabetic Ulcers
The history of medicine is rich with irony: Serious infections are treated with penicillin, an antibiotic synthesized from the bacteria found in mold. Jennifer Eddy, MD, a physician with UW Health's Eau Claire Family Medicine Clinic, is attempting to prove that honey, a substance packed with natural sugars, can help to cure ulcerous wounds in patients with diabetes — individuals whose cells struggle to process sugars. Using funding provided by the Wisconsin Partnership Fund for Health, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, Eddy is testing the effectiveness of topical honey vs. saline gel for the treatment of diabetic ulcers. Her research is the first randomized, double-blind controlled trial of honey for diabetic ulcers. Eddy first used honey with a patient after all medical options had been exhausted. "My patient was really a striking case," recalls Eddy. "All the best standard care was not enough to heal his foot ulcers. Surgeons told him he would die if they didn't amputate his foot. He refused, saying he would rather die than lose his foot, and ultimately he was sent home." After a few weeks of applying honey and a gauze bandage to the patient's wounds, they began to improve. They were completely healed within months. Now, several years after treatment, the wounds are completely healed, and the patient remains ulcer-free. Since then, Eddy has used honey to treat several other patients in situations where traditional medical therapy had failed. Experts believe that treating wounds with honey has tremendous potential for the approximately 200 million people in the world with diabetes, 15 percent of whom will develop an ulcer, usually because of impaired sensation in their feet. Currently, every 30 seconds someone somewhere in the world undergoes amputation Continue reading >>
Honey: A Potential Therapeutic Agent For Managing Diabetic Wounds
Copyright © 2014 Fahmida Alam et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Abstract Diabetic wounds are unlike typical wounds in that they are slower to heal, making treatment with conventional topical medications an uphill process. Among several different alternative therapies, honey is an effective choice because it provides comparatively rapid wound healing. Although honey has been used as an alternative medicine for wound healing since ancient times, the application of honey to diabetic wounds has only recently been revived. Because honey has some unique natural features as a wound healer, it works even more effectively on diabetic wounds than on normal wounds. In addition, honey is known as an “all in one” remedy for diabetic wound healing because it can combat many microorganisms that are involved in the wound process and because it possesses antioxidant activity and controls inflammation. In this review, the potential role of honey’s antibacterial activity on diabetic wound-related microorganisms and honey’s clinical effectiveness in treating diabetic wounds based on the most recent studies is described. Additionally, ways in which honey can be used as a safer, faster, and effective healing agent for diabetic wounds in comparison with other synthetic medications in terms of microbial resistance and treatment costs are also described to support its traditional claims. 1. Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a progressive and chronic endocrine disorder that primarily results in hyperglycemia (excess glucose in the blood). Globally, diabetes is considered to be one of the major hea Continue reading >>
Successful Healing Of Diabetic Foot Ulcers And Various Etiology Ulcers With Natural Honey: An Alternative Paradigm In Wound Healing
Successful Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Various Etiology Ulcers with Natural Honey: An Alternative Paradigm in Wound Healing Successful Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Various Etiology Ulcers with Natural Honey: An Alternative Paradigm in Wound Healing Weill Cornell Medical College, Al Rayyan, Qatar Corresponding author:Hashim Mohamed, Weill Cornell Medical College, Al Rayyan, Qatar, E-mail: [email protected] Citation: Mohamed H (2016) Successful Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Various Etiology Ulcers with Natural Honey: An Alternative Paradigm in Wound Healing. J Diab Rel Dis 1(1): 107. Hypothesis: Rapid healing or halt in progression occurs with timely intervention of natural honey in subjects with chronic diabetic foot ulcers and various etiology ulcers. Design: In a prospective nonrandomized case series, 42 consecutive subjects were treated with natural honey after sharp surgical debridement of their ulcers. Setting: A single (interphase) primary care teaching health center. Patients and Methods: Forty two consecutive patients with a total of 50 wounds (1.06.5 cm in diameter) were treated with natural honey after sharp surgical debridement. Main Outcome Measure: Time to 100% healing, as defined by full epithelialization of the ulcers. Results: Twenty seven of 30 patients with diabetic foot ulcers had complete healing of all wounds. In these patients, wounds healed in an average of 46 days. In patients with decubitus ulcers, 4 of 5 wounds healed in an average of 31 days. Six varicose vein ulcer patients healed in an average four weeks. Four burn patients healed in an average of three weeks, while hydroxyurea induced ulcer healed in one month. Conclusions: In chronic diabetic foot ulcers and ulcers of various etiologies, the utilization of natural hon Continue reading >>
Honey As A Treatment For Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Systematic Review | Insani | Jurnal Plastik Rekonstruksi
HONEY AS A TREATMENT FOR DIABETIC FOOT ULCER: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW Ide Bagoes Insani, Nurina Widayanti, Aliyya Rifki Background : Increased number of antibiotic-resistance bacteria has made honey widely reused as a modern wound treatment, including for Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) treatment. Researchers have studied mean duration of wound healing and effectivity of honey dressing compared to other substances, such as povidone iodine, normal saline or alginate. This systematic review was conducted to objectively evaluate mean duration of wound healing using topical honey dressing compared to other substances in the treatment of DFU. Method : All RCT and CCT trials were collected from 4 electronic databases using keywords Honey, Honey dressing, Diabetic foot ulcer, and Diabetic ulcer. We included all English literatures with year of publication from January 2006 to November 2016; studies comparing honey with other substances; and patients with DFUs. Qualitative assessment of these studies were scored using Jadad Scale. Result : A total of 5 studies involving 517 participants were included. None of 5 studies obtained full Jadad score in quality assessment due to lack of description on randomization method, blinding and dropouts. Three studies reported significantly shorter mean duration of wound healing in honey dressing compared to normal saline and alginate dressing. Other 2 studies reported insignificant difference compared to povidone iodine, although honey still has shorter mean duration of wound healing. Two studies reported less pain during dressing changes in honey dressing group. Conclusion : Honey dressing was superior than control group (normal saline, alginate, and povidone iodine) in reducing mean duration of wound healing in DFU patients. It was also proven to c Continue reading >>
How Raw Honey Helped Save My Diabetic Dad’s Foot
I generally try to avoid sensationalist posts with the words “amazing!” and “miracle treatment!” in them; however, this post is going to talk about a (for real) amazing miracle treatment that helped save my diabetic dad’s foot! I’m excited to share it with you today, in the hopes that perhaps it will reach others out there in need of the information. My dad has been a diabetic since he was 15 years old. At the time of his diagnosis, he knew exactly two people alive with diabetes. One had no legs and one was blind. Back then, in the 1950’s, one in five people died within 25 years of the diagnosis, one in four developed kidney failure, and about 90% suffered from diabetic retinopathy. (NIH source.) It was a grave thing for a kid to face, but my dad is tough. He kept going, taught himself several skills, including custom cabinet making from a set of books, and has lived a long and active life. Several years ago, he developed a sore on his foot that wouldn’t heal. In spite of heavy antibiotics and various medical treatments, it grew progressively worse until he ended up having two toes amputated. After the surgery, he had a team of excellent wound care doctors and was eventually able to resume his normal high energy activities. Last year, he developed a sore on the same foot, just like the one that caused him to lose those two toes. For eight months, the standard medical treatments and antibiotics failed to help and it looked like he would need to be referred to a surgeon again. One day, someone told him about their experience with treating a bad wound with raw honey. At that point, he was willing to try most anything. Being the go-to health nut with a ready stash of raw honey in the family, I was asked about it. I did some research and turned up this fascin Continue reading >>
Topical Honey For The Treatment Of Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Systematic Review
Topical honey for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer: A systematic review Author links open overlay panel RamyaKateela Honey has been used for treatment of wound since ancient time but evidence supporting this is limited. This review shows that honey is safer in diabetic foot ulcer patients but there is insufficient data about its efficacy. This review suggests requirement of randomized clinical trial with uniform inclusion criteria and with ample followup period. Topical honey has been used for the treatment of wound since ancient time. But the medical evidence proving it is limited. Hence a systematic review was planned. An exhaustive literature search was done in PUBMED, COCHRANE, GOOGLE using topical honey, diabetic foot ulcer, chronic wounds as key words. Literature search showed total of five clinical trials and about ten observational studies in various part of world. Out of five clinical trials three concluded that honey dressing is better than conventional dressing, all the clinical trials proved safety of honey for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer. Observational studies included total of 320 patients which also showed safety of honey but efficacy cannot be considered from observational studies. This review showed that honey dressing is safer for treatment of diabetic foot ulcer but there is insufficient good quality data to realistically conclude on the efficacy of honey on diabetic foot ulcers. Continue reading >>
The Efficacy And Safety Of Natural Honey On The Healing Of Foot Ulcers: A Case Series
Abstract: This clinical observation investigated the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and acceptability of natural honey on the healing of a variety of chronic foot ulcers at the primary care level. Materials and Methods. A total of 12 patients with foot ulcers utilizing natural honey as an effective alternative to more expensive, advanced wound products were followed. Cases were referred to Umgwailinah Primary Health Care Center, Doha, Qatar from different health centers and from Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar. There were also self-referred cases. After rinsing the site with normal saline, natural honey was applied and the wound was covered by glycerin-impregnated gauze (Adaptic Non-Adhering Dressing, Systagenix, San Antonio, TX) to prevent the absorption of honey into the cotton gauze and away from the wound site. Patients were followed on a daily basis for an average of 4 weeks. Results. All ulcers healed with no contractures or scars with a mean healing time of 3 weeks. There was a 75% reduction in the dressing budget of the health center and a high level of satisfaction among both health professionals and patients. Patients’ pain levels were reduced significantly after using natural honey, as evidenced by the use of the Visual Analog Scale. Conclusion. The use of natural honey in the management of chronic foot ulcers proved to be efficacious, cost-effective, and acceptable by both clinicians and patients. Introduction Natural honey dressings have been used to treat wounds throughout the ages.1 This case series describes the use of natural honey in patients with a variety of chronic foot ulcers. A wound assessment was carried out daily and used to decide upon the continuation of treatment with natural honey. Numerous preparations of honey have been previously st Continue reading >>
Honey Can Help Wound Healing
May 14, 2014by Advanced Tissue 222 Everybody knows that honey goes great on toast or a glazed ham to add a little sweetness to your meal. While its food uses are infinite, most people are unaware of honeys wound care capabilities, a trait that can help an infected wound properly heal in orderly fashion. From burn wounds, bacterial infections to pressure ulcers, honey is an everyday household product that can provide numerous healing benefits. Here are a few tips on how to properly administer honey to help treat a wound. It is important to understand that you cannot go around squeezing regular store bought honey on every wound or infection you encounter. Instead, try using manuka honey, which on top of serving as a healthier edible substitute for regular honey, also possess numerous therapeutic qualities. Manuka honey was approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration in 2007 as a recommended option for wound treatment. One of the biggest antiseptic features manuka honey has is its ability to release hydrogen peroxide that is essential for helping eliminate bacterial activity. The pollen collected from the manuka bush and transformed into honey has been known to effectively treat serious infections, ranging from skin rashes, boils to scalded skin. Remember do not attempt to use regular raw honey as an option for wound care. The high-fructose corn syrup that is abundant in raw honey is actually more likely to help spread infection rather than prevent it. Simply squirting some manuka honey over the infected area and rubbing it in wont exactly do the trick. First you need to roughly measure what the extent of the wound area exactly is and make sure to apply an appropriate amount while spreading the honey over the wound evenly. It is even more effective to rub honey all o Continue reading >>
Honey-based Dressings: Can They Have An Impact For Diabetic Foot Ulcers?
Honey-Based Dressings: Can They Have An Impact For Diabetic Foot Ulcers? By Wendy Tyrrell MEd, DPodM, MChS, and Rose A. Cooper, PhD Honey is an ancient wound remedy that is reappearing in clinical practice in developed countries. The availability of licensed wound care products in Europe, New Zealand and Australia is prompting healthcare practitioners in conventional medicine to consider the use of honey within their treatment armamentarium. Ulcer remedies such as honey are necessary as the prevalence of diabetes rises. The American Diabetes Association has estimated that about 7 percent of the population had diabetes.1 It is an increasing problem that has serious implications and a high degree of morbidity. In 2005, 1.5 million new cases in the U.S. were diagnosed in people over 20 years of age. Foot ulcers are a frequent and complex complication in diabetes and researchers have estimated the prevalence of foot ulceration in this population to be approximately 6 percent.2 Diabetic foot ulcers are often present for long periods of time and have poor healing rates.3 These poor healing rates lead to the worst case scenario amputation and diabetes remains the most common cause of lower extremity amputation in the Western world. There are a variety of factors that lead to the development of ulceration in the diabetic foot. In addition to complex sensory, motor and autonomic neuropathy, other contributory factors include the duration of diabetes, circulatory status, blood glucose levels, age, height, limited joint mobility and the high plantar pressures that are often present as a result of structural deformities in the foot.4-6 When these underlying factors are present, relatively minor traumatic incidents, such as ill fitting footwear or knocking a toe against a firm obje Continue reading >>
Does Manuka Honey Help In Healing Diabetic Foot Ulcers?
Does Manuka Honey Help In Healing Diabetic Foot Ulcers? Diabetic foot ulcer is a serious complication of diabetes. It is defined as the ulcerated foot. It creates lot of uneasiness and affects quality of life to a very large extent. Diabetic patient begins to develop painful ulcers on the foot because of which mobility becomes difficult for the person. It is almost like a dreaded disability. Diabetic foot ulcers affect around 15% of all diabetic individuals during their life time. Neuropathy it refers to a condition in which sensation is lost. It affects the motor, autonomic and sensory components of the nervous system. Foot muscles get damage which leads to foot deformities, skin breakdown and ulceration. Ischemia (inadequate blood supply to body parts) it leads to pain, necrosis, gangrene, ulceration on foot margin. Infection In diabetic foot, infection can have very serious impact; it may even lead to limb loss. Deep infections can be more disastrous to health and lifestyle. The most common microbes involved in diabetic foot ulcer infection are- gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and some gram negative rods. Manuka honey is made from the nectar obtained from pinkish white flowers of Manuka plant. Manuka is the common name of the plant. Scientifically Manuka is known as Leptospermum scoparium. This honey has lot of special properties which makes it most popular among the scientist and researchers. Its medicinal value is so high that it is marketed as medicinal product in Australia and New Zealand its native countries. Manuka honeys Manuka factor makes Manuka honey so special. Manuka factor refers to the phenolic content of the Manuka honey. Like every other honey Manuka honey has the properties like low pH, high sugar content, antibacterial property. But Continue reading >>
Honey Of A Remedy For Nonhealing Wounds
Honey is produced by honeybees from the nectar of flowers and has been ingested by humans for millennia. Since ancient times, honey also has been used topically by the Chinese, Romans, Egyptians, and Greeks for medicinal purposes.[ 1 ] It is composed mainly of sugars (70% to 80% of its composition is fructose, sucrose, glucose, and other sugars), a low level of water, as well as proteins, hydrogen peroxide, and gluconic acid. As a topical agent, honey has a debriding and cleansing action and acts as a barrier to prevent infection. Its antimicrobial properties as a topical agent have been described and documented in both in vitro and in vivo studies,[ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ] and evidence supports its usefulness in wound healing. More recently, studies have examined the benefits of honey in the treatment of burns, skin grafts, Fournier's gangrene, radiation-induced mucositis, and dermatologic conditions such as seborrhea and dermatitis.[ 1 ] Ingested honey has been examined for its potential benefit in the treatment of DM, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and gastroenteritis.[ 1 ] The antimicrobial properties of honey are believed to derive from its high sugar and low moisture content, the acidic properties of gluconic acid, and the antiseptic properties of hydrogen peroxide.[ 8 ] When taken orally, honey has been shown to influence LDL cholesterol levels, probably as a result of its flavonoid content[ 9 ] and its antioxidant properties. Some research suggests that darker honeys have a higher antioxidant content than lighter honeys.[ 9 ] Despite honey's anti-inflammatory, antiglycemic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, evidence of its efficacy for specific conditions as provided by well-conducted clinical trials is limited. A 2001 systematic review found hone Continue reading >>
