Honey exhibits a broad-spectrum of antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant (MRSA) ones. Honey has been shown to have a strong activity against many bacteria in both media and in culture.
Honey has a potent antibacterial activity and is very effective in clearing infection in wounds and protecting them from becoming infected [11]. Honey has been useful in the treatment of infected surgical wounds, burn wounds, and decubitus ulcers (bedsores).
To use honey as an antibiotic, apply it directly to the wound or infected area. The honey can help kill off the bacteria and aid in the healing process. If possible, opt for raw Manuka honey. This form of honey offers the most health benefits.
In addition to attacking various pathogens in vitro, clinical studies have shown that honey enhances healing and eliminates even chronic or drug-resistant infections in vivo (Efem, 1988). Honey was also reported to be more effective than standard treatments for patients with infected burns (Wijesinghe et al., 2009).
Honey like other foods is prone to various types of contamination and adulteration. Honey may contain antibiotics including tylosin, oxytetracycline and streptomycin as these can be used to protect against bacterial diseases in bee colonies such as European/American foulbrood disease and varroa mites.
Current research suggests that certain kinds of honey can reduce the presence of infection-causing bacteria in the gut including Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Clostridiodes difficile, while simultaneously stimulating the growth of potentially beneficial species, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria.
Unlike conventional antibiotics, honey only targets pathogenic bacteria without disturbing the growth of normal gastrointestinal flora when taken orally. It also contains prebiotics, probiotics, and zinc and enhances the growth of beneficial gut flora.
Traditionally, honey is used in the treatment of eye diseases, bronchial asthma, throat infections, tuberculosis, thirst, hiccups, fatigue, dizziness, hepatitis, constipation, worm infestation, piles, eczema, healing of ulcers, and wounds and used as a nutritious supplement.
In addition to its use as a natural sweetener, honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent. People commonly use honey orally to treat coughs and topically to treat burns and promote wound healing.
Most bacteria and other microbes cannot grow or reproduce in honey i.e. they are dormant and this is due to antibacterial activity of honey. Various bacteria have been inoculated into aseptically collected honey held at 20°C. The result showed loss of bacterial viability within 8–24 days 27.
Honey For a Sore Throat
Honey can also kill bacteria and help fight off viral infections,” explains Charlotte Smith, MD, physician at Penn Medicine Urgent Care South Philadelphia. If you're suffering from a bad cough in addition to your sore throat, honey may also act as an effective cough suppressant.
According to a literature review published in the journal Wounds, honey offers the following benefits in healing wounds: Acidic pH promotes healing. Honey has an acidic pH of between 3.2 and 4.5. When applied to wounds, the acidic pH encourages the blood to release oxygen, which is important to wound healing.
Raw honey can contain spores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. This bacteria is especially harmful to babies or children under the age of one. It may cause botulism poisoning, which results in life-threatening paralysis ( 26 , 27 ). However, botulism is very rare among healthy adults and older children.
“Honey should be treated like all added sugars, something to include in your diet carefully and kept to a minimum,” Keating says. The American Heart Association recommends that men consume no more than nine teaspoons (36 grams) per day; women and children, no more than six teaspoons (24 grams) daily.
Honey contains antioxidants, which can protect the body from inflammation. Inflammation can lead to a variety of health issues, including heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune disorders.
It's high in antioxidants, such as phenolic acids and flavonoids, which may support better health. Small studies in humans show honey's antioxidants could help improve cholesterol levels, which could help decrease the risk for heart disease, although larger long-term studies are needed to confirm those findings.
Despite the health benefits that may be associated with honey, it's high in sugar — which can be detrimental to your health. In fact, studies show that high-sugar diets may be linked to obesity, inflammation, insulin resistance, liver issues, and heart disease ( 23 , 24 ).
Honey possesses anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and other properties that are useful for wound healing and tissue regeneration.
Honey has anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used as a wound dressing to promote rapid and improved healing. These effects are due to honey's anti-bacterial action, secondary to its high acidity, osmotic effect, anti-oxidant content and hydrogen peroxide content.
Honey consists of imperative properties that helps in the detox process to hasten up the process and prove it to be more effective. The antimicrobial properties in honey helps in the detox process which is due to the low pH value, thickness, and hydrogen peroxide.
The antibacterial efficacy of honey may be attributed to its to its osmotic effect, high sugar content, and low moisture content, as well as to the presence of gluconic acid, which produces the antiseptic H2O2 (O'Grady et al. 1999).
Honey is sugar and is recommended to avoid during the protocol. However, for some without issues such as yeast overgrowth or blood sugar control, small amounts of raw local honey may be okay.
Another thing that makes raw honey special is that it is a non-dairy probiotic product. This is a huge advantage if you are lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy products. Since dairy products are the ones that typically have probiotic/prebiotic properties, raw honey is an excellent alternative source for prebiotics.